Types of volunteer roles
Volunteers cover many roles at BCS, all of which help us to meet our Royal Charter objectives. Member groups require chairs, treasurers, events coordinators and supporting roles like inclusion officer and early careers advocate. At board level, positions range from engagement officer to chair, while honorary roles include our president and deputy.
Diversity is a high priority for BCS and we encourage volunteers to apply who don’t typically see themselves represented, whether in terms of their job title/sector or their gender or ethnic group, or because they’re neurodiverse, have a disability or are part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Member group volunteer roles
Read more about the roles that make up our member group committees and hear from the volutneers who perform them.
The Chair of a member group leads and unites the committee, ensures that group activities are aligned with the BCS strategy, and helps the Treasurer to secure funding for activities.
They also work closely with the Treasurer in making sure the group is continuing to make IT good for society through our four strategic pillars; growing the membership of the group, inspiring others through events and activities, helping IT professionals at all levels to progress in and develop their career, and influencing society by working closely with the BCS Policy team.
“I volunteer with BCS to help the IT community in different ways. I believe in BCS’s mission and consider it my second home.”
Soheir Ghallab, Chair of the BCS Business Change Specialist Group
Treasurers look after the member group’s finances – submitting budget proposals, requests for additional funding, and ensuring the group stays within their planned spending allowance.
They also help the Chair in making sure the group is using their funds to make IT good for society through our four strategic pillars; growing the membership of the group, inspiring others through events and activities, helping IT professionals at all levels to progress in and develop their career, and influencing society by working closely with the BCS Policy team.
“I want to help the industry maintain best practice and ethical standards in what and how we deliver IT for the community”
Phil Hopkins, Treasurer of the BCS South Wales Branch
Early Careers Advocates represent young professionals or those in the first stages of an IT career, always helping the member group to consider how best to attract new early careers members and get them involved in BCS activities.
“I believe our profession needs people with experience and vision about what ‘good IT’ could be, from professional development and the contribution to society perspective.”
Elena Beratarbide, Early Careers Advocate for the BCS Health and Care Scotland Specialist Group
The Inclusion Officer makes sure that everyone can be involved in BCS activities and events, irrespective of their age, class, race, gender, ethnicity, religion, ability or any other important characteristic that might otherwise affect their experience.
BCS Member Group Committees often have additional committee members such as Events Officers, Secretaries and Email Coordinators too.
Honorary officers
The Honorary officers of BCS are all voluntary positions, comprising the President, Deputy President and Vice-Presidents. Vice-President positions typically involve chairing one of the strategic boards, while the President chairs the Trustee Board. The Nominations Committee is mandated to carry out recruitment for these positions, a process which usually starts in March of each year.
BCS Academy of Computing Board
The BCS Academy of Computing Board has a vacancy for an enthusiastic early career teacher/lecturer/researcher or industrialist to join the Board as an Early Career Advocate. If you are interested in applying, please complete the application form here by Tuesday 31 December 2024.
BCS Foundation Trustee opportunities
The newly established BCS Foundation is working to break down barriers and ensure all young people, no matter their background, have the same opportunities to develop their digital careers. The BCS Foundation has several vacancies for Trustees to contribute to the overall governance and strategic direction of the charity.
If you are interested in applying, please complete the application form here by Tuesday 31 December 2024.
Early Careers Executive
The Early Careers Executive have some volunteer vacancies available.
- Apprenticeships Officer
- Branches Officer
- Policy Engagement Officer
- Public Engagement Officer
- Specialist Groups Officer
- Treasurer
Interested in applying? Sent your covering letter and CV to groups@bcs.uk
Finance Committee
The following voluntary position is available on the Finance Committee:
- Member
To apply, you'll need to have previous volunteering experience — please send your covering letter and CV, documenting your experience, to groups@bcs.uk
Inclusion Committee
BCS are currently in the process of establishing an inaugural Inclusion Committee. This initiative reflects our commitment to fostering inclusion and belonging across our member community. The committee will work closely with Community Board Governance, Member Groups, and BCS staff to tackle equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) challenges within the BCS Community.
Key opportunities are now available within the Inclusion Committee, including the vital role of Chair. The committee will play a central role in driving our strategy to embed inclusion, accessibility, and representation at the heart of our member community.
If you're interested in applying, please complete the application form here and submit your CV to groups@bcs.uk by Sunday 26 January 2025.
Inclusion Committee Terms of reference
Inclusion Committee Chair role description
Member group vacancies
Read more about these key member group roles and the responsibilities they cover, then check out the vacancies available right now, in the dropdowns below. If you’re interested in applying, get in touch — we’d love to hear from you!
- Secretary
- 2 x Social Media committee members
- Inclusion Officer
- Secretary
- Committee Member
- Chair
- Treasurer
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Early Careers Advocate
- Inclusion Officer
- Chair
- Treasurer
- Secretary
- Committee Members
- Events Coordinator / Social Media
- Inclusion Officer
- Education Liaison officer
- Inclusion Officer
- Treasurer
- Inclusion Officer
- Education Liaison Officer
- Secretary
- Events Coordinator
To be considered for the above vacancies, you must be a BCS member and a resident of the Isle of Man; please get in touch with groups@bcs.uk to submit your application for consideration, providing a cover letter and CV.
- Early Careers Advocate
- Inclusion Officer
- Chair
- Chair
- Secretary
- Inclusion Officer
- Vice-Chair
- Secretary
- Early Careers Advocate
- Inclusion Officer
- Inclusion Officer
- Early Careers Advocate
- Publicity Officer
- Events Officer
- Industry Liaison
- Education Liaison
- Research Liaison
- Community Officer
- Membership Officer
- Chair
- Early Careers Advocate
- Early Careers Advocate
- Early Careers Advocate
- Early Careers Advocate
- Treasurer
- Web Master
- Education Liaison Officer
- Visibility Lead
- Awards Lead
- Supporter Lead
- Deputy Chair
- Treasurer
- Inclusion Officer
Contact: Andy Bellamy
- Publicity Co-ordinator (Events, Social, and Website)
- Website Co-ordinator
- Branch Secretary
- Disability Support Officer
- Education Liaison Officer
- Industry Liaison Officer
- Co-opted Committee Member
- Chair
- Early Careers Advocate
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Early Careers Advocate
- Inclusion Officer
BCS student chapters
Connecting talented computer science students in universities throughout the UK for knowledge sharing, study and socials.
More about student chapters
Computing At School
An active community of computing teachers dedicated to ensuring every young person receives a quality computing education.
More about CAS
TEALS
Volunteer with TEALS and bring your real-world tech knowledge to a computing lesson at a school near you.
STELLAR
The STEM leadership network supporting greater gender diversity in science and technology careers.
