Volunteering and job vacancies
Our inspirational team is the beating heart of Alex TLC. Becoming a volunteer is a highly rewarding way to show your support for our charity.
We are always on the lookout for people with skills and experience in retail, office administration, communications and fundraising. You don’t need to have prior experience of working in the charity sector to get involved, just a warm heart and the drive to make a difference.

Job Opportunity: Head of Finance
OVERALL PURPOSE OF ROLE OVERVIEW
Alex, The Leukodystrophy Charity (Alex TLC) are a small, independent rare disease charity competing for essential resources within an extremely competitive arena. Ensuring we have accurate and comprehensive financial reporting, and excellent decision-making methodologies, for both senior management and our Board of Trustees is essential for the development of our short, medium and long-term strategies and budgets. Like many other small charities, we have grown organically from an informal support group to the recognised voice for genetic leukodystrophy patients and their families. Formerly ALD Life, an organisation supporting the most prevalent leukodystrophy, adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), in 2019 we expanded our support services to help everyone with a leukodystrophy, increasing both our growth potential and workload. Leukodystrophies are a group of rare genetic neurodegenerative disorders, therefore we acknowledge that support will always be limited. We work towards diversity of income through our charity shop business (5 sites), corporate partnership, voluntary income and grant making trusts. As we grow, robust and comprehensive financial reporting and professional analysis of our financial strategies, alongside demonstrable business acumen, will be essential for our continued success. Overall control of an everchanging financial landscape will be key to sustaining income levels and maintaining our charitable and fundraising activities.
MAIN ACTIVITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Head of Finance will be responsible for our financial strategy and accounts management alongside assisting with development of our overall strategic direction and effectiveness, working closely with the Board of Trustees, Chief Executive Officer, Senior Management and Accounts Team. The Head of Finance is responsible for providing oversight and guidance to two members of staff: the Accounts Manager and Accounts and Administration Assistant. As part of this supervision, they are also responsible for continuous development of innovative approaches to ensure financial effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability, upskilling staff where necessary. A major part of the role is to support the CEO in all business and financial decision making, engaging in negotiations with stakeholders and ensuring organisational legal and statutory obligations are met.
- Oversee accounting functions and identify inefficiencies
- Ensure accurate information is input into Sage and that month end and year end procedures are followed for reliable, timely and consistent reporting
- Annual review and adherence to organisations’ financial strategy and budget
- Continual development and review of comprehensive reporting systems for Board and CEO
- Effectively lead, manage and develop staff to deliver objectives to deadlines
- Oversee management of payroll
- Set, develop and monitor organisational, departmental and project budgets and forecasts
- Ensure sustainability and use financial resources effectively • Manage agreed budgets with minimal variance
- Build reserve levels to required minimum
- Preparing year end and liaising with external accountants for final accounts and Independent Examination
- Reviewing charity, HMRC and other relevant legislation to ensure charity remains compliant
- Advise and assist the CEO in decision-making and negotiations
- Presentation of the organisation’s financial situation to Board GENERAL RESPONSILIBITIES
- Ensure confidentiality at all times, only releasing confidential financial information with consent from the Chief Executive Officer
- Ensure compliance with General Data Protection Regulations and the organisation’s Privacy Policy.
- Declare any Conflicts of Interest through completion of the organisation’s Declaration of Interest form • Ensure adherence to Alex TLC’s policies and Staff Handbook.
- Undertake any other duties that are reasonable and are commensurate with the role.
OTHER FEATURES (TRAVEL, HOURS OF WORK, WORKING CONDITIONS ETC)
The role is part time and office based at our head office for 20 hours per week, which does not include breaks. Working patterns will be agreed upon appointment.
LOCATION
Alex TLC Head Office, 45 Peckham High Street, London SE15 5EB.
For more information and to apply: Charity Job Advert
For questions, please contact info@alextlc.org

Become a Trustee
Our Trustees play an important role in governance and decision making at Alex TLC. Please click here for more information.
To apply please email a CV and covering letter to info@alextlc.org.

Volunteers
Retail Assistant:
As a volunteer Retail Assistant, you will play an important role in the smooth running of Alex TLC’s charity shops in south east London.
Who can volunteer at Alex TLC?
Anyone aged 14 or above, who is looking for a new challenge, can volunteer. You must have a desire to learn new skills, want to meet new people and be willing to work as a team. You do not need to have any experience or qualifications as we will train you.
What can Alex TLC offer you?
We believe in supporting volunteers to fulfil their potential and will help you to learn and develop through continuous hands-on training. We will also enable you:
- To acquire transferable skills such as customer services and team-working.
- To improve your numeracy and literacy skills.
- To develop interpersonal and communications skills so that you grow in confidence.
- To enter a new environment, meet new people and make friends. Alex TLC will also pay travel and lunch expenses (your Alex TLC retail manager will give you the details).
What will you be doing?
You will support shop staff to meet Alex TLC’s daily retail target by:
- Using the till to serve customers and by answering queries.
- Preparing and sorting donations for sale – this includes washing bric-a-brac, steaming clothes and carrying out quality control checks on donations.
- Displaying/restocking items for sale and ensuring that the shop window displays are regularly updated.
How to apply?
Please send a CV detailing your experience, contact details and two references and send it to info@alextlc.org.
If you have any queries about volunteering, please telephone 020 7701 4388.

Volunteer Grant Fundraiser
ABOUT THE ROLE
We are looking for volunteers, preferably with experience of grant fundraising, to:
- research potential grant making trusts for relevance to our specific objectives
- send applications using existing templates
- update our systems with details of applications
This is a wonderful opportunity to develop your existing skills within a unique arena, learn about the difficulties facing those with rare disease, and give vital and tangible support to sufferers of leukodystrophy. We need help to give hope and support to people affected by leukodystrophy – could you be that help?
ABOUT YOU
Candidates should be able to demonstrate the following:
- an interest in ALD Life and the work that we do
- basic understanding of the complexities of leukodystrophy
- excellent written skills
- excellent computer skills, particularly Microsoft Word and Excel
- excellent organisational and administrative skills
We are flexible and the role can be home based or at our Peckham, London SE15 office.

Community Engagement Volunteer
ABOUT THE ROLE
We are looking for volunteers, preferably with experience of community engagement and networking, to:
- Research and develop a database of local authority websites
- Research and develop a database of other charities and support organisations, who may support individuals affected by leukodystrophy
- Request for Alex TLC to be added as a support organisation to the above resource lists
- Improve awareness of the charity and leukodystrophy within local authorities, other charities, and support organisations
- Research ways that we can improve our outreach to yet-to-reach groups within the community
This is a wonderful opportunity to develop your existing skills within a unique arena, learn about the difficulties facing those with rare disease, and give vital and tangible support to sufferers of leukodystrophy.
We need help to give hope and support to people affected by leukodystrophy – could you be that help?
ABOUT YOU
Candidates should be able to demonstrate the following:
- an interest in Alex TLC and the work that we do
- basic understanding of the complexities of leukodystrophy
- excellent written skills
- excellent communication skills
- excellent computer skills, particularly Microsoft Word and Excel
- excellent organisational and administrative skills
Alex TLC are flexible and the role can be home based or at our Peckham, London SE15 office.
To apply, please follow the link: Charity Job Advert

Work Experience Programme
Anyone aged 14 and over can apply for work experience in one of our charity shops or office team. Please get in touch to apply.
If you’re under 16 you’ll need to ask your parent or guardian to complete a consent form.

Bucket Collection Volunteer
Why is this role important?
Being a bucket collection volunteer not only helps raise money for Alex TLC but also helps to raise awareness for the charity. By having regular collections across your local area people will start to recognise Alex TLC and learn more about leukodystrophies.
The role may include:
- Booking collections in your local area
- Attending collections in superstores, football clubs, etc that have been arranged by Alex TLC
- Counting and banking the money after
- Recording details of the collection and informing the charity
Time Commitment
- As much or as little time as you can give with enthusiasm and willingness to get involved and become part of our team.
- You may need to work some evenings and weekends, depending on the collection times
Location of Volunteering
- In your local area
Are travel expenses reimbursed?
- Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed on production of a valid receipt or equivalent.
Training
- Volunteers will be given a full induction once they have registered
- There will be mandatory training which includes health and safety, safe guarding and GDPR.
Personal Requirements
- Passionate about helping those affected by leukodystrophy
- Enthusiastic
- Good communication
- Confident to talk about the charity to new people
What are the benefits to me?
- Meeting and working with new and inspiring people across the community
- The ability to volunteer around your own commitments
- Learning new skills whilst having fun!
- Adding to your CV
- Getting more involved in and making a difference to your local community
- Helping those affected by leukodystrophies
