We are seeking a new Chair of Trustees to lead the charity as we enter a bold new chapter for Sunderland Culture. This is a unique opportunity to help shape the cultural landscape of Sunderland, working closely with our CEO, Board of Trustees, and valued partners to support Sunderland Culture’s vibrant and ambitious vision.
The Role of the Board
The board governs the charity and ensures Sunderland Culture is well-run, legally compliant, and financially sound as a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. Trustees act as guardians of the organisation’s purpose, ensuring decisions are made in the best interests of those we serve. Core duties include;
- Work with the CEO and Partners to set strategic direction and shape the organisation’s long-term cultural vision, mission, and priorities.
- Safeguarding the mission and values of the charity, upholding our core purpose: “to improve life for everyone in Sunderland through culture.”
- Champion culture in Sunderland – acting as ambassadors for the city’s cultural sector, bringing networks and influence.
- Provide accountability – Reporting to regulators (Charity Commission, Companies House), funders (Arts Council England, trusts/ foundations), and the community.
- Financial Oversight - work with the senior management team and Finance Committee to review and approve budgets, key-funding decisions and long-term sustainability.
- Policy Oversight - Approve and oversee key policies, including safeguarding, equality and diversity, privacy policy, health and safety, and employment procedures.
The board is supported in its work by a Finance Committee, with trustee representatives also working alongside staff leads on Arts Council England’s Investment Principles:
- Ambition & Quality
- Dynamism (organisational resilience and business systems)
- Inclusivity and Relevance
- Environmental Sustainability
The Role of Chair
The Chair will provide strategic leadership to the Board, ensuring that Trustees fulfil their duties effectively.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead the Board: Shape agendas, chair effective meetings, enable constructive challenge and decisive governance.
Manage and support the Chief Executive: Provide counsel and stretch; agree priorities and success measures; ensure strong performance and learning.
Steward partnerships: Work closely with existing partners to renew relationships while openings doors to a wider range of strategic partnerships.
Steward change: Oversee complex transitions in assets, programmes and organisational design; ensure robust risk management and stakeholder engagement.
Promote inclusion: Develop and grow the board to reflect the city’s diversity and lived experience.
Ensure sustainability: Oversee financial strategy and reserves; support income generation across public, commercial and philanthropic streams.
Advocate and represent: Be a visible ambassador for Sunderland Culture locally, regionally and nationally.
Board effectiveness: Lead trustee recruitment, induction, appraisal and succession; uphold best practice in charity and company governance.
Person Specification:
Essential Criteria
Commitment to Sunderland Culture’s mission
Relevant values and networks Essential Proven leadership experience, ideally at Board or senior executive level.
Strong understanding of governance and charity/ company law.
Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
Ability to inspire confidence and command respect.
Desirable Criteria
Demonstrable commitment to or interest in the cultural sector
Sunderland or North-East England based
Background in relevant sector (Culture or Creative Industries, Community Development, Education, Finance etc.)
This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.
Thank you!
Could you be our new Chair?
Our fantastic Chair’s tenure will be coming to an end in 2026, so we are looking to appoint her successor to help Student Minds improve university communities so that every student gets the mental health support they need to reach their goals.
At Student Minds, we’re working to improve university communities so that no student is held back by their mental health. So it should come as no surprise that we are keen to reflect the communities we serve, maintain a diverse board and ensure student voices are represented. This is key to our mission and our continued impact.
We are open-minded about the professional background of this individual and are mostly looking for someone with experience of leading effective, inclusive teams, of chairing complex organisations or meetings, and in building influential cross-sector partnerships.
Key responsibilities
Student Minds Chair is expected to commit to the following:
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Preparation and attendance at four board meetings a year. Board meetings are held online and take place on weekdays from 5 - 7.30 pm.
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Preparation and attendance at two in-person board away days each year, usually from 12.30 - 5 pm. These usually take place in Leeds and include a lunchtime or evening social.
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Monthly supervision calls with the Chief Executive
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Annual in-person appraisal of the Chief Executive
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Support with board appraisals and recruitment
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Ad-hoc meetings and conversations with the senior leadership team as required. This usually constitutes approximately a further five working days a year.
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Attendance at relevant task-group meetings and/or committees.
So, if you want to help shape the future of student mental health, download our recruitment pack to find out more!
How to apply?
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For more information about the role responsibilities please download our recruitment pack that is linked
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Download and complete our application form which is available via the link
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Complete the Equality Monitoring Form.
Application process
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Application closing deadline: Monday the 5th January at 11.59 pm - make sure you send your completed application form by this date
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Interviews: 27th January, with our Chair, Trustee and CEO
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Appointment: subject to approval by the Student Minds Board
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
The Jawbone Collective seeks a Volunteer Bookkeeping / Financial Recordkeeping support person to join our thriving arts organisation. As we continue to expand activities and our reach across the Southwest of England, we need someone with financial expertise to help strengthen our operational foundation.
You will work remotely alongside our dedicated management team to develop robust financial processes that will support our journey toward becoming a self-sustaining arts organisation. Your expertise will be instrumental in supporting us in managing our diverse revenue streams, including workshop fees, journal and poetry publications, grants (hopefully we get some soon) and event income.
As part of our inclusive creative community, you'll contribute to an organisation that champions diverse voices, including neurodivergent, disabled, LGBTQIA+ and working-class writers. While a love for literature isn't required, you'll be supporting a mission that makes literary opportunities accessible to all through affordable programs and free submission opportunities.
Role Description
- Initially organising a transition to accounting software
- Train team members in maintain financial records and bookkeeping
- Assist with financial reporting and planning
- Support budget management for our various programmes and publications
- Help track expenses related to workshops, events, and publishing activities
- Contribute to funding applications and financial governance
What We're Looking For
- Experience in financial management and
- Governance required for a CIC (desirable, or be willing to learn)
- An ability to train team members in necessary software for bookkeeping
- Strong organisational skills
- Ability to work with our creative community-focused team
- Understanding of arts organisation operations (desirable)
About Us
The Jawbone Collective is a dynamic arts organisation dedicated to nurturing creative voices across the Wessex Region. Founded in 2022, we've evolved from our initial mission of publishing the poetry collections of under represented groups to becoming a comprehensive creative hub offering multiple platforms for artistic expression. Our initiatives include the upcoming Jawbone Journal - May 2025; developing a Substack community, Jawbone Radio for spoken word performances; plus workshops - in person and online; and mentoring programs. Based in Dorset, we've established strong creative communities in Dorchester and Bridport as well as attracting attendees to real world activities coming from Dorset, Devon, Wiltshire and Somerset, whilst also maintaining an active online presence attracting people from the UK and across the world.
At our core, we're driven by a commitment to diversity and accessibility in the arts. Our community of 15 core creative members represents a rich tapestry of voices, including creatives from neurodivergent, disabled, LGBTQIA+, female and working class creators from various age groups and backgrounds. We are actively challenging publishing industry 'norms' by offering affordable and free submission opportunities. We are bridging the gap between performance and page poetry, and creating inclusive spaces where every creative voice can flourish. Through our various platforms and initiatives, we're building a supportive environment where artists can develop their craft, share their work, and connect with a broader creative community.
Working remotely however we would love to meet up with you from time to time.
You are most welcome to attend any of our events and workshops at no cost to yourself.
Amount of hours approx 8 - 16 hours a month depending on projects.
Cover Letter... we would like a few paragraphs about you and your interest in applying for volunteer work and how you feel you can help a community organisation.
Also if you move forward in the recruitment process, we will be seeking references and contact information of two referees.
Non Charity Employer
11 - 20
A Poet’s journey to publication and the navigation to a profession in literature and the sharing of their work is at the forefront of our mission.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.