Board trustees volunteer roles in loughborough, leicestershire

Do you want to help promote social mobility, and diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM)? Can you play a valuable strategic leadership role in a charity that supports young people from low socioeconomic backgrounds to achieve their potential and progress to careers in STEM?

Remuneration: The Trustee role is not remunerated, travel and other reasonable expenses may be claimed.

Location: Remote, with one in person strategy meeting in London per year.

Time Commitment: Four board meetings per year, plus up to three virtual committee meetings per year (depending on committee membership) and a small amount of support and advice as required between meetings.

Application Submission: The application deadline is 17:00 on the 2nd of June 2025 

Overview of In2scienceUK

In2scienceUK is a charity with a mission to empower young people from low-socioeconomic backgrounds to achieve upward social mobility by unlocking their potential to access degrees and careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). 

Responsibilities

The role of a Trustee is to ensure that In2scienceUK fulfils its duty to the young people with whom it works and delivers on its vision. The trustees of In2scienceUK fulfil an essential and influential role, and have the opportunity to both support the activities and strategic decision making of the charity.

Trustees have collective responsibility for the strategy and oversight of the charity and the trustee board works as a team to fulfill its statutory role, to provide help and advice to the staff team, and to represent the organisation in their respective networks.

The expected duties of an In2scienceUK trustee are:

•  To contribute actively to teamwork within the Board of Trustees, providing strong strategic direction to the organisation in line with its mission and purpose.
• To safeguard the reputation and values of In2scienceUK and ensure the effective and efficient administration and financial stability of In2scienceUK.
• Support the effective running of the organisation, by scrutinising the work of the leadership team in a way that is supportive and motivational. Trustees collectively hold executive staff to account for their performance, are involved in executive appointments as appropriate and appoint a Chief Executive Officer whenever necessary.
• Serve in one or more subgroups of the board for a deeper dive into Income/Growth, Operational Assurance, Evaluation & Learning, and People.
• To ensure that in2scienceUK complies with articles of association and fulfils charity commission responsibilities.

Experience and skills

The most important characteristic of our trustees is a commitment to helping young people from low socioeconomic backgrounds access social mobility through careers in STEM, and so helping to ensure that the STEM professions are populated by people reflecting diverse backgrounds, in all respects including socio-economic background.

We need the right mix of skills overall and anticipate making 4-6 appointments in this round who will work collaboratively to ensure good governance and the success of the organisation. Specific areas where we would like to strengthen the team, bearing in mind our natural turnover and our strategy for the future, are listed below. If you are able to contribute in one or more of these areas, please make this especially clear in your application.

Lived experience: Personal experience of transitioning into STEM degrees and careers from an underrepresented background.

• We are interested in applications from young people still going through this transition, for example undertaking undergraduate study, and for whom we can provide additional support in the trustee role as needed; we see this as an excellent development opportunity and a chance to get governance and leadership experience on the CV in line with our overall mission.

• We would welcome applications from current In2scienceUK participants and alumni. Trustees are required to be 18 years or older.

• We are also interested in hearing from people with current experience of working with young people undertaking this transition.

Professional expertise:  Finance, Communications, HR, Governance, Entrepreneurship, Fundraising and philanthropy, Career advice/coaching

• The whole of the board is responsible for key decisions such as budget setting, strategy, policies and prioritisation, however it is useful to have subject experts who can take a functional lead on helping ensure colleagues are asking the right questions and getting good answers.

Commercial contacts:  An understanding of corporate social responsibility and sponsorship, networks in industries and organisations that employ STEM professionals

Subject areas: Personal experience and industry or academic contacts in the following subject areas 

• Maths/Computing/AI, 

• Life Sciences, 

• Physical Engineering.

Treasurer: We are currently seeking a Treasurer to join the board of Trustees and take the lead on finance. This is an immediate vacancy with our current Treasurer coming to the end of their term. The Treasurer will be a qualified accountant. We are looking for people who have pre-existing experience or desire to support an organisation of our size. As such, the role will be both providing financial oversight and governance as well as providing advice, support and guidance to our executive team. Those applying without prior charity accounting experience should be willing to undertake any relevant training.

Chair succession: While not an immediate appointment, as part of managing Chair succession we are interested in people who would be candidates for a chair designate role and chair in due course, probably via an initial Vice Chair position within the organisation. 

For those who have any further questions or would like an initial discussion about these roles with our current Chair, Jonathan Flowers, please contact us. ( Our email address can be found in the documents under 'Application resources').

Recruitment Process

The application deadline is 17:00 on the 2nd of June 2025 

Please send a covering letter and CV about how you would contribute to the work of the trustee board . Please ensure you set out specifically how you would want to contribute and the experience, skills or insights you would offer us, based on the list of skills and experiences above. We would like each applicant to include a concise (no more than 2 sides of A4) cover letter that goes beyond repeating their CV.

Equal opportunities

In2scienceUK is committed to promoting diversity and equality of opportunity for all staff and trustees. Applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of ethnicity, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, and marriage and civil partnerships.

As part of our commitment to creating a more inclusive environment, we ask all applicants to complete an equality and diversity monitoring form ( link can be found in the 'How to apply' section on Charity Job). This information is collected anonymously and used solely for monitoring and reporting purposes. It helps us to better understand who we are reaching, identify gaps in representation, and ensure that opportunities at In2scienceUK are accessible to all. All responses are kept confidential in line with data protection regulations.

Governance

We kindly ask all prospective trustees to complete a Declaration of Interest form as part of the application process. This helps ensure transparency and allows us to assess any potential conflicts of interest, ensuring the best governance for our charity. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated as we work to strengthen our board and further our mission.

Interview and selection

Successful candidates from the application stage will be interviewed by existing trustees.  The interviews will all be held via Zoom and take place between the 7th and 21st of July.

Safeguarding

In2scienceUK is committed to our responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults as outlined in Working Together to Safeguard Children. We are committed to recruiting trustees who share this commitment to safeguarding, and therefore we apply robust recruitment and selection procedures to ensure that the people selected are right for the job, and that all candidates are appropriately screened prior to appointment. 

The following checks will be undertaken as applicable:

• References 

• DBS check and/or Overseas criminal records check where applicable

• Self-Disclosure 

• Identity check 

• Confirmation of registration with applicable registered body where applicable 

Further information can be found in the documents below.

ABOUT SPRINGBOARD

Springboard Youth Academy supports refugee and asylum-seeking young people who have recently arrived in the UK to help them succeed in the classroom and beyond. By combining participatory learning, life skills and holistic support into action-packed weekend, half-term and summer programming, we work to bridge the gap in support for young people left behind by the mainstream school system.

As educators and youth workers with years of experience working to offset the challenges these young people face, we launched a programme that helps young people develop their English language and self-advocacy skills whilst addressing their social and wellbeing needs, preparing them for mainstream education and helping them rebuild their lives in the UK.

We do this by providing interactive and engaging programming that combines English learning, life skills and practical and emotional strategies for young people on their journey to independence and adulthood. 

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

We are seeking a Chair to work with the Board of Trustees and Director to oversee Springboard's operations and strategic direction. We're looking for someone who thinks strategically and creatively, enjoys working collaboratively and wants to make a significant contribution to Springboard Youth Academy’s future, as well as the wider education and migration landscape.

We’re looking for people who share our love of high quality and participatory education, as well as our commitment to supporting and platforming displaced young people. We're keen to meet people who can bring skills, knowledge and both professional and lived experience that will help us continue to refine our delivery and grow. 

We are committed to nurturing a board that is representative, inclusive, anti-racist and commited to actively challenging the hostile environment and violent border regimes across all its work. We are interested in hearing from individuals with experience in governance, as well as those new to Trustee positions. We particularly encourage applications from those with personal experience of forced migration and leaving care. 

Responsibilities of the Chair include:

• Providing leadership for the Board of Trustees in their role of setting the strategy and policies for the organisation
• Planning the annual cycle of board meetings and setting the agendas
• Chairing and facilitating board meetings 
• Monitoring that decisions taken at board meetings are implemented
• Representing the organisation at appropriate events, meetings or functions  
• Liaising with the Director on organisational activity and providing support as appropriate 

Qualities:

• Strategic thinking
• Excellent communication skills
• Confidence and a willingness to speak their mind and ask challenging questions
• Teamwork and collaboration skills
• Understanding of safeguarding and confidentiality
• Understanding of the wider political landcape, abolitionist perspectives and commitment to challenging the hostile environment
• Independent judgment
• Commitment to making meetings inclusive and welcoming to Trustees with all levels of experience
• Advocacy and networking skills to help us build new relationships
• Willingness to offer expertise, skills and personal insight to support us
• Passion for championing work that centres newly arrived young people

TIME COMMITMENT

In line with all charities, Trustees are unpaid volunteers. Trustees must be able to commit to attending quarterly Board meetings and making time to read paperwork in advance of Board meetings. As a small charity, our resources are limited and Trustees are also asked to actively contribute their skills in relevant areas. As a guideline, Trustees must be prepared to offer a minimum of two hours per month to the charity. 

As Chair, you will be required to support with annual reporting to the charity commission, plan the agenda for board meetings and provide intermittent support to the Director. We also require new Trustees to spend one day on site during one of our programmes to get a feel for the work, as well as undertake Trustee and Safeguarding training, within the first three months of starting the role. Board meetings are currently held virtually, and, where possible, are arranged at least two months ahead. On occasion, Trustees will be required to respond by email or phone in relation to issues that arise outside of Board meetings. Travel costs will be covered if they are a barrier. 

As exciting plans for a new National Centre for Music (NCM) at Edinburgh's former Royal High School progress, we are searching for a Chair and Board of Trustees to help bring this iconic, cultural destination to life.

From our home in the former Royal High School building on Calton Hill in Edinburgh, the National Centre for Music will become an energising force in Scotland’s music sector. Through a variety of programmes and partnerships, the centre will nurture and celebrate music making from across Scotland. It will present a striking programme of music – across all genres – for audiences to enjoy within a spectacular location, as well as supporting artists and organisations to develop new projects, skills, networks and profile. Nestled within two acres of beautiful, landscaped gardens, the centre will be open every day for people to enjoy and expand their musical passions.

We are looking for around four new trustees, including a Chair, to work closely with our executive team to develop and launch the organisation -  defining the brand, setting the business model and staff team, establishing business partnerships and ensuring integration and collaboration with the music sector, as well as with Edinburgh and Scotland’s wider cultural infrastructure.

During these early years, there is expected to be five board meetings per year, plus one strategy development day. Given the nature of the project, it’s hoped trustees will offer their expertise in leading working groups and attending workshops.

As we launch ourselves as a new national player, we need fresh entrepreneurial thinking to build an innovative, resilient organisation. We are particularly seeking candidates with expertise in:

- Business development
- Brand and marketing
- EDI (Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion) 
- Finance

We also want to ensure the music community at large feels represented in our governance and welcome applications from musicians. So whether you’re an experienced Trustee or someone who has never been on a board before, if you have first-hand knowledge of the music sector in Scotland or feel truly passionate about what we’re trying to achieve, we’d love to hear from you – and we’ll make sure you feel welcome and supported.

Dreams Come True – Chair of Board of Trustees

Terms: This is a voluntary role and is therefore unremunerated

Length of tenure: The Chair’s tenure is for an initial period of three years.

Dreams Come True, a national charity which creates life-enhancing and life-changing experiences for children with serious and life-limiting conditions and who live in social deprivation, is seeking a new Chair for their board of trustees.

For over 30 years, Dreams Come True has been transforming lives through their unique mission and dream programme, bringing joy and lasting impact to thousands of children every year from the UK’s most socially deprived areas who have serious illnesses, life-limiting conditions or disabilities.

The charity helps to transform individual and community dreams into reality, and is committed to scaling up their work by forging new partnerships, innovating their fundraising approaches and enhancing the dream programmes to ensure that every dream granted has a lasting and transformative impact. They are now seeking a new Chair to help lead them into the next chapter of this journey to broaden reach and impact.

This is an opportunity for a compassionate and visionary individual with proven leadership skills and the ability to guide the board and executive team in achieving strategic objectives.  The ideal candidate will have significant experience on a charity board, either as a Chair or as a trustee, with a personal empathy to the mission of Dreams Come True. They will also bring strategic oversight and governance expertise, and a wider involvement with the voluntary sector and well-established networks would be highly desirable. A solid understanding of finances, particularly within the charity sector, to support sustainability and growth will be essential, alongside strong diplomacy, interpersonal and negotiation skills. They will also need to understand the challenges and opportunities of a growing charity.

The new Chair will work closely with the CEO and a talented and committed board of trustees to ensure the charity continues to deliver life-changing dreams, builds on their successes and looks to the future with ambition and optimism.

Please click through to access and download our Candidate Pack for more information [PDF] including application details.

CLOSING DATE: Monday 31st March, 9am GMT.
 

PLEASE NOTE: We will be longlisting applications as soon as we receive them, so please apply early to register your interest. 

The Martin James Foundation (MJF) is a global network of charitable organisations working with a shared vision of a world in which children grow up and thrive in safe and loving families.

Through our work, we strive to bring an end to institutional care for children, including orphanages, by engaging in family strengthening work and gatekeeping to prevent family separation, reunification and reintegration of children back into their families and communities when possible and facilitating family-based alternative care when it is necessary. 

The Foundation is comprised of the following:

• MJF Global - utilises technical and financial resources generated by the Foundation to invest in partner organisations that support children and families in various countries, contributing to the global efforts in deinstitutionalising care practices.

• Key Assets - independent, non-profit fostering agencies in Australia, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand delivering charitable services for children, families and communities.

The Role:

The Martin James Foundation is currently seeking a new Chairperson. This is an exciting time for the Foundation as we continue to deliver on our new Strategy. We are looking for an individual who will contribute to guiding the charity on its mission to support children and families around the world.

For the Chairperson role, we are hoping to attract candidates with the following:

1. Required - Experience in a leadership capacity within the i) children’s social care sector, ideally foster care and/or family support services, ii) and/or in the provision of global development,
2. Required – Time commitment – availability to prepare for and attend quarterly board meetings, quarterly sub-committee meetings and monthly CEO catch-ups (estimate 8hrs per month),
3. Location – UK, or amenable to attend meetings within GMT working hours, and amenable to attending one face to face meeting per annum.
4. Desirable – Local or national government engagement experience, such as securing and delivering contracts or lobbying for policy change,
5. Desirable – Prior experience as a Charity Trustee (or non-UK equivalent), ideally as a Chair

Applications from people with experience in the practical, operational delivery of community and development projects, either in the UK or internationally, would be highly welcomed.

Board positions are voluntary, but reasonable expenses will be reimbursed, and any training costs will be covered.

The Martin James Foundation strives to enable a diverse range of participation and contributions, and we welcome applications from all ages and backgrounds. People with lived experience of alternative care, and from people outside of the UK are encouraged to apply.

Loughborough Students' Union is a charity that receives a block grant from the University and raises additional funds through social enterprise to meet its objective to empower students at Loughborough University by representing the views of students and providing them with the support and resources to succeed at university.

We are an award-winning Students’ Union that is proud to deliver one of the UK's best student experiences.

Our new three-year strategy (August 25 – July 28) looks to continue to strive towards being a Union that is focused on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and is both environmentally and economically sustainable.

By building a bold and talented Trustee board it will provide the support and challenge to our strategy, help maximise our opportunities and bring the creativity needed to continuously ensure we are operating at excellent standards.

We are looking for Trustees from a broad range of experiences HR, Finance, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Business and Commercial, a knowledge of Charities, SUs and/or Higher Education who can contribute with innovative thinking and challenge the status quo, of particular interest are those from a HR and Talent Management background with Finance experience and someone who can act as safeguarding lead on our Board.

Loughborough Students’ Union is committed to providing equal opportunities for all, irrespective of age, disability, ethnicity, sex, religion, sexuality, transgender status and working patterns. We are keen to have a Board that appropriately represents all the communities we serve as an organisation.

If you are inspired by the opportunity to help build a world class student experience, we would love to hear from you.

Closing date for applications: Monday 12 May 2025

Interviews: In person on Loughborough University campus, Friday, 6th June

About the Chair of Trustee Role

Role Overview

The Chair of Trustees ensures effective governance and strategic direction for Rebuilding Lives UK. They provide leadership to the board, oversee decision-making, and act as a key ambassador for the charity. The Chair supports the Chief Executive while ensuring accountability and compliance with regulatory requirements. A key responsibility of the Chair is to ensure that all trustees are actively engaged in their roles, fulfilling their responsibilities, and participating in training.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the board to ensure strong governance, accountability, and strategic leadership.
• Ensure that all trustees actively fulfill their roles, contribute to decision-making, and engage with the charity’s work.
• Provide mentorship and oversight to the Chief Executive.
• Hold trustees accountable for attending training and participating in board activities.
• Ensure that safeguarding measures are implemented across the charity.
• Oversee board meetings, ensuring productive discussions and informed decision-making.
• Represent the charity externally and strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders.
• Support financial oversight, ensuring sustainability and compliance.
• Be actively involved in the charity’s operations where possible, offering support beyond governance.
• The Chair plays a key role in providing strategic direction and supporting the CEO through regular mentoring and guidance. While the board collectively oversees the charity’s performance, the Chair works closely with the CEO to ensure they are supported in their role, offering insights and fostering a collaborative relationship between the CEO and trustees.

Who We Are Looking For

Essential Skills & Experience:

• Experience in chairing boards or senior governance roles.
• Strong strategic leadership and decision-making abilities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI).
• Minimum of 10 hours per month dedicated to board duties.

What You’ll Gain from This Role

Becoming a trustee with Rebuilding Lives UK is more than just a governance role—it’s an opportunity to be part of a team dedicated to creating real, lasting change. As a trustee, you will:

• Play a vital role in supporting survivors and helping them rebuild their lives.
• Be part of a passionate and driven team working towards a shared mission.
• Gain valuable leadership, governance, and strategic experience.
• Develop transferable skills in decision-making, safeguarding, and advocacy.
• Expand your professional network and engage with like-minded individuals.
• Have access to training and development opportunities to strengthen your expertise.

Mandatory Training Requirement

All trustees, including the Chair, are required to complete trustee governance and safeguarding training within the first three months of their appointment. Additional training will follow as needed.

Terms of Appointment

The Chair serves an initial one-year term, with the option for renewal up to a maximum of three years.

Voluntary Role

All voluntary roles are subject to satisfactory references and an enhanced DBS check.

This is an unpaid remote position (UK Based); however, reasonable expenses will be reimbursed. 

Time Commitment:

• 10 hours per month, including:
  • Monthly board meetings (held via Zoom).
  • Providing strategic leadership and guidance to the CEO.
  • Annual half-day strategy session and leadership planning.
  • Regular check-ins with trustees to ensure engagement and accountability.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in the start up of a new charity that seeks to create a wide reaching operational activity that develops employment and volunteering opportunities that truly take in to account all neruodiversity and ensuring that people feel they are valued in their role as well as reducing working hours while not reducing salaries.

We are very much a new concept within the charity and business world, what we aim to do is not focus on just one business activity and force people to work within it but to grow along side our teams and develop new business opportunities based on the skill sets and abitions of our teams.

Below are the details of the general responsibilities of a trustee within Living Reasons and the 12 areas we wish to recruit trustees in so that we can start to develop the charity more and start the process of registering and ultimately launching the charity within the next 12 months.

Nonspecific trustee criteria (all trustees must meet this criteria)

1) Ability to understand how the charity works in the public interest and ensure that all activities the charity carries out always fulfil this requirement. Bringing in to question any activities that may not fall within the charity’s public interest obligation, to the other trustees.

2) Agree with and agree to always work within the charity’s governing document and within the law. Making sure that the charity always operates within the governing document and within the law.

3) Act within the charity’s best interests by agreement within the other trustees on the board and following all trustee processes including decision making and voting. Avoid conflicts of interest with the operation of the charity and bring any potential conflicts of interest, to the attention of the trustee board as soon as possible.

4) Manage the charity’s resources responsibly, including ensuring the charity’s assets are used for the charity’s purpose, not take any inappropriate risks, do not over commit to the charity, taking special care when investing or barrowing and ensure the charity complies with any funding restrictions.

5) Always act with reasonable care and skill.

6) Ensure that the charity is always accountable, ensure that the charity is able to demonstrate it is compliant in law, well run and effective. Where responsibility has been delegated, trustees must ensure that the charity still remains accountable.

7) Must not be an undischarged bankrupt or be in an IVA.

8) Must not have any unspent convictions or be on the sex offenders register.

9) Must not be banned from being a company director or trustee.

All trustees will be required to attend 1 full board meeting every quarter which may be in person or over online video calling.

1 additional meeting annually that will also be at the same time as the annual general meeting must be attended.

There may be further meetings if you are on other committees or are voted on to the executive board of trustees (this is not mandatory and is a further voluntary commitment that you can nominate yourself for election).

We are looking for 12 trustees in total, once we have key trustee roles filled, we will then register the charity and move forward as we continue the recruitment process. The three main trustees we would like to have in place before registering the charity are: Operational, Financial and Income Generation. This does not mean we are not recruiting the other 9, we just won't register until after people with these skills have been recruited. Below are the twelve areas of knowldge we would like to gain trustees in. These cover all aspects of the activities the charity will carry out:.

1. Operational – overall knowledge of the day to operation of the organisation

2. Financial – an understanding financial planning and reporting

3. Creative & events

4. Research

5. Income generation

6. Education

7. Human Resources

8. Services

9.    Outreach (Social Media & Marketing)

10.     Legal

11.    Health

12.     Volunteering

This is a brand new idea and concept for a charity and business activity and requires a team that are forward thinking and are not restrained by previous ways of working, putting people at the heart of what we do, this is a charity that is supply a service for people who have struggled in the work environment as it is but will be directly generating the income for the charity as well, our service users will be our employees, trainees and volunteers and that needs to be seen as a positive move forward by anyone involved in the charity from day one.

If you would like to be part of a new and innovative way of working, please submit a CV and Cover Letter explaining which trustee role you would be interested in and why this role would be suitable for you. 

Jason, the person starting this charity has autism, ADHD, as well as mental health issues and physical conditions that are dibilitating and has spect 20 years in the charity retail industry and has loved his time working in them but has found it increasing more difficult to work in the environment due to, what he considers undue and unnecessary pressures that hinder rather than help the charity sector to reach its full potential and he feels that, key to changing this for the better is understanding the neurodiversity of humanity and catering for it in the workplace. This is how Living Reasons was developed as an idea and now he needs to find people to bring the idea to life. 

We believe everyone has a voice – on stage and in the boardroom.

The Choir with No Name is looking for new trustees to join our friendly and passionate board. We welcome applications from people from all walks of life, especially those with lived experience of homelessness or marginalisation. This is your chance to help lead a vibrant, music-making charity that’s transforming lives and building community.

The Choir with No Name runs choirs and builds joyful singing communities with people impacted by homelessness and marginalisation, around the UK. Our vision is that all people going through tough times find a place to sing their hearts out, among friends. We have bold ambitions and need the skills and guidance of an excellent and diverse board to help us get there.

In particular we are looking for people who:

• Ability to think creatively and strategically, exercise good, independent judgement and work effectively as a board member.

• Effective communication skills and willingness to participate actively in discussion.

• A strong personal commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

• Enthusiasm for our vision and mission.

• Willingness to lead according to our values - family, fun, integrity and inclusion.

• Commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.

Are you who we are looking for?

Specific skills we are hoping for include (but are not limited to):

• Finance skills (we are specifically looking for a treasurer)

• Artistic/musical skills (particularly, but not limited to choral or group singing environments)

• Social change/health and singing 

Closing date is: 1st June 2025

We’re looking for trustees

We’re looking to recruit dynamic, committed and motivated people with professional skills and experience who are as passionate as we are about empowering individuals to work through and beyond their experience of sexual abuse.

Specific qualifications are not necessarily required and we welcome applicants with lived experience. A genuine interest in learning about our charity and our services within the local community is essential.

These trustees will help to form a new board dedicated to supporting the charity and contributing to the effective and quality governance of Trust House. You will play an active role in developing the strategic direction of the charity and provide guidance to ensure the charity continues to support anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse in the Thames Valley area.

NACE is the UK’s leading charity that supports and champions the education of more able learners. With over 40 years of experience, NACE works with a diverse network of member schools, leaders in education and practitioners to increase challenge for all learners. We believe that that all young people, including the more able, are entitled to have the opportunity to develop their abilities without limits – no matter what barriers to learning they may face and no matter what school they attend.  

To support us in developing our strategic objectives and advancing our plans for the future, we are seeking new Trustees to join NACE’s Board with a passion for public service and sufficient time at their disposal to help us positively impact the lives of young people. Whilst an interest in or knowledge of education is desirable, it is not a pre-requisite. The role includes holding the executive leaders of NACE to account, plus agreeing and overseeing the strategic direction of the organisation whilst ensuring that resources are deployed to achieve maximum effectiveness.

The general responsibilities of trustees:

• Ensure that the Association complies with its governing document, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.

• Ensure that the Association pursues its objects as defined in its governing document.

• Ensure the Association applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects.

• Contribute actively to the Board of Trustees' role in giving firm strategic direction to the Association, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets, and evaluating performance against agreed targets.

• Safeguard the good name and values of the Association.

• Ensure the effective and efficient administration of the Association.

• Seek to ensure the financial stability of the Association.

In addition to these statutory duties, each Trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the Board of Trustees reach sound decisions. This may involve:

Scrutinising board papers; Leading discussions; Focusing on key issues; Providing guidance on new initiatives; Other issues in which the Trustee has specialist expertise.

Terms of appointment

The initial term is for a period of three years.

The maximum term of office for a Trustee should be nine years, with two cycles of three years and then the option of a further one, two or three years. 

The Trustees meet four times each year as a Board. Three of these meetings are now held online, in September, November and March. The final meeting of the academic year is held in-person in June.

If you are interested in applying to join the NACE board, please send us your CV and an expression of interest by Friday 9th May. Interviews will take place on Thursday 15th and Friday 16th May.

The interview process will involve current Board members so you will have the opportunity to meet some of the people with whom you could be working in the future.

Trusteeship is a voluntary, unpaid role, but if you possess the energy and skills to make a real contribution to enhancing the educational achievement of young people, you will find the work extremely rewarding.

If you want to make a difference and you share the ambitions and aspirations of the current NACE Board, please apply to become a Trustee. You will be warmly welcomed.

Are you looking for a volunteering role that supports the impact of the whole third sector? Infrastructure charity DataKind UK is looking for new members to join our Board of Trustees, including a Chair and Treasurer.

DataKind UK is a small charity with a vision for a strong, thriving third sector that embraces data use to become more impactful. We connect third sector organisations with data professionals to improve their decision making, problem solving, and working practices, by applying data science approaches to sector-wide challenges.

We’re looking for enthusiastic and supportive individuals to fuel our mission and direction by providing oversight of our operations, supporting with major decision-making, and advocating for our work and cause.

Being a trustee is a great way to give your time to a cause you care about, broaden your network, and develop your strategy and governance skills and knowledge. We particularly welcome applications from black, Asian, and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates, and candidates with disabilities, as we would like to increase the representation of these groups in our community.

How to apply

To apply, please read our candidate pack for more detail and send a 1-2 page cover letter outlining what you would bring to the role based on the skills outlined in the candidate pack, especially highlighting if you are interested in the Chair or Treasurer role, along with your CV, by Monday 2 June.

Initial screening calls will take place during the week commencing Monday 9 June.

Interviews will take place on the 17, 18, and 19 June 2025, with the aim of new members being recruited and onboarded for the following board meeting in August.

We are seeking to recruit two trustees who will bring different viewpoints, expertise and experience to further strengthen our board. As a Trustee, you will play a vital role in helping us achieve our mission. We are seeking passionate and skilled individuals from a range of professional backgrounds to help shape our future. Whether you bring experience in HR & people, marketing & comms, governance, finance, legal, fundraising, operations, service delivery or another area, your insight and strategic guidance will strengthen our organisation and support our continued growth and impact.

Candidates must show a commitment to our values and our approach to working in partnership with experts by experience. You must have a willingness to commit the necessary time and effort and to apply your experience and expertise. In addition to the general duties of a Trustee, we are looking for candidates with expertise and experience in:

• HR and People
• Marketing, Communications and Public Relations.

This is an incredibly exciting time to join us as we launch a bold new strategy and embark on a re-brand that will strengthen our voice and impact.

At Z2K, we are driven by a clear and urgent mission: to end poverty for the more than 1 in 5 people in the UK who experience it. Through frontline advice and representation, we work to secure adequate incomes and freedom from high costs, while campaigning for systemic change. And we do this in partnership with those who have lived experience of poverty, ensuring their voices are at the centre of everything we do.

As a Trustee, you will play a vital role in achieving this vision. With people and culture, as well as brand and communications, central to achieving our strategic objectives, we are seeking passionate and skilled individuals to help shape our future. Whether you bring expertise in HR and people leadership or marketing, communications, and PR, your insight and strategic guidance will help us build a thriving, inclusive organisation and amplify our message for change.

Lead the Board of Via, the charity delivering vital substance use, mental health and well-being services across the UK, and help provide high-quality, person-centred care to the people and communities affected.

Location: Flexible (Via has services across London, NW England and SW England)

Closing date: Tuesday 27th May

Who we are.

Via is an exceptional charity that puts people at the heart of everything we do. Over three decades, we’ve evolved from our origins as Westminster Drug Project, with a new now award-winning name and brand, into a dynamic, multi-service organisation delivering vital support across substance use, mental health, employment, sexual health, smoking cessation and youth services. With a turnover of £36m for 24/25 and remarkable growth of over a third in 2023/24, we’re now supporting over 12,500 service users annually across an expanding geographical footprint from London to Gloucestershire.

Our commitment to excellence and innovation is evident in our industry-leading services, which consistently perform significantly above the national average. We’re particularly proud to be pioneering the development of the UK’s first women-only detox facility, demonstrating our commitment to addressing crucial gaps in service provision.

Our Approach Makes Us Different

At Via, we believe in doing things differently. This starts with our commitment to staff well-being, including up to six months of full sick pay – a policy that exemplifies our trust in our people and our understanding that supporting our staff enables them to better support our service users. We achieved Investors in People Gold certification and were nominated for UK Employer of the Year and Third Sector Employer of the Year at the Investors in People Awards 2024, recognising our dedication to creating an outstanding workplace culture.

Our active Diversity, Equity and Inclusion group drives real organisational change, ensuring our services are accessible and effective for all communities. These aren’t just initiatives – they’re expressions of our core values: Care, Be Human, and Do the Right Thing, which guides everything we do.

The opportunity.

As we have experienced growth and are launching our new strategy, we had new Trustees join our Board as others have come to the end of their terms. As our current Chair, Yasmin Batliwala MBE comes to the end of her term later this year, we are looking to appoint a new Chair.

What Makes a Great Via Chair

• A Strategic Leader with proven experience operating at a senior level with a successful track record of achievement. You’ll have the personal gravitas to lead a significant, complex, national organisation, alongside the ability to lead a newly evolving and forming Board.
• Passionate About Our Cause: You will bring your expertise and passion for improving lives and reducing inequality. You’ll be someone who understands the complexity of our work yet can think strategically about our future. Your genuine enthusiasm will inspire others and strengthen our impact.
• Governance Experience: you will bring the experience of being on Boards and will work to lead the board to ensure sound financial health and accountability while effectively managing risk and continuing to innovate in service development and delivery.
• An Inclusive Champion committed to fostering diversity that reflects the communities we serve, promoting DEI training and growth, and holding staff and trustees accountable to these practices.
• A Relationship Builder with excellent interpersonal skills and diplomatic tact. You’ll develop a strong working relationship with the Chief Executive, maintain connections with key stakeholders, and represent Via as an effective ambassador.
• A Collaborative Leader who can bring people together, foster a team environment, and work in partnership with our board and team to drive our ambitious strategy.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

Diversity in governance isn’t just a goal for Via – it’s a necessity. Our services support people from every part of society, and we want our Board to reflect this diversity. We actively encourage applications from people with lived experience of addiction/recovery (whether personal or as family members/carers), and people from communities currently underrepresented at board level.

Time Commitment

The Board meets quarterly, usually in person. Including preparation time, representation at events, and strategic input, we estimate a commitment of the equivalent of 2-3 days per month. This includes:

• Four Board meetings per year
• Quarterly committee meetings
• Annual strategy and away day
• Ad hoc conversations with fellow board members and the Executive
• Occasional representation at events and meetings with key stakeholders, including at services.

Making a Difference Together

This is an extraordinary time to join Via. As we implement our new 2025-29 strategy and expand our geographical reach, innovate our evidence-based offer and increase access to more people. We’re not just growing – we’re evolving. You’ll help shape innovative services like our women’s detox facility while ensuring we maintain our unwavering commitment to quality, innovation, and person-centred care

Please click 'Apply via website’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the candidate profile and register your interest to apply.

Applications for this role close on Tuesday 27th May.