Part Time (21 hours) / Fixed Term 9-month contract/Hybrid working

Start Date: February/March 2026

Job Description:

Join our small friendly team as someone who thrives on initiative and works hand-in-hand with our residents.

We’re looking for a caring professional who balances strong organisational skills with kindness and understanding.

The Sheppard Trust is an almshouse charity providing affordable independent accommodation for older women. The Trust plans to move to our brand-new, purpose-built accommodation located near Hampton Court village in Surrey.

Whilst we are waiting for the build to complete 20 of our existing residents are temporarily housed in Mill Hill with 4 housed in Greenford.  Their new homes are expected to be ready for occupation around July 2026 and this role is to support these residents before, during and after our move, and to help them settle into their new accommodation.

You’ll bring:

• excellent people skills, and the ability to build trust with a wide range of people
• an understanding of the needs and concerns of older people and the desire to make a difference to their wellbeing
• the ability to work proactively and independently using your own initiative
• a strong commitment to safeguarding. 

We can offer:

• hybrid working
• a salary in the range of £35K – £37.5K
• membership of the Social Housing Pension Scheme (defined contribution)

The right appointment is important to us and so we are willing to discuss proposals for alternative working arrangements with suitable candidates (including adding additional responsibilities to create a full-time role).

How to apply:

For a full job description and application form, or to find out more, please email lisasmith@sheppardtrust.org

Interviews will be held on the 14^thJanuary 2026

No recruitment agencies, newspaper or publications please.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if we receive sufficient applications for the role, so we encourage candidates to apply at their earliest convenience.

Help Shape our Future by Becoming a Trustee of Emma Rice and W.E.J. Knight Almshouse Charity

Are you a passionate community-minded individuals, and want to make use of your skills?
Then why not join the board of Trustees at Emma Rice and W.E.J. Knight Almshouse charity
(Charity No. 801604) and help make a lasting impact.by supporting older residents living in secure, dignified housing.
No experience is required, just a commitment to the community and a willingness to learn.
This is an opportunity for you to help shape the future of this Northampton Almshouse.
In becoming a trustee you will be contributing to:

• Improving the lives of vulnerable older people
• Using your skills to further the charity’s commitments
• Contributing to the aims of the charity

The Board is interested in hearing from you if you have experience or interests in one
or more of the following areas:

1. Finance
2. Property Management
3. Governance
4. Community Engagement
5. Housing or care services for older people
6. Have no prior trustee experience, but want to considered for the Board
   

For an informal chat or to find out more, contact Robert Goulbourne on 01604 760928 or by
emailing your expression of interest to rmgoulb4@btinternet.com

Trustee Role Description:

Key Responsibilities:

1. A commitment to the organisation
2. Having a willingness to learn
3. Ensuring the charity complies with its governing document, charity law, and relevant
   regulatory returns.
4. Being part of the strategic oversight of the charity’s operations.
5. Engaging with property management partners – East Midlands Housing (EMH) on all
   joint business decisions
6. Monitoring financial performance, including managing income shortfalls, and long
   term sustainability.
7. Acting as a guardian of the charity’s mission and reputation.
8. A commitment to equal opportunities

Person Specification:

9. An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of
   trusteeship
10. An ability to work effectively as a member of the Board

Time Commitment:

11. Quarterly board meetings (in person or online meetings)
12. Engagement with residents and property management partners (EMH)
13. An initial term of two years

Governance Action Plan:

The following areas have been identified a priority by the Trustees’ for urgent attentions

Trustee Board: The recruit of 3 or more additional trustees to ensure quorate at meetings and diverse inputs. Ensure Almshouse policies and complaints procedures is in line with current legislation.

Financial Oversight: Review income strategy, prepare budgets, including a future sustainability financial plan.

Filing Compliance: Establish an annual Trustees’ meetings calendar, ensure legal compliance with statutory returns, and current policies.

Resident Engagement: Schedule regular feedback sessions with residents and explore ways to enhance their independent living experience.

Part time Clerk to the Trustees, Equivalent to around one day a week

The charity provides almshouse accommodation in 12 historic properties in Staindrop.

Self employed, £6000 per year.

We are looking for a dynamic, flexible and self motivated person for this rewarding role. A person who enjoys working with people will find this position very fulfilling.

Key responsibilities are:

Administration of the charity

Managing the maintenance of the almshouses

Liaising with residents and working with the trustees

For a full scope of services description, further information and an application form please email staindropalmshouses@gmail.com

Interviews will take place in the week beginning 19th January 2026 with a start date of Monday 2nd March 2026

Volunteer Directors – Wanted

Do you have an interest in the well being of our local community in Shelford, its people and its green space? Come join The Great Shelford Village Charity (GSVC) as a volunteer director! GSVC is looking for two new local people to join our team.

Contact:

For more information please click Volunteer Directors – Wanted – GSVC

Emma Simmons Charity is a small, local charity in Ramsgate providing low cost community almshousing that is held in trust for local people who are in housing need.

We are looking to expand our Board with new volunteer trustees with a passion for supporting older people, a variety of skills, or with experience in either property, social housing, heritage, law and finance. 

What will you be doing?

We expect that Trustees will: 

Act as an ambassador for our work, putting our interests first

Attend our community events, when possible

Help to generate and support funding leads 

Assist with the appointment of new beneficiary residents

Attend bi-annual Board Meetings

Sign off our annual accounts and Trustees report 

Assist with sign-off on payments  

What difference will you make?

By joining our Board, you will help ensure the charity’s effective governance, financial sustainability, and compliance with the law, thereby safeguarding the charity’s future and providing a secure, supportive home for residents. 

You will help to lead the local almshouse community and collaborate to achieve the charity’s core mission of providing affordable homes and care to those in need. 

What are we looking for?

·      A commitment to the charity’s values and principles.

·      A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort.

·      Good, independent judgement, courage, common sense and diplomacy.

·      A willingness to speak their mind.

·      A desire to implement the highest standards of governance.

·      An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship.

·      An ability to work effectively as a member of a team.

·      Ability to listen to and welcome alternative opinions and experiences.

·      A commitment to the following principles of public life: (Government Committee on Standard in Public Life): honesty, integrity, objectivity, accountability, selflessness, openness, and leadership.

How to apply?

Please contact Jeni Hoskin, Clerk to the charity on jeni@openalms.co.uk / 01376 502500 to discuss the role or to express your interest.

Applicants may be invited to meet with the Chair in Ramsgate in October