Following our November 2023 Trustee Recruitment Fair, we are promoting the roles that local organisations are recruiting for at this time.
The organisations that attended the event were:
- Aligned Futures (Islington)
- Castlehaven Community Association (Camden)
- Elfrida Society (Islington)
- Families in Harmony (Islington)
- Fitzrovia Youth in Action (Camden)
- GOAL YC (Camden)
- St Peter’s Children and Young People’s Activities Group (Islington)
- West Hampstead Women’s Centre (Camden)
- Women and Health (Camden)
- Volunteer Centre Camden
And here you will find details of the organisations, what they do, what they are looking for and how you can find out more info and / or express an interest in this volunteering:
1. Aligned Futures
What is the name of your organisation and its mission?
We are Aligned Futures Our mission is to provide young people with access to equal opportunities despite their socio-economic background and learning abilities. Through providing weekly workshops/mentoring sessions that are designed to build young people’s self confidence and aspirations.
What is the title of the volunteering role(s) that you are recruiting for and a brief description of that role(s)?
We are looking for a Trustee (General) who has a passion to support young people overcome present day socio-economic barriers and actively work towards their life aspirations. We would ideally like to recruit a Trustee who is particularly familiar with the London borough of Islington or one who harbours up to date knowledge of Islington. Trustee’s role includes holding responsibility over and providing support towards the development, direction, upkeep, and policies of the charity.
Why would someone want to volunteer with you? What difference will be made to them, to your organisation and / or the local community.
Being a Trustee at Aligned Futures is an opportunity to bring promising change to the community through having responsibility to make key decisions that will result in contributing to a positive difference and impact on young people.
How can someone find out more and / or express an interest in your role (s)?
Please contact the Director of Aligned Futures, Emmanuel Anaedozie, on info@alignedfutures.org , please provide a CV along with a message, We will then schedule a zoom/teams meeting to discuss further on suitability for the role.
2. Castlehaven Community Association
What is the name of your organisation and its mission?
The Castlehaven Community Association (CCA) is an award-winning charity based in the heart of Camden Town since 1986. We aim to bring people together through fun, preventative and interactive activities, such as gardening, arts & crafts, sports & exercise classes, children & young people’s afterschool & holiday schemes, an older people’s programme, health & well-being activities, community events, and loads more. We also run an emergency foodbank, a social prescribing service, LGBTIQ+ activities and a professional information, advice & guidance service.
We have a diverse and friendly team of staff and volunteers who work hard to make Castlehaven a warm, welcoming and caring place for everyone.
What is the title of the volunteering role(s) that you are recruiting for and a brief description of that role(s)?
We are currently recruiting for three new trustees and a treasurer who’ll share our vision and values, and who can help us achieve our mission. As a trustee, you will be responsible for overseeing the financial management, governance and strategy of CCA. You will also support the staff team with your expertise and advice.
You will be expected to attend quarterly board and sub-committee meetings, our annual general meeting, as well as occasional community events and training sessions.
A CCA trustee role is to provide a creative contribution and improvement to the board by providing dispassionate and objective feedback. You will not usually be involved in the day-to-day management of the charity but monitor the executive activity and contribute to the development strategy.
CCA trustees are usually people of knowledge and experience who can act as both a source of independent advice and a check on any wilder elements on a board.
CCA trustees are expected to focus on board matters, thus providing an independent view of the charity and company that is removed from day-to-day running.
All CCA trustees are appointed to bring to the board:
- Independence;
- Impartiality;
- Wide experience;
- Special knowledge;
- Personal qualities.
Treasurer Experience Required (one or more from the list below):
- Accountancy
- Financial Management
- Financial Controls and Audits
- Financial Regulations
Why would someone want to volunteer with you?
As part of the Castlehaven Community Association (CCA) Board of Trustees you will support and shape our work and strategic direction, as well as help us achieve our purpose to ensure that CCA continues to respond to the social, health, recreational and educational needs of our local community. That we use our spaces, buildings and assets in new, positive and creative ways for all who live and work in the area. And use our services to provide an amplified voice, offer life-changing experiences, and inspire and empower people of all ages, cultures, backgrounds, genders and abilities to strive both mentally and physically, to achieve their full economic and social potential, and be part of a strong and caring community.
Being a CCA trustee is a vital role, helping ensure we continue to provide and extend our range of much-needed support and services to our beneficiaries. As a CCA trustee, you will have a real opportunity to offer your unique skill set to help the strategic progression and sustainability of the charity.
How can someone find out more and / or express an interest in your role (s)?
If you were interested in becoming a CCA trustee or treasurer you can find out more via emailing our CEO Tricia Richards on tricia@castlehaven.org.uk or calling 020 7485 3386, otherwise you can check our website for more detailed information on our website www.castlehaven.org.uk – Work For Us – Castlehaven
3. Elfrida Society
What is the name of your organisation and its mission?
With a rich history spanning 100 years, the Elfrida Society exists to empower individuals with learning disabilities and/or autism or learning difficulties (LDAD) to lead happy, independent lives while ensuring their voices are heard. Our primary goal is to provide unwavering support through specialised advocacy, fostering a sense of empowerment and equal access to opportunities. In the past year, our impact has been significant, supporting over 400 individuals through specialist independent advocacy for individuals and parents with LDAD, facilitating user-led groups engaged in quality assurance monitoring of local learning disability (LD) provision, sports and recreational initiatives, research and co-production.
These initiatives work cohesively to challenge prejudices towards individuals with LDAD and positively influence both local and national policies. The Elfrida Society is dedicated to creating a society where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can thrive, participate, and have their rights represented.
What is the title of the volunteering role(s) that you are recruiting for and a brief description of that role(s)?
We are recruiting for new Trustees to contribute to the impactful work we do for people with learning disabilities and/or autism or learning difficulties in Islington and beyond.
As a Trustee, you will play an important role in directing the affairs of The Elfrida Society. Your responsibilities include contributing to strategic direction, ensuring legal and financial compliance, and actively participating in setting policies and goals. Your skills and expertise will help us reach more people with learning disabilities and enhance our services.
We are looking for individuals with a commitment to our organisation, a strategic vision, good judgement, and the ability to think creatively. Essential qualities include a willingness to devote time and effort, independent thinking, effective communication, and a team-oriented approach.
Why would someone want to volunteer with you?
Volunteers supporting The Elfrida Society can gain a deeply rewarding and impactful experience, contributing to the organisation’s rich legacy of promoting inclusivity and advocating for the rights of individuals with learning disabilities. Benefits include engagement with a cherished community base that has been advocating for inclusivity and social justice for 100 years and fostering connections with diverse individuals, promoting a sense of belonging and community.
You could make a significant impact by using your voice to champion improvement, innovation, and the rights of people with learning disabilities. Your commitment will ensure that everyone, regardless of their abilities, has equal chances and opportunities to succeed in life.
How can someone find out more and / or express an interest in your role (s)?
If you are interested please send your CV and supporting statement to elfrida@elfrida.com
If you wish to arrange an informal discussion about the opportunity, please email Dolly Galvis, CEO on dolly.galvis@elfrida.com
4. Families in Harmony
What is the name of your organisation and its mission?
Families in Harmony is a black service user-led Kinship Care organisation, the only one in its field. Kinship Care is when a child is no longer able to live with their birth parents, and are homed within their extended family. It is necessary for a service such as ours as Due to childhood trauma faced by these children, resettling into new homes is very challenging, due to the impact of trauma experienced and its lasting impact upon children’s development. We provide training in therapeutic parenting to support families caring for children. We facilitate support groups for carers, a safe non-judgemental space where carers can share, relax .
We are currently involved in training social workers around cultural awareness working with families, bringing attention to cultural difference, and nuances, to enhance the delivery of services for African Caribbean Kinship families.
Our mission is fuelled by the belief that the bonds of kinship are powerful and that every child has the right to grow up in an environment that cherishes their heritage, fosters their potential, and honours their unique journey. At Families in Harmony, we understand the unique and rich dynamics that make up Black families. We are dedicated to working tirelessly to create lasting change that amplifies the voices, strengths, and stories of kinship caregivers, paving the way for a brighter future for generations to come.”
What is the title of the volunteering role(s) that you are recruiting for and a brief description of that role(s)?
We are keen to recruit trustees to our board who are passionate about the work we do and our ethos, of equitable services for all, giving access to opportunity. We are particularly keen to fill gaps in our present board where we need an injection of financial and legal knowledge to balance the complement of skills required to effectively steer the organisation forward. Financial areas of governance would include things such as preparation of end of year accounts, preparation of salaires (quick books), and tax returns as required.
Why would someone want to volunteer with you?
Becoming part of the solution, supporting families, who are doing an amazing job. We offer training, full inclusivity to actively becoming a lead on our activities/services.
Build a lasting legacy of change for Kinship families, who have faced marginalisation to rebuild their faith in the National services, improve the opportunity for better outcomes of children who experience kinship care and better experiences for carers.
How can someone find out more and / or express an interest in your role (s)?
We can be emailed : info@familiesinharmony.org.uk
visit our website. www.familiesinharmony.org.uk
Or call Johanna on 07709 240 585
5. Fitzrovia Youth in Action
What is the name of your organisation and its mission?
Fitzrovia Youth in Action is Camden’s leading youth action charity. Each year we support hundreds of young people in tackling the issues that matter to them in their community. Recent activities led by children and young people have addressed mental health, isolation, relationships, employment and community cohesion. Young people provide peer support, develop peer education programmes, organise community events and communicate the issues and challenges that young people face back to those in power and the wider community.
What is the title of the volunteering role(s) that you are recruiting for and a brief description of that role(s)
We are recruiting into the role of Trustee (General) and are eager to talk to people with specific skills and experience in business development & income generation, marketing / PR, youth participation and youth work, legal & governance. We would also love to find out more about alternative skills and experiences on offer from to candidates who may not have the specific skills above but who recognises the importance of, and is passionate about, volunteering.
Prior Board experience is welcome but not required. Ideally, we would like to recruit a Trustee who are familiar with the London Borough of Camden and/or the voluntary and community sector, though this is not an essential requirement.
Why would someone want to volunteer with you?
Our Board of Trustees play a crucial role in overseeing Fitzrovia Youth in Action and has an opportunity to influence the work we do and shape FYA’s strategic direction. Ours is a small charity with an active Board who work frequently with our staff team and service users and so can see the direct impact of their contributions, both in the organisation and in the communities we support. Our Board and staff team are very friendly and welcoming!
How can someone find out more and / or express an interest in your role(s)?
If you are interested, please send us a copy of your CV to info@fya.org.uk , including a paragraph explaining why you are interested in the role.
6. GOAL YC (Camden)
GOAL Youth Club (GOALYC) at the Dome is a volunteer led charity in Gospel Oak, NW5. Young people are at the heart of everything we do. They helped to design the facilities and play a big part in the planning and development of projects in the youth club. They named the youth club after the giant inflatable covering a multi-purpose sports hall the size of six badminton courts situated in the middle of the Queen’s Crescent council estate.
For over three decades, we’ve been providing a safe space in one of the most deprived areas of North London, where young people are at risk from gangs, drugs and violent crime. Today GOALYC continues to provide activities on weekday evenings: football tournaments, trips, life skills sessions, science demonstrations and craft workshops. We also host inspirational speakers, and our young people have access to an IT suite, a music studio, a kitchen to cook and a gym to stay active. Youth workers provide advice, guidance and inspiration to help them reach their full potential. We run special initiatives for hard-to-engage young people to help them to secure training or employment. This winter, as families feel the pinch, we hope to be able to provide hot food in the evenings.
By working in close partnership with Queen’s Crescent Community Association (QCCA), whose services include a food bank, housing and benefits advice, and social events, we provide a joined-up service to local families. the partnership supports 600 young people a year.
All activities are free so that everyone has the chance to try things that will help them make friends, learn new skills and get fitter.
The school holiday club for pre-teens, which provided free daytime activities, sports taster sessions, and day trips and served 295 cooked lunches this summer.
We run junior and senior youth clubs with separate sports activities for the two age groups (8 – 12 and 13 – 19). During school breaks we hold holiday camps with a hot meal whenever funding allows. We like working in partnerships. Local youth charity GOAL-YC is a constant partner both in terms of thinking and support. In 2021, GOAL-YC and QCCA launched Off the Hook with the Metropolitan police – a programme where young people learn to box alongside local police and attend workshops that lead to AQA qualifications.
How can someone find out more and / or express an interest in your role (s)?
Contact adrian@adrianmars.com
7. St Peter’s Children and Young People’s Activities Group
What is the name of your organisation and its mission?
Our name is St Peter’s Children and Young People’s Activities Group (SPAG for short). We became a registered charity in 2019. Our aim is to reduce inequality among disadvantaged children in the part of South Islington close to the Regents Canal. Ours is an area where wealth and extreme poverty exist side by side and we want to give our children some of the benefits enjoyed by their better-off peers. For the first four years we ran summer schools for year 5 and 6 children (aged 9 – 11) and in 2023 expanded into a partnership with 6 local schools to fund tutoring for those children during the year and then a summer project for excitement and fun. We will consolidate this new model in 2024.
What is the title of the volunteering role(s) that you are recruiting for and a brief description of that role(s)?
We are looking for new trustees to go on the management committee of the charity to share responsibility for organising the summer project and fundraising for the money to fund our activities. We have enough in reserves and promises of likely funding to cover the coming year’s activities, but work on grant applications will be needed for the future (We have a good track record of success in fundraising this way). We are also interested in new trustees with safeguarding expertise, with administrative skills, with experience in primary schools, in marketing and in finance. Two of our four trustees will be stepping down at the end of the financial year and we are looking for people with commitment and ideas who will carry on the work and bring their own talents to it. The work of delivering both tutoring and the summer project is done by paid staff, but there is also scope for volunteers 9 including trustees) in helping – exhilarating and fun as well as hard work.
Why would someone want to volunteer with you?
We evaluate our work carefully – we need to in order to win grant funding. Our latest report (available soon) shows that we had the direct impact of raising attainment in reading, writing and maths through our tutoring in schools and that our summer project was very much appreciated. Most of our children have not had the chance to do exciting sports like Kayaking before and they loved it. And for many it was their first sight of the sea when they went on our seaside day trip. Our photos tell their own story.
The current trustees find great satisfaction in the benefit we can bring to the children and we know our work is appreciated. We are looking for new members of the leadership team who will bring their own talents and experience to the role and start the process of becoming our successors.
How can someone find out more and / or express an interest in your role (s)?
Please contact the chair, Sue Richards, on profrichards@tiscali.co.uk or on 07407 379194. We will then arrange a meeting when we can discuss whether there is a good match between us.
8. West Hampstead Women’s Centre
What is the name of your organisation and its mission?
We are West Hampstead Women’s Centre, a lively women-only community hub, offering advocacy and advice, supporting women on a practical and emotional level with activities, social, health, well-being and other support services. We aim to improve the quality of the lives of the women using our services, relieve poverty, provide a safe supportive space for women and encourage women to develop their potential and participate in the community. We welcome women from diverse communities, and we support all women regardless of cultural and economic backgrounds, beliefs, ability, sexual orientation, or age. We bring communities together and actively encourage integration with 80% of our service users coming from BAME communities
What is the title of the volunteering role(s) that you are recruiting for and a brief description of that role(s)
We are looking for several new Trustees to join our Board and help support and develop our charity. As a Trustee you will have the opportunity to express your ideas and to be part of the decision-making process in a dedicated women’s organisation. Our Trustees hold overall responsibility for the direction, policies, finances and staffing of the charity, supporting West Hampstead Women’s Centre to grow and pursue its mission. Ideally candidates will live or work in Camden and be able to demonstrate up to date knowledge of the borough. We welcome candidates with lived experience, and if you have worked with marginalised sections of the community and organisations in the voluntary sector that will also be helpful. It is a bonus if you have experience in either Strategic Planning, Human Resources, Law, Fundraising, or the Third Sector and Partnerships. One of the vacant Trustee roles is Treasurer, so an understanding of accounting and financial procedures would be helpful for that role.
Why would someone want to volunteer with you?
Volunteering as a Trustee you will develop skills and experience in a range of areas including governance, planning, fundraising, finance, human resources, and increase your knowledge and experience of the charitable sector. You will work together with other women in a multicultural charity to make a positive difference to marginalised women’s lives and promote the interests, health and wellbeing of women in Camden and the local community. Your contribution will help our centre to grow and thrive and we’d love to hear from you especially if you want to make a positive difference for women. This role is open to women only in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.
How can someone find out more and / or express an interest in your role (s)?
Please contact Susan by email: susan@whwc.org.uk or phone: 0207 328 7389 to find out more about the role and how to apply.
9. Women and Health
What is the name of your organisation and its mission? (why does it exist, what does it aim to do)
Our charity is called Women + Health and our objectives are to preserve and promote the good physical and mental health of women and their families in the London Borough of Camden, prioritising those who are most disadvantaged, and to advance the education of such women and their families about all matters concerning their health.
Many service users have complex health and social needs and include survivors of domestic and sexual violence, those suffering with multiple chronic physical pain conditions, burnout syndrome, PTSD, anxiety and depression.
We are pioneers of integrated healthcare, their unique, person-centred, holistic approach nurtures physical, mental and social wellbeing and our services include short and long term counselling, CAMs (complementary and alternative medicine) such as acupuncture, reflexology, shiatsu, therapeutic gardening and life coaching. We also have an online exercise class, ‘Wake Up Wednesdays’.
What is the title of the volunteering role(s) that you are recruiting for and a brief description of that role(s)?
We are looking for a trustee with fundraising experience with a charity or foundation or comparable skills working in business. We would look for this trustee to help with/take the lead on the Management Committee on the fundraising strategy, fundraising events and fundraising with corporates and individuals, developing our supporter base. The trustee would participate in monthly evening fundraising subcommittee meetings and weekly or biweekly meetings when preparing for a fundraising event. These meetings run up to 1.5 hours. The trustee would work together with the director of Women + Health, the Management Committee of trustees and the fundraising coordinator. The trustee would also participate in regular Management Committee evening meetings which occur six times a year and last up to two hours.
Why would someone want to volunteer with you?
Being a trustee at Women + Health is a great way to support vulnerable, disadvantaged and underrepresented women and learn new skills. Trustees have overall control of how Women + Health is run. Trustees are responsible for making sure the organisation is doing what it set out to do and that it has the funds it needs to run effectively.
How can someone find out more and / or express an interest in your role (s)?
Please contact the director of Women + Health, Gemma Tighe, at gemma@women-and-health.org if you are interested and please include a CV or a letter describing your experience. We will then arrange a short Zoom call with the director and one trustee to see whether there is a good match.
10. Volunteer Centre Camden
What is the name of your organisation and its mission?
Volunteer Centre Camden’s mission is to make volunteering in Camden as simple, rewarding, accessible, and impactful as possible.
What is the title of the volunteering role(s) that you are recruiting for and a brief description of that role(s)
Trustee (General) – we are open to anyone who recognises and is passionate about the importance of volunteering. Ideally, we would like to recruit a Trustee who knows Camden and/or the voluntary and community sector.
Why would someone want to volunteer with you?
As a trustee you and the rest of the board will play a crucial role in overseeing Volunteer Centre Camden and responsible for its strategic direction. This will help develop and increase volunteering across all of Camden, enabling more people to support their community.
How can someone find out more and / or express an interest in your role (s)?
Email CEO Dominic Pinkney (dominic@volunteercentrecamden.org.uk) to find out more and if interested please send your CV and a short message explaining why you are interested and what skills and experience you can bring to the board.
