Opportunities

Spotlight on nominations

Non-Trustee Member – Programmes & Prioritisation Committee (PPC) Britain Yearly Meeting Trustees

This role works alongside Trustees and the Central Committees in determining priorities and allocating resources. It requires:

• an understanding of governance and the responsibilities of charity trustees
  
• familiarity with the religious and charitable objects of the YM
• some experience of different approaches to evaluating the impact of work programmes

The committee will meet around twice each year, usually online, with a requirement for some reading of reports and papers in advance of each meeting. At present we are particularly seeking someone with experience across a range of Quaker service and other charitable activity and the ability to communicate well. Some familiarity with a range of methods for evaluating impact would be beneficial.

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORM.

Non-Trustee Member – Finance, IT & Property Committee (FIPC) Britain Yearly Meeting Trustees

Britain Yearly Meeting Trustees seek a non-Trustee Friend to join their Finance, IT & Property Committee, which supports trustees in overseeing the charity's finances, property and IT. The committee meets five times a year (weekday evenings, usually online). Papers are circulated in advance for review.

At present we are particularly seeking someone with professional qualifications and experience in finance. Non-trustee members bring specialist expertise and do not carry trustee liability. Appointments are for three years, with the possibility of one further term.

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORM

Quaker Housing Trust

Central Nominations Committee are seeking new trustees for Quaker Housing Trust. Relevant qualifications or experience are welcome, but equally important is a strong commitment towards redressing the growing inequality in housing options in Britain.

Quaker Housing Trust was formed in 1967, as a practical response to the Quaker concern about providing adequate and appropriate homes for badly housed and otherwise homeless people.

QHT is Yearly Meeting in Britain's own housing charity. It aims to use its resources to make a genuine and positive difference. Its emphasis is on the provision of homes – not just housing.

“Though the materials we work with are bricks, mortar and money, our concern is for people.”

If this speaks to your condition, you can find out more about what the role entails here, and if you are interested, please make yourself known to CNC by filling in an Expression of Interest form.

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORM

Quaker Peace & Social Witness Standing Nominations Committee

This committee aims to find the right Friends for roles which put our faith into action and our witness into practice, including the committee which governs the Ecumenical Accompaniment in Isreal and Palestine program, and the Nobel Prize Committee.

It meets three to six times a year. It seeks four new members who have an interest in people, teambuilding, or peace work.

Committee clerk, Lesley Grahame describes the work as, "a real privilege to see the depth and range of skills, experience and talent within the Society, and to help shape the creative, life-affirming ways that said talent is set to work".

Please contact nominations@quaker.org.uk or 0207 663 1165.

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORM

Complete list of service opportunities

If the type of service outlined above appeals to you, or you are interested in the any of roles outlined below please tell us about yourself by completing a service information form (it takes about 10 minutes). We can then match you to suitable roles as they arise.

SERVICE INFORMATION FORM

Quaker Governance: keeping our organisation in good order

Quaker Governance ensures that Britain Yearly Meeting is well run. These committees and groups make sure our work is in accord with Quaker faith and values.

• Audit Committee works to ensure that Britain Yearly Meeting's finances are legal, well managed and low risk.
• Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) Trustees support and guide the administration of Britain Yearly Meeting and are responsible for its buildings and assets. Find out about BYM Trustees
• BYM Trustee Nominations find Friends to serve on BYM Trustee-appointed committees.
• Central Nominations Committee matches the gifts of Friends across Britain Yearly Meeting to the roles that serve it. This includes work on central committees and groups. It also appoints Friends to represent Quakers on outside bodies.
• Church Government Advisory Group identifies and drafts any changes to Quaker faith & practice. It consults with Friends and other experts as needed.
• Employment Committee oversees the employment of Britain Yearly Meeting's staff. This includes policy setting, salary awards and compliance.
• Finance & Property Committee looks after the finance and property of Britain Yearly Meeting.
• Friends Trusts Ltd looks after the property and investments held in trust for Britain Yearly Meeting.
• Quiet Company Trustees oversee the work of Quiet Company. Quiet Company works on behalf of the charity, Britain Yearly Meeting, to run a conference, events and catering business at Friends House. It also oversees the running of Swarthmoor Hall, the Friends House bookshop, and facilities on both sites. Find out more about Quiet Company. Find out about Quiet Company (offsite link).
• Meeting for Sufferings Arrangements Group supports Meeting for Sufferings.
• Quaker Housing Trust, Trustees : Quaker Housing Trust (QHT) is a charity that funds and supports social housing projects. It gives small grants, interest-free loans and advice. Find out more about QHT (offsite link).
• Quaker Life Approvals Panel provides an appeals process for Friends who have a criminal record. These Friends may have been told that they cannot take on a job which works with children and vulnerable people. They can appeal this decision with the Quaker Life Appeals Panel.
• Senior Staff Grievance & Disciplinary Group is called on when there is a need to hear a grievance or to discipline a senior staff member of Britain Yearly Meeting.
• Yearly Meeting Agenda Committee discerns, plans and runs Yearly Meeting and Yearly Meeting Gathering.
• Yearly Meeting Arrangements Committee helps to run Yearly Meeting. It supports and acts on behalf of the Agenda Committee at Yearly Meetings.
• Yearly Meeting Nominating Group works to find Friends to serve on Central Nominations Committee.

Quaker Connections: working with Quaker and non-Quaker groups

Quaker Connections reach out to make connections with other groups. These can be other Quaker meetings across the world, or other faith groups.

• Friend in Residence, Pendle Hill Study Centre stays at Pendle Hill in North America for three months in autumn/winter. Friends taking on this role live and work at the centre.
• Quaker Committee for Christian & Interfaith Relations (QCCIR) helps Quakers work with other faiths and human values groups to find and pursue common goals. Find out about QCCIR.
• Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA) bring a vision of peace, justice and equality to Europe. It works with other groups working in Europe. Find out about QCEA (offsite link).
• Quaker United Nations (UN) Committee - Geneva (QUNC Geneva): The Quaker UN Office holds Friends' concerns for global peace and justice. The committee sets the priorities and it monitors the work of the UN Office. Find out about QUNC Geneva.
• Quaker World Relations Committee (QWRC) helps Britain Yearly Meeting keep in contact with other Quaker meetings and groups across the world. It helps them understand and support one another. Find out about QWRC.
• Representatives to other European meetings represent Britain Yearly Meeting at a European Yearly Meeting. Friends are only asked to serve over the time of the meeting. This is a short term appointment.

Quaker Life: nurturing Quaker communities

Quaker Life works to support and strengthen Quaker life throughout the yearly meeting.

• Book of Discipline Revision Committee (BDRC) works to revise Quaker faith & practice. This work is done every generation to reflect changes in faith. This work began in 2019 and lasts ten years.
• Developing Opportunities for Young Quakers Reference Group supports young Quakers (aged from 11 to 18) to get involved in their faith. It works with local and area meetings.
• Engaging Young Adult Friends supports and empower young adults across Britain Yearly Meeting to fully take part in their faith. Young adult Quakers are those aged from 18 to 35. Find out about work with Young Adult Quakers.
• Quaker Life Central Committee (QLCC) work to support and strengthen Quaker life across Britain. The committee oversees both the nurture of the spirit and the practical tasks that are needed to run our Quaker meetings. Find out about QLCC.
• Yearly Meeting Elders make sure that the meetings of Britain Yearly Meeting are held as an expression of the Quaker faith. They promote the principles of our meetings for both worship and business. They are there to support and guide all Friends in the meeting.
• Yearly Meeting Epistle Drafters write the Epistle at Yearly Meeting. This is a short term appointment over the course of Yearly Meeting.
• Yearly Meeting Pastoral Care supports Friends in need who come to Yearly Meeting. The need could be emotional, physical or spiritual. The group also manages the bursary for Friends who need financial support to come.
• Yearly Meeting Publications Group oversees the publication of Quaker faith & practice, the book of Christian discipline of the Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). It also has to ensure the up-to-date publication of the booklet Advices & queries.

Quaker Peace & Social Witness: putting faith into action

Quaker Peace & Social Witness works to translate Quaker faith into action.

• Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI): Committee members guide the work of this programme. The work places people from the UK and Ireland into Palestine and Israel. They live alongside the communities and work nonviolently against military occupation. Find out about EAPPI
  
• QPSW Central Committee (QPSWCC) has oversight of Quaker work for peace and social justice. It has a strategic view of the work of the other committees within QPSW. Find out about QPSWCC.
  
• QPSW Conciliation Group sets the priorities for QPSW conciliation work. The aim of this work is to support key groups and people involved in specific conflicts. The work helps them to deal with conflict without the use of violence. Find out about Quaker conciliation work.
  
• QPSW Grants Group awards QPSW small grants. These range from grants for international development to grants for education. Find out about QPSW Grants
  
• QPSW Peace Reference Group will develop a strategy for becoming an “active and visible voice for peace" on behalf of the yearly meeting.
• QPSW Standing Nominations Committee works to match the gifts of Friends to these QPSW groups.