Volunteering Opportunity: Chair with Special Olympics St Albans

Volunteer Chair (Part time) – Special Olympics St Albans
Lead a Charity. Change Lives Through Sport.
Are you passionate about making a difference in your local community?
SOSA provides weekly sports training and competition opportunities for people aged 8 and over.

Opportunity Type: Long-term Commitment

District: St Albans

Location: From your office, From home

Time of day: To Be Discussed

Practical Considerations: Location:

Home based, but with visits to St Albans.

Requirements: Will require a criminal record check (DBS)

Suitable for: Aged 26 and over, Older People

Suitable for volunteers interested in: Children, Families & Family Support, Health and Wellbeing, Isolation & Loneliness, Learning Disabilities , LGBTQ+, Social Activities, Sport, Activity & Outdoor Pursuits, Trusteeship & Governance, Voluntary & Community Action

Does this opportunity provide wheelchair access?: Yes

Full Description:
Volunteer Chair – Special Olympics St Albans

Lead a Charity. Inspire a Community. Change Lives Through Sport.
Are you passionate about making a difference in your local community? Do you enjoy bringing people together, providing strategic leadership, and helping a charity thrive?

Special Olympics St Albans (SOSA) is looking for an enthusiastic and committed volunteer to become our next Chair. This is a fantastic opportunity to lead a vibrant, inclusive charity that transforms the lives of children and adults with intellectual (learning) disabilities through the power of sport.
SOSA provides weekly sports training and competition opportunities for people aged 8 and over, welcoming athletes of all abilities—from those taking their very first steps into sport to those representing their community at local, national and even international competitions.
As a local branch of Special Olympics Great Britain, SOSA is proud to work alongside Special Olympics GB, Hertfordshire County Council and Everyone Active. Beyond sport, we create lasting friendships, build confidence, and bring families together through a welcoming programme of social events and activities.

The Opportunity
As Chair, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of SOSA. Working alongside a dedicated Board of Trustees, volunteers, coaches and administrators, you'll help ensure the charity continues to grow, develop and provide life-changing opportunities for our athletes.

This is a rewarding leadership role where you'll have the opportunity to influence strategy, support an incredible team, and make a genuine difference to the lives of people with learning disabilities across St Albans and the surrounding area.
No two months are the same. One week you could be leading a board meeting, another celebrating our athletes at a competition, meeting with partners, or helping develop exciting new opportunities for the charity.

Time Commitment
• Approximately 10 hours per month
• Attend four Board meetings each year
• Chair the Annual General Meeting (AGM)
• Meet with trustees and administrators as required
• Attend selected sporting events and charity activities throughout the year

The role is voluntary and flexible, making it ideal for someone looking to use their leadership skills to support an inspiring local charity.

Who We're Looking For
Previous experience as a trustee, committee member or charity board member is helpful but not essential.
We're looking for someone who:
• Is passionate about inclusion and community
• Can inspire and motivate others
• Enjoys working collaboratively
• Has good organisational and communication skills
• Can provide strategic leadership while supporting a committed team of volunteers
• Wants to make a lasting difference to the lives of people with learning disabilities
Above all, we're looking for someone who shares our values and is excited to help Special Olympics St Albans continue to flourish.

Key Responsibilities
• Provide leadership to the Board of Trustees and help shape the strategic direction of the charity.
• Chair Board meetings, set meeting dates, prepare agendas and ensure accurate minutes are recorded.
• Champion good governance and ensure the charity operates in line with its objectives and legal responsibilities.
• Work closely with the Treasurer to oversee the financial wellbeing of the charity.
• Support and collaborate with our two SOSA Administrators, providing guidance where required.
• Build positive relationships with Special Olympics GB, Everyone Active and other key partners.
• Chair the Annual General Meeting and help engage members, volunteers and stakeholders.
• Act as an ambassador for SOSA within the local community and celebrate the achievements of our athletes.

Why Join Us?
By becoming Chair of Special Olympics St Albans, you'll be joining an enthusiastic and supportive team committed to creating opportunities for everyone to achieve their potential through sport.
You'll see first-hand the confidence, friendships and joy that participation brings to our athletes, while helping ensure the charity continues to grow for many years to come.
If you're looking for a meaningful volunteer role where your leadership can make a real and lasting impact, we'd love to hear from you.

Interested?
To arrange an informal conversation about the role, please contact our Vice Chair, Ian Hardy, at
ihardy@hotmail.co.uk.