As a General Trustee, you will work alongside the other trustees to ensure Pennine Pen Animal Rescue is well governed, financially sustainable and operating in the best interests of the animals and communities we support.
You will contribute your ideas, knowledge and experience to Board discussions, help make important decisions about the charity’s future and support our staff and volunteers to deliver our aims.
Trustees share collective responsibility for:
Ensuring the charity carries out its purposes for the public benefit.
Making sure the charity complies with its governing document and relevant legislation.
Acting in the charity’s best interests.
Overseeing the charity’s finances, resources and risks.
Protecting the charity’s reputation, property and assets.
Supporting the charity’s future development and sustainability.
Ensuring appropriate safeguarding, health and safety, and other policies are in place.
Providing constructive support and challenge when decisions are made.
Supporting the effective oversight of our three charity shops, which provide essential income for the rescue.
We are looking for someone who:
Cares about animal welfare and supports the values of Pennine Pen Animal Rescue.
Has an interest in charity retail, community engagement or volunteer support.
Can contribute positively and constructively to discussions.
Is willing to take collective responsibility for Board decisions.
Can consider information carefully and exercise sound judgement.
Is reliable, honest and able to maintain confidentiality.
Is willing to give an appropriate amount of time to the role.
Can work respectfully with trustees, employees and volunteers.
Is willing to learn and undertake relevant training.
Experience in retail, business, people management, finance or volunteer management would be helpful, but it is not essential. We welcome applicants from a wide range of backgrounds who can bring new perspectives, community knowledge or transferable skills.
This is an unpaid voluntary position.
Key information
- Start Date: 7th September 2026
- End Date: 6th December 2028
- Volunteer: Weekly
- Tasks: Alongside attending and contributing to trustee meetings, we would like our General Trustee to become actively involved in areas that reflect their interests, skills and availability. This could include:
Supporting the oversight and development of our three charity shops.
Working with the Retail Operations Lead, shop staff and volunteers to help address operational issues.
Helping to monitor shop performance, income, expenditure and opportunities for improvement.
Supporting volunteer recruitment, engagement and recognition across the shops.
Helping to ensure appropriate policies, procedures and health and safety arrangements are followed.
Visiting the shops periodically and building positive relationships with staff and volunteers.
Contributing to ideas that could increase donations, sales and community engagement.
Supporting fundraising events and campaigns.
Developing relationships with local businesses, supporters and community organisations.
Helping to identify sponsorship, partnership and grant-funding opportunities.
Promoting the charity and its work within the local community.
Contributing to the development and review of policies and procedures.
Helping to review the charity’s performance, impact and future priorities.
Supporting communications, publicity or social media activity.
Attending occasional events or representing the charity at community meetings.
Contributing to specific projects or working groups.
Using your professional skills or experience to strengthen the charity.
Trustees are not expected to undertake every activity or become involved in the day-to-day management of the shops. Tasks will be agreed according to the needs of the charity and the trustee’s skills, interests and available time. The role will focus on providing appropriate support, oversight and guidance to the employees and volunteers responsible for daily shop operations.
Please note that this role will be primarily remote, with occasional travel around Oldham to the Rescue and Charity Shops. - Training: You do not need to have previous trustee experience. A full induction and ongoing support will be provided, including:
An introduction to Pennine Pen Animal Rescue, our history, services and future priorities.
An overview of the rescue centre and our three charity shops.
An introduction to the charity’s retail structure, responsibilities and ways of working.
An overview of the charity’s governing document and Board procedures.
ICAEW Trustee Training - Interests: Animals
- Suitability: 18 and over
- Activities: Accountancy, Administration, Business, Financial control, Fundraising, IT, Retail, Social media, Virtual Volunteering
- DBS Check: Yes
- Are Volunteer Expenses Reimbursed?: Yes
Supporting the oversight and development of our three charity shops.
Working with the Retail Operations Lead, shop staff and volunteers to help address operational issues.
Helping to monitor shop performance, income, expenditure and opportunities for improvement.
Supporting volunteer recruitment, engagement and recognition across the shops.
Helping to ensure appropriate policies, procedures and health and safety arrangements are followed.
Visiting the shops periodically and building positive relationships with staff and volunteers.
Contributing to ideas that could increase donations, sales and community engagement.
Supporting fundraising events and campaigns.
Developing relationships with local businesses, supporters and community organisations.
Helping to identify sponsorship, partnership and grant-funding opportunities.
Promoting the charity and its work within the local community.
Contributing to the development and review of policies and procedures.
Helping to review the charity’s performance, impact and future priorities.
Supporting communications, publicity or social media activity.
Attending occasional events or representing the charity at community meetings.
Contributing to specific projects or working groups.
Using your professional skills or experience to strengthen the charity.
Trustees are not expected to undertake every activity or become involved in the day-to-day management of the shops. Tasks will be agreed according to the needs of the charity and the trustee’s skills, interests and available time. The role will focus on providing appropriate support, oversight and guidance to the employees and volunteers responsible for daily shop operations.
Please note that this role will be primarily remote, with occasional travel around Oldham to the Rescue and Charity Shops.
An introduction to Pennine Pen Animal Rescue, our history, services and future priorities.
An overview of the rescue centre and our three charity shops.
An introduction to the charity’s retail structure, responsibilities and ways of working.
An overview of the charity’s governing document and Board procedures.
ICAEW Trustee Training