UMT Secretary - Volunteer

Help keep our Sea Cadets unit running smoothly. As Secretary, you’ll coordinate meetings, keep records organised and support the team behind the scenes. A great role for someone organised who wants to make a real difference to local young people.

The Secretary Trustee plays a vital role in ensuring that the Unit Management Team operates effectively and that the organisation remains well organised, accountable and focused on its goals. By coordinating meetings, maintaining clear records and supporting communication across the team, the Secretary helps ensure that important decisions are captured and acted upon. For a volunteer-led youth organisation like Waltham Forest Sea Cadets & Royal Marines Cadets, strong coordination is essential. Trustees, instructors and volunteers all contribute their time alongside busy work and family commitments. The Secretary helps bring structure to this effort by ensuring meetings are well prepared, actions are recorded and progress can be tracked. This allows the team to spend less time on administration and more time focusing on what really matters: supporting young people.

The impact of this role is felt across the entire organisation. Clear governance and organised decision-making help the unit operate smoothly, meet its responsibilities and continue delivering a safe, well-run programme for cadets. When the Unit Management Team works effectively, it creates a strong foundation that supports volunteers, instructors and the young people who attend the unit each week. The Secretary also helps maintain continuity as trustees change over time. By keeping accurate records and ensuring knowledge is documented, the role helps preserve the history and progress of the unit. This makes it easier for new trustees to contribute quickly and ensures the organisation continues to develop rather than losing momentum.

Ultimately, the Secretary Trustee enables the team to stay aligned around shared goals such as expanding opportunities for cadets, supporting volunteers and improving the unit’s facilities. Their work strengthens the governance of the organisation and ensures that good ideas turn into real actions. Behind every successful youth programme is a team of people working together effectively. By helping keep the Unit Management Team organised and connected, the Secretary plays an essential role in ensuring that Waltham Forest Sea Cadets & Royal Marines Cadets can continue providing life-changing opportunities for young people in the community.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for a Secretary Trustee who is organised, reliable and enjoys helping a team operate effectively. This role suits someone who takes satisfaction in keeping things running smoothly and ensuring that people stay informed and connected. The most important quality for this role is strong organisational ability. The Secretary supports the Unit Management Team by helping coordinate meetings, preparing agendas in collaboration with the Chair, and keeping accurate records of discussions and decisions. Someone who is comfortable managing documents, tracking actions and ensuring information is accessible to the team will thrive in this role. Good communication skills are also important. The Secretary helps ensure that trustees, volunteers and sometimes external partners are kept informed. This includes circulating meeting papers, sharing updates and maintaining clear records that support transparency and good governance. The ability to communicate clearly and professionally is therefore very valuable.

Previous experience as a secretary, administrator, coordinator or governance volunteer is desirable, but the most important factor is a willingness to learn and a commitment to supporting the organisation. An understanding of basic governance practices, such as maintaining meeting minutes and supporting decision-making processes, would be beneficial. However, training and support can be provided, and the wider Sea Cadets organisation offers guidance to help trustees succeed in their roles. The ideal person will also be comfortable working as part of a team. The Unit Management Team is made up of volunteers who collaborate to support the long-term success of the unit. Being approachable, cooperative and supportive of others helps ensure that the board works well together. We welcome applications from individuals who are passionate about supporting young people and who want to play a meaningful role behind the scenes. Lived experience within youth organisations, volunteering or community groups can be particularly valuable, as it helps bring understanding of the impact these programmes can have.

Ultimately, we are looking for someone who takes pride in keeping things organised, enjoys supporting others and wants to contribute to a charity that helps young people develop confidence, leadership and life skills. By bringing structure and coordination to the Unit Management Team, the Secretary Trustee helps ensure the organisation continues delivering positive opportunities for young people in the community.

What will you be doing?

Our Unit Management Team is made up of dedicated volunteers who oversee the governance, sustainability and development of Waltham Forest Sea Cadets & Royal Marines Cadets. Like many volunteer-led charities, we balance busy professional lives while ensuring the unit continues to grow and support young people. We are looking for a Secretary Trustee to help keep the team organised and effective. This role involves coordinating trustee meetings, preparing and distributing agendas, keeping clear records of discussions and decisions, and supporting communication between trustees, volunteers and the wider Sea Cadets organisation. The Secretary plays a key role in ensuring the Unit Management Team operates smoothly and that important actions are tracked and followed up. They will work closely with the Chair and other trustees to maintain good governance and help the team stay focused on its priorities. Our unit is growing and we are working towards expanding opportunities for cadets, strengthening volunteer support and improving facilities. By helping the leadership team stay organised and connected, the Secretary directly supports the delivery of activities that help young people build confidence, resilience and life skills. This role offers the opportunity to be at the heart of decision-making and see first-hand the impact the unit has on local young people.