Compliance / Quality Volunteer Roles

FareShare Merseyside redistributes quality surplus food to over 232 community-based organisations who are working with vulnerable people across the region and parts of North Wales. We are keen to expand our reach, actively looking to recruit charity members who want to help us in our Warehouse, Vans, and Kitchen.

Volunteering with FareShare Merseyside

Our volunteers are at the heart of our service, with an amazing team of almost 100 volunteers, who ensure quality surplus food reaches those most in need in all communities in our region.  As a thank you for their support, we hold regular wellbeing social events and offer pathways onto our employability program.

Why we need you:

This role is vital to the work of FareShare, ensuring that food is safely delivered to our Community Food Members or collected from our food suppliers.  A standard driving licence is all you need to deliver our food once or twice a week to children’s clubs, homeless hostels and refuges in your area.

What will I be doing?

• Safely driving vans to deliver and collect food 
• Representing FareShare in a courteous and professional manner at all times  
• Completing all relevant paperwork  
• Planning routes, sorting food, picking orders, loading and unloading.  
• Carrying out routine checks on the vans, taking responsibility for the vans throughout the day and reporting accidents or damage to the van or other vehicles 
• Assist in the maintenance of the vans including cleaning

What we need you to be:

• Minimum of 18 years old and hold a full, clean driving licence
• Confident to drive a medium-sized van (experience is preferable) 
• Good at map reading and/or able to use a Sat Nav system 
• Positive, friendly and personable, able to interact well with different people
• Enthusiastic about tackling food waste and/or food poverty 
• Able to perform physical tasks including lifting and loading 
• Good with numbers, identifying different foods, writing clearly 
• Able to work effectively and use your initiative in a fast-paced environment
• Able to work well in a team and on your own  
• Able to follow FareShare’s policies & procedures 
• Flexible – there may be times when we ask you to help on other projects/tasks 

What will I get out of it?

• An active and sociable role
• Development of skills such as route planning, organising and communication skills
• Support and supervision from the Regional Volunteer Manager  
• An induction and training for the role  
• Reasonable travel expenses and a free lunch 
• A fun and friendly place to work 
• The opportunity to take on new challenges  
• A work reference for those who have satisfactorily committed to at least 3 months 
• The opportunity to support a great cause and give something back to your community 

Ivy Education Trust is an eight school Trust made up of five primaries and three secondaries (including two sixth form provisions) based within a 30-minute radius of each other along the Coastline South of Exeter. 

Schools in the Trust range from small village primary schools with under 100 children, to a large split site secondary of 1400 pupils. All schools, bar two, have had successful recent Ofsted inspections including Teignmouth Community School which turned around from inadequate to predominantly 'Good' within 19 months. The final two school’s inspections are anticipated in the next 12 months. 

The Trust has a dedicated School Improvement Committee to support its schools journeys, this may be merged into the Education Standards Committee as the need for the dedicated SIP support decreases. Ivy Education Trust's values of courage, compassion, collaboration, and commitment underpin the work and the broad, balanced and ambitious curriculum aims to develop pupils and open doors to their future success. 

The Trust maintains a strong focus on developing and providing inspirational teaching and leadership through its school-to-school improvement. The Trust currently serves over 3600 pupils and 600 staff.

The Trust is mindful of having a 'compassionate' approach to growth while ensuring a balanced approach to prioritising support to its schools. The Trust has strong links to the Exeter Church of England Diocese and has Articles of Association which allow it to have CoE faith-designated schools or secular community schools within it. At this point there is only one primary school which is part of the Exeter Diocese, but others may join in the future.

The Trust's Requirements

Ivy Education Trust is looking for an experienced 'Educationalist' to join their Trust Board and to sit on the Education Standards Committee. 

The ideal candidate will have knowledge/experience of the primary sector, having worked in a leadership or school improvement role in more than one school. Additionally, a firm understanding of primary education data and the Ofsted inspection process would be an advantage as well as knowledge of the communities the Trust serve. 

The Trust welcomes applications from all backgrounds but would particularly welcome applications from those from traditionally under-represented backgrounds.

Meetings

Trust Board meetings are held five times a year (one per half term). Upcoming meetings will be held 10am-12pm on the following dates: 

- 10/12/2024
- 04/03/2025
- 13/05/2025
- 15/05/2025

Education Standards Committee meetings three times a year. Meetings are held 8.30am-10.30am on the following dates: 

- 25/02/2025 
- 20/05/2025

The Trust also has an annual Governance Meeting from 5-7pm in June for all Trustees and local governors to meet and discuss Trust matters. At present each Trustee has a link school which they are invited to visit (once or twice a year) at a mutually agreeable time to see the impact of trust decisions within the school and provide a conduit for communication and feedback. Trustees are not expected to attend their link school’s local governance committee meetings.

Induction to role

The Trust has a comprehensive training and induction programme which new Trustees will have access too. Successful applicants will also receive access to Governors for Schools' 'The First 100 Days as a Trustee' eLearning.

We're looking to recruit 3 new trustees who share our passion and commitment in supporting local families who are struggling to cope with a variety of challenging circumstances.

About Us

Home-Start Guildford is an independent charity based in Guildford committed to promoting the welfare of local families and children. We are part of Home-Start UK, one of the UK’s leading family support charities, benefiting from their policy framework and quality assurance, but not funding. Staff and volunteers offer regular support, including providing emotional and practical help to families in the families’ own homes and connecting families with specialist services within the community.

The Role and What We Are Looking for in a New Trustee

We are looking to recruit 3 additional Trustees to increase the range of skills and experience on the Board. This is essential for us to make the best decisions for Home-Start Guildford and our families. There is no requirement for you to have been a trustee before, however, you do need to be passionate about improving the lives of children and the families we support. You will be good at working with others, ready to speak up and ask questions, be thoughtful and open to learning, and able to stand back to see the bigger picture. You must take the responsibilities of a Trustee seriously.

We are looking to better reflect the experiences of our community, to bring the skills and experiences of diverse Trustees to the Board. We are particularly interested in hearing from individuals with experience in areas such as marketing, fundraising, business strategy, governance, event planning, bid writing, local networks, IT, and media.

Trustees are the people who make the top-level decisions for our charity. Our Board includes people with experience and skills in early years, education, and business. We expect new trustees to have empathy with our cause and our beneficiaries. Support from local charity-support organisations is always available, and a full induction to our organisation will be provided, including access to external training.

If you can think strategically and plan long-term, you have the primary skills needed by our trustees. You’ll also need to be able to work collectively with other Board members. Support from our paid employees is always available, as they handle the day-to-day running of the organisation.

We are a charity, not a business, but we apply business principles to governing our organisation. We are looking for people from a variety of backgrounds to join our charity. We want to expand the diversity of our board in all meanings of the word and strongly welcome applications from people from less-represented groups.

We ask for about six hours of your time per month, and the ability to join face to face board meetings in Guildford that are usually held every 6-8 weeks on a Monday or Friday morning.

What does becoming a trustee involve?

As part of the trustee role, you will be expected to:

• Attend, and prepare for, a minimum of six meetings per year.
• Undergo a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check.
• Undergo a selection process as outlined by Home-Start Guildford.
• Commit to the legal and financial responsibilities of the role, as outlined in the charity's Constitution (‘Foundation’ model constitution).
• Visit and engage with the office and staff to enhance your understanding of how Home-Start Guildford works.

Training and Support

Trustees are fully inducted into Home-Start before beginning their new role; they will receive:

• An online welcome event and e-learning, introducing Home-Start’s service and your responsibilities.
• Training in key areas including safeguarding.
• Reimbursement of paid expenses.
• Access to Home-Start’s online community via HSUK intranet – full of information and guidance on running a local Home-Start.
• Tailored support by other trustees and staff.

What do you get as a volunteer trustee with our organisation?

• An opportunity to exercise your strategic planning skills, probably in a different environment or context.
• An opportunity to influence and collectively lead an organisation supporting families of young children.
• A chance to expand and implement your understanding of our work.
• A chance to augment your experience of charities.
• A boost to your career and CV, if needed.
• Satisfaction of helping an organisation that supports families, thus giving something back to your community.
• Induction training from us; training, support, and assistance from local charity-support & advice agencies; reimbursement of reasonable expenses, if needed.

• What do we get?
• Your strategic skills, knowledge, understanding, or experience.
• Your abilities to influence plans for our charity’s future, especially in this cost-of-living crisis.
• Enhancement to our overall governance and the Board of trustees; improvement in our operational growth.
• Your participation in our collective decision-making, contributing to all areas of our charity work.
• Your enthusiasm.

For more information, please visit our website.

If you would like more information about becoming a Trustee or would like to talk to a member of staff, please contact the Home-Start Guildford office.

Interested in Applying?

Please forward a CV and completed application form.

You can request an application form from the office or download a copy from our website (Home-Start Guildford).

Home-Start is committed to equality of opportunity and diversity.

Home-Start Guildford is committed to safer recruitment practice as an

important part of safeguarding and protecting children and vulnerable adults

Registered Charity No. 1154609

About Us:

At Project Yananai, as a Christian charity, we believe in the transformative power of education and the impact it can have on alleviating poverty on a global scale. As a leading non-profit organization, we are dedicated to creating sustainable solutions that empower communities through education and economic opportunity. We partner with local organizations worldwide to provide accessible resources and develop innovative programs that change lives. Join us on our mission to make a difference!

The Role:

Are you a visionary leader with a passion for building meaningful partnerships that drive social change? We are seeking an exceptional Partnerships Development Lead to join our dynamic team. In this pivotal role, you’ll be responsible for cultivating and nurturing relationships with international educational institutions, governmental bodies, NGOs, and corporate partners to enhance our global initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive partnership strategy aligned with our mission and objectives.
• Identify, engage, and foster relationships with prospective partners across various sectors to expand our network and enhance collaborative opportunities.
• Prepare and present compelling proposals and grant applications to secure funding and resources.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure alignment between partnership initiatives and organizational goals.
• Represent [Your Organization Name] at international conferences, meetings, and events, amplifying our mission and expanding our reach.
• Monitor and evaluate partnership outcomes, providing regular updates and reports to stakeholders.

What You Bring:

• Experience in partnership development, fundraising, or international relations, preferably within the non-profit sector is desirable but not essential.
• Proven track record of successful collaboration with diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and corporate entities is a bonus.
• Exceptional communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage and inspire a variety of audiences.
• Strong understanding of global adult education, poverty alleviation strategies, and the international development landscape.
• Ability to work independently and in multicultural teams, showing flexibility and adaptability in dynamic environments.
• Fluency in English is required; proficiency in additional languages is a plus.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a passionate team dedicated to creating lasting change in the lives of individuals and communities around the world.
• Work in a flexible, inclusive, and supportive remote work environment.
• Access to professional development opportunities to enhance your skills and career growth.
• Collaborate with an inspiring network of global partners and stakeholders committed to social impact.

Application Closing Date: 31st January 2024

Join us at Project Yananai and help shape the future of education and poverty alleviation across the globe. Together, we can make a world of difference!

Project Yananai is a UK registered charity number 1209060 and an equal opportunity organisation. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all colleagues. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures.

As a Citizens Advice Benefits Form Filler, you will be providing essential support to residents in your community who need help to receive the financial help they need.

After appropriate training, you will help residents to complete disability and sickness applications, grants and travel support.

- attend training and keep up to date, supported as part of a team fill in paper or online forms for Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payments, Limited Capability for Work, discretionary housing payments complete benefit checks to identify any other help

- apply for charity and other grants or other help such support people either in person at one of our offices or community locations, by phone or video.

What is in it for you?

Make a real difference to people’s lives learn about a range of issues such as benefits, debt, employment and housing build on valuable skills such as communication, and problem solving, and increase your employability work with a range of different people, independently, in a team and within your local community have a positive impact in your community.

We’ll reimburse expenses too.

What will you do?

Benefits Form Filler Volunteer

How much time do you need to give?

We can be flexible about the time spent and how often you volunteer so come and talk to us.

Valuing inclusion

Our volunteers come from a range of backgrounds and we particularly welcome applications from racially minoritised people/people of colour, disabled people, people with physical or mental health conditions, LGBTQ+ and non-binary people.

If you are interested in becoming a fundraising volunteer and would like to discuss flexibility around location, time, ‘what you will do’ and how we can support you please contact us.

What do you need to have?

You don’t need specific qualifications or skills but you’ll need to: Be friendly and approachable be non-judgmental and respect views, values and cultures that are different to your own have a positive attitude towards fundraising have excellent verbal and written communication skills have good IT skills be willing to learn about and follow the Citizens Advice aims, principles and policies, including confidentiality and data protection be willing to undertake training in your role.