AVP Yorkshire Volunteer Treasurer

About AVP: AVP is a volunteer-led organisation which organises low-cost workshops in communities and prisons for anyone whose life is affected by violence and wants to find healthier ways of dealing with conflict. AVP originated in a New York prison in 1975 and has since spread to over 100 countries around the world. AVP has been active in the UK since the 1990s.

AVP Britain works on the conviction — backed by research on conflict dynamics — that people are not inherently violent, and that violence is resorted to from a lack (or perceived lack) of alternatives.

Aims of the Volunteer Treasurer role  To oversee all of the region’s financial activities  To provide regular financial advice and information to the Regional Committee, and to the AVP Britain Board of Trustees

Principal tasks and responsibilities:  To maintain accurate and up-to-date book-keeping records for the region, in accordance with Charity Commission guidelines  To act as one of the bank signatories to the regional bank account  To prepare and present relevant and regular financial reports to the Regional Committee and to the Board of Trustees  To take the lead in planning and budgeting the region’s finances with the rest of the Regional Committee  To ensure the region is claiming gift aid and obtaining charity VAT relief as appropriate  Ideally, to prepare end of year accounts, or to ensure the accounts are prepared, in accordance with Charity Commission guidelines  To ensure the annual accounts are independently examined and sent to AVP Britain in good time

Skills and qualities.  familiarity with, or ability to learn to use, relevant accounting software to record income and expenditure  good level of general IT skills (e.g. for online banking, email, ability to navigate the internet)  experience of managing finances for a business or charity, or other financial accounting experience Person description Ideally, you will have a financial and/ or business background (e.g. accountancy, bank, business, charity accounting) but this is not essential. You will be comfortable working independently at home, in the main.

What’s in it for the volunteer? You would have the satisfaction of enabling this small charity to provide specialist help to a vulnerable group of people, and of therefore indirectly making a real difference to their lives. You will be a member of a small, friendly team of volunteers, and also have contact with the national organisation through the Annual Gathering. If desired you could also become involved in other aspects of the region’s work.

Support and training:  Introduction to AVP  Explanation of the accounting system (and where necessary, training on the Charity Commission requirements, with links to their website)  Support from the Finance Officer of AVP Britain, and from the Regional Coordinator and committee  Support from other local volunteers, both informally and at regional meetings  Travel and meal expenses in line with the AVP expenses policy  Subsidised places on the AVP handling conflict workshops where needed  National gatherings with AVP volunteers from across the UK

Time commitment  Either in or out of office hours  Approximately 2 to 3 hours per week from home & attendance at quarterly committee meetings in Leeds or York.

What to do next: If you are interested in being a part of this exciting opportunity please email us saying why you are interested and what you could bring to AVP Yorkshire. Include a CV if you have one.

Someone will be in touch with you within a couple of weeks and invite you for an informal conversation.