Chair of the trustee board volunteer roles

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) is seeking a passionate, strategic, and politically astute leader to become the next Chair of our Board of Trustees.

Since its foundation by the Royal College of Physicians in 1971, ASH has been at the forefront of national efforts to end the harm caused by tobacco. We are a respected voice in public health, delivering policy change and social progress through evidence, advocacy and collaboration. At this pivotal moment, when landmark legislation is advancing to create a Smokefree generation, we are seeking a new Chair who can help us realise this ambitious vision.

About the Role

As Chair, you will lead the Board and work closely with the Chief Executive and other Trustees to guide the organisation’s strategic direction and ensure robust governance. You will act as an ambassador for ASH, championing our work to eliminate tobacco harm, influence political and public opinion, and strengthen partnerships across government, healthcare, and the third sector.

This is a unique opportunity to help shape the national conversation on health and inequality, steward a high-impact charity, and support the dedicated team driving ASH’s success.

Your Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Guide ASH’s strategic aims and ensure the organisation remains focused, agile, and aligned with its charitable mission.
• Governance and Oversight: Lead the Board in upholding best practices in governance, legal compliance, and financial oversight.
• Partnerships and Influence: Represent ASH at national events, media engagements, and sectoral forums, advocating for bold tobacco control measures.
• Support the CEO: Line manage the Chief Executive on behalf of the Board and foster a constructive, high-trust relationship between the Board and staff.
• Ambassadorial Presence: Leverage your networks to enhance ASH’s visibility and impact, particularly across health, politics, and civil society.

What We’re Looking For

We’re seeking a Chair with proven leadership experience, political and strategic acumen, and a strong commitment to health equity and social justice.

Essential Qualities:

• Significant experience in leading organisations or teams at a senior level.
• Confidence navigating complex governance, policy or political landscapes.
• Ability to influence, inspire and represent ASH with credibility and clarity.
• An understanding of the role of small, advocacy-led charities.

Desirable Skills:

• Knowledge of tobacco control, public health or health inequalities.
• Existing networks in politics, healthcare, or social justice sectors.
• Experience guiding organisations through change or financial challenge.
• Media engagement or public speaking experience.

Role Details

• Time Commitment: ~12 days per year (including 4 Board meetings, AGM, and preparation).
• Location: Hybrid – board meetings in London and some national engagements.
• Remuneration: This is a voluntary role. Reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.

Village Preschool E17 is a small charity in Walthamstow offering high-quality early years education. We’re currently undergoing a strategic transformation to improve operations, strengthen sustainability, and deepen our community impact.

What will you be doing?

Village Preschool E17 is a small, community-based educational charity in Walthamstow, providing high-quality early years education to local families. We are currently entering an exciting phase of transformation, and we’re seeking a new Chair of Trustees to guide us through this journey.

As Chair, you will play a vital leadership role in ensuring strong governance, strategic direction, and a sustainable future for the preschool. You’ll work closely with the Headteacher of Preschool and a committed board of trustees to improve operations, shape long-term plans, and uphold our values and charitable mission. You’ll also provide support and supervision to the Headteacher, lead termly board meetings, and act as a key representative of the organisation.

This role is both strategic and supportive, requiring sound judgement, strong interpersonal skills, and a collaborative leadership style. We’re looking for someone with experience in governance, leadership, or strategic planning—ideally within the charity, education, or early years sector. You should be confident in leading group discussions, supporting senior staff, and helping to identify funding and sponsorship opportunities.

If you’re passionate about early childhood education and community development, and want to use your skills to make a lasting local impact, we’d love to hear from you.

What are we looking for?

Leadership and Governance:

• Lead the Board of Trustees to ensure strong governance, strategic oversight, and compliance with legal and regulatory obligations.
• Chair termly trustee meetings and ensure all trustees are actively engaged and informed.
• Support the recruitment, induction, and development of trustees to build a strong and effective board.
• Ensure board decisions are actioned and followed up appropriately.

Support and Supervision:

• Provide regular line management and support to the Head of Preschool, including:
  • Leading the annual performance appraisal.
  • Acting as a sounding board for strategic and operational issues.

Communication and Representation:

• Main point of contact between the Board and the Head of Preschool.
• Create a positive, open relationship with staff, trustees, and stakeholders.

Strategic Oversight:

• Lead on the long-term development of the board and organisational planning.
• Facilitate effective collaboration and decision-making across the board.
• Take urgent action between meetings when necessary (not including decision-making unless explicitly authorised by the board).

Crisis Response:

• Act quickly and effectively in the event of emergencies or significant issues, working closely with the Head and trustees to coordinate an appropriate response.

Person Specification

Essential:

• Experience in governance, leadership, or strategic oversight—preferably within a charity, education, or early years setting.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to lead and facilitate group discussions and decision-making.
• Confidence in supervising and supporting senior staff.
• A genuine interest in early childhood education and community development.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of charity regulation, Ofsted requirements, or early years sector.
• Previous experience on a board or in a chairing role.
• Local to Waltham Forest or strong understanding of the local community.

What difference will you make?

As Chair of the Board of Trustees, you will play a vital role in shaping the future of Village Preschool E17. Your leadership will help guide our charity through an exciting period of transformation—strengthening governance, improving operations, and ensuring we continue to deliver high-quality early years education to local families.

You will be a key source of support for our Head of Preschool and a driving force behind a collaborative, effective trustee board. By bringing your skills and insight to strategic planning, compliance, and funding development, you will directly impact the lives of the children and families we serve.

This is a meaningful opportunity to use your experience for good—helping a valued local charity remain sustainable, inclusive, and deeply rooted in its community. Your voice, leadership, and vision could help secure a brighter future for Village Preschool E17.

Before you apply

Please provide a CV and cover letter detailing why you are interested in this role and your relevant experience.

**We are reviewing applications on a rolling basis and will close the opportunity once we've found the right person to join our board - early applications are encouraged.**

Play a vital part in this dual role for a pioneering social enterprise, and the leading charity supporting refugees, asylum seekers, and survivors of modern slavery.

Location: London / UK / Virtual

Applications close at 9 a.m. Tuesday 30th September 2025.

Who we are.

Clear Voice is an award-winning social enterprise offering high-quality interpreting and translation services across the UK. With a network of over 3,000 linguists and services available in more than 260 languages, Clear Voice delivers over 20 million minutes of interpretation annually. Our clients span the public, private, and voluntary sectors. What makes us different is our purpose. Clear Voice is wholly owned by the national charity Migrant Help, which supports refugees, asylum seekers, and survivors of modern slavery. Every penny of Clear Voice’s profit goes back into supporting this mission. Together, we are committed to a world that protects displaced people, treats them with dignity, and helps them thrive.

Migrant Help has been delivering services to vulnerable migrants since 1963. With a national reach and an income of over £58 million, the charity is one of the largest of its kind in the UK. Under the leadership of Caroline O’Connor, recently named Charity Chief Executive of the Year, the organisation continues to grow in both impact and ambition.

About the role.

This is a rare and meaningful opportunity to shape the growth of a purpose-led business while contributing to the leadership of a national charity. We are looking for someone to Chair the Clear Voice Board and serve as a Trustee of Migrant Help.

As Chair of Clear Voice, you will provide strategic leadership during an ambitious phase of growth and service diversification. A key priority will be helping Clear Voice strengthen its competitive position in the interpretation sector, diversifying its client base and reducing reliance on Migrant Help as a customer. You’ll support the CEO and Board to set long-term goals, act as a constructive sounding board, and uphold strong governance. You will need to balance commercial sustainability with the governance responsibilities of a charity-owned enterprise, ensuring that growth enhances both impact and accountability.

Equally, as a Trustee of Migrant Help, you will contribute to the broader leadership of the charity, ensuring both organisations thrive in mutual alignment. This dual role involves working across charity and enterprise contexts, offering guidance on opportunity, risk, innovation, and long-term impact.

What we are looking for.

We’re looking for a thoughtful and commercially astute leader who can bring strategic insight, inclusive leadership, and strong business skills to a growing, values-led enterprise. You’ll be confident in helping shape future growth while ensuring that decisions are rooted in purpose, financial accountability, and impact. You will also act as a supportive but constructively challenging Chair, able to engage confidently with diverse stakeholders and provide a trusted sounding board for the CEO. Experience of social enterprise leadership or growth would be hugely valuable, alongside expertise in business development, marketing, or digital innovation in technology-enabled environments. Experience in a non-executive or trustee role is helpful but not essential.

What matters most is your ability to balance commercial focus with charity governance, and your motivation to contribute to Migrant Help’s mission. We want someone who believes passionately that people seeking asylum are human beings who deserve to be treated decently and have their rights respected. We would especially welcome interest from people with lived or family experience of migration or displacement, and from female leaders who are underrepresented in our governance structures.

Time commitment

Approximately 14–16 days per year, including:

• Quarterly Clear Voice and Migrant Help Board meetings (virtual or in London)
• Chairing Clear Voice’s Finance & Risk Group (every 6 weeks)
• Attending Migrant Help’s People & Remuneration Committee (2–3 times per year)

Please click 'Redirect to recruiter’ 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 close at 9 a.m. Tuesday 30th September 2025.

Outside Edge Theatre Company, which is the UK’s only theatre company and participatory arts charity focused on addiction, is recruiting our next Chair of the Board of Trustees.

For the past 25 years, we have created theatre productions about issues related to addiction and offered free drama activities to help people at-risk and affected by addiction to live healthier lives. Over the last year we supported 837 people, and they attended 504 creative activity sessions a total of 5,408 times.

Our inclusive weekly arts activities encourage service users and audiences to develop healthy habits, discover new talents and reclaim centre stage in their own lives. We provide participants with pastoral care and wraparound support, opportunities for volunteering and paid employment, and a person-centred approach to help people identify and achieve outcomes for themselves. This year, we are delivering over 400 service sessions across our regular weekly drop-in groups, masterclasses, theatre clubs and taster sessions.

In addition to our work with people in recovery, Outside Edge is a producing theatre company that makes work about issues related to addiction. This unique subject matter ranges from problematic gambling to the social and political determinants leading to drug and alcohol abuse. Since 1999 we have produced more than 60 critically acclaimed productions that have toured across London, the rest of the UK and been presented in partnership with off-West End venues.

We are currently recruiting a new Chair of the Board of Trustees to work with OETC’s Artistic Director and CEO to help shape and lead the company through our exciting next stage of development and growth. Outside Edge Theatre Company is a small, fast-paced charity offering Trustees the opportunity to directly affect the organisation’s outcomes and see first-hand the impact of their efforts.

We are looking for a new Board member with financial expertise to chair our Finance and Audit Committee, support our work, and bring new skills, expertise and ideas for the future of our organisation.

At Nottingham Contemporary, we believe in the power of contemporary art to inspire, challenge and bring people together. Our vision is to be a leading international contemporary art gallery, known for our innovative exhibitions, events and local engagement programmes. We are in an important moment in Nottingham Contemporary’s history as we deliver a transformative process of rearticulating our purpose and shaping our future. This includes securing our long-term financial standing by developing and working towards ambitious and entrepreneurial income generation strategies and building on new and existing partnerships, members and supporters.

We are looking for someone with strong financial understanding and experience to join our Board as a trustee and Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee. This role is key to supporting Board members with financial decisions and understanding, providing a link between the Board and the Finance and Audit Committee and working closely with the Director and Senior Leadership Team.

Time commitment: We would normally expect trustees to prepare for and take part in 4–5 Board meetings per year. In addition, you will be expected to prepare for and chair up to 5 Finance and Audit Committee meetings per year. All trustees support the development of key pieces of work and are invited to voluntarily attend the 3 exhibition openings per year and other fundraising, networking and promotional functions. In total, this is estimated as a time commitment of an average of 1 day per month.

Payment: The role is an unpaid voluntary position. Reasonable travel expenses incurred taking part will be met. 

Access: Information about our access statement and facilities can be found on our website.

Benefits: We offer mutually devised mentoring and training opportunities, based upon the needs and interests of new trustees. The role can provide opportunities for the development of experiences and networks in the cultural sector and beyond. 

Closing date: Wednesday 1 October 2025

Interviews: Wednesday 22 October 2025

For more information, including the job description and person specification, please see our website.

Kids in Museums is an award-winning small charity dedicated to making museums, galleries and heritage sites more welcoming and accessible for all families, children and young people, especially the millions who still face significant barriers to visiting. We are looking to appoint a new Chair of Trustees to join our Board in December 2025. 

At an exciting point in Kids in Museums’ development, the new Chair will play an instrumental role in shaping the charity’s future. They will be passionate about access to culture and heritage and able to lead organisational development that is grounded in our mission and values. 

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone:

• with a deep understanding of the UK museum sector,

• experience of developing long-term strategies for growth,

• skilled at nurturing strong partnerships, 

• who values Kids in Museums’ unique sector support programme, 

• who would be committed to our work and advocating for the people and organisations we support. 

Founded in 2003, Kids in Museums has grown into an influential national charity that supports significant change in museums through powerful national programmes. Our mission is to work with museums nationwide to make them more welcoming for children, young people and families. We lead and support the sector to address ingrained inequalities to access, set standards of best practice in work with children, families and young people, build a skilled museum workforce and empower young people to become decision makers across the sector.

Guided by our mission and values, the new Chair will collaboratively lead the Board and staff team to embed sustainable organisational development which supports the charity’s ambitions and the growing, changing needs of the museum sector. 

Join the Board of an organisation that is changing places and changing lives.

Groundwork is the community charity with a green heart. Our mission is to create a fair and green future in which people, places and nature thrive. We believe that big global issues – the economy, the environment – have a big local impact. Groundwork East operates throughout the East of England helping communities find practical solutions to the challenges they face. We have a profound moral commitment to respond and grow to meet the anticipated demand for our services.

Role: Chairperson

Groundwork East has almost 40 years of experience in delivering bespoke projects that use the environment as a catalyst for building a more sustainable future.

Groundwork involves residents, businesses and other local organisations in practical projects that improve the quality of life, bring about regeneration, and lay the foundations to make sustainable development a reality in local communities.

Our mission has never been more important and we are seeking a passionate and committed Chairperson who wants to support us to drive growth and be part of our ambitious plans.

We are looking for a Chairperson to join our strong and engaged Board of Trustees to bring fresh ideas and new insights with skills developed through lived experience. As the main figurehead of the Trust you will attend formal events and maintain contact with Groundwork UK, sitting on the Groundwork UK Board. You will Chair our Board meetings ensuring that the Board gives appropriate attention to standards of Governance, safeguarding and legal compliance as is required of a charitable organisation. You will have proven leadership skills and excellent financial acumen with an ability to work effectively with the Chief Executive and the Board of Trustees to ensure full engagement and to develop and deliver on the strategic vision of the organisation.

We are an equal opportunities employer and we are committed to securing diversity amongst our Board of Trustees. We are deeply committed to being representative of the areas we serve and invite applications from all areas of society.

Position: Chair of Trustees
Accountable to: Board of Trustees
Location: Hybrid
Time Commitment:1-2 days per month
Term: 2 yrs renewable

Purpose of the Role

The Chair of Trustees provides leadership to the Board, ensuring that it fulfils its responsibilities for the governance of the charity. The Chair works in partnership with the Chief Executive (or equivalent) to help achieve the organisation’s mission, ensuring it is run effectively, transparently, and in line with its values.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Governance

• Provide clear leadership to the Board of Trustees, ensuring it fulfils its duties and responsibilities.

• Ensure that governance arrangements are effective, transparent, and regularly reviewed.

• Lead on maintaining a strong focus on the charity’s purpose, vision, and strategic direction.

• Ensure the charity complies with its governing document, charity law, company law, and other relevant legislation.

Board Management

• Chair Board meetings effectively and efficiently, bringing impartiality and objectivity to discussions.

• Ensure decisions are taken in the best interests of the charity and are implemented.

• Encourage participation and engagement from all Trustees, drawing on their skills and knowledge.

• Oversee the recruitment, induction, and development of Trustees.

External Representation

• Act as an ambassador and spokesperson for the charity when appropriate.

• Represent the charity at key events, meetings, and with stakeholders.

• Build strong relationships with funders, partners, and the wider community.

Relationship with Senior Staff

• Develop a supportive and constructive relationship with the Chief Executive (or equivalent).

• Provide guidance and support while respecting boundaries between governance and management.

• Undertake annual appraisal of the Chief Executive and ensure appropriate support structures are in place.

Person Specification

Essential Skills & Experience

• Previous experience of chairing meetings and/or serving on a Board.

• Understanding of charity governance and the legal responsibilities of Trustees.

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and engage others.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to act impartially, with integrity, and in the best interests of the charity.

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Knowledge of the sector in which the charity operates.

• Experience in strategy development, fundraising, or stakeholder engagement.

• Established networks that could benefit the charity.

Time Commitment

• 3-6 Trustees meeting a year

• Regular contact with the Chief Executive/Trustees between meetings.

• Representation at occasional external events.

We’re looking for our next Chair of the Finance Committee (FinCom) and Trustee.

London-based ¦ Voluntary ¦ ~1–2 days/month plus 10 scheduled meetings each year

At the London Early Years Foundation (LEYF), we’re proud to be the UK’s largest charitable childcare social enterprise. With 43 nurseries, 1,000+ staff and a £37m turnover, we’re on a mission to change the world one child at a time - especially in London’s most disadvantaged communities.

We’re looking for a senior finance leader to join our Board of Trustees as Chair of FinCom, with Treasurer responsibilities. This is a brilliant opportunity for someone who’s already served as a Trustee or Non-Executive Director and is ready to step into a leadership role with real influence.

What we’re looking for:

• A qualified accountant with senior-level finance experience (likely a current or former Finance Director)
• Someone who brings rigour to audit, risk, and financial oversight, and can lead strategic conversations at Board level
• A credible, thoughtful partner to our Finance Director - able to challenge, support, and collaborate on everything from acquisitions to reserves
• A confident chair and facilitator, who creates a positive, inclusive space for discussion and decision-making
• Someone with gravitas who’s interested in wider business and wants to advise (not run) ours. You understand the numbers, and bring commerciality and pragmatism
• A calm, grounded presence with high emotional intelligence, curiosity, and a genuine passion for our mission

Why join us?

• Use your skills to make a real difference to children and families across London
• Join a collaborative, professional, and down-to-earth Board and exec team
• Be part of a warm, values-led organisation that welcomes your ideas and energy

Interested?

If you’re the kind of leader others rally behind - calm, credible, and committed to making a difference - this is your opportunity to step into a role that matters.

Further details about the role can be found in our online info pack. We’re reviewing applications and progressing people in August – so don’t wait too long to express your interest. We’re hoping you will join us for key business meetings in September as part of the transition from our current FinCom Chair. 

We are looking for a dedicated and organised Trustee Board Administrator to help ensure the smooth running of our governance. In this role, you will take the lead in coordinating quarterly Board meetings, liaising with Trustees and the Chair to make sure everything is well-prepared and runs efficiently.

Your responsibilities will include sending out meeting invites, preparing and sharing agendas, circulating key documents, and recording accurate minutes. You will work closely with the Chair of Trustees to support effective communication across the Board and help us stay on track with our commitments.

This is a flexible, voluntary position with quarterly meetings (three online and one in person), and you will be joining a supportive group of Trustees who are passionate about improving youth mental health and guiding the strategic direction of our work.

We are looking for someone with the below qualities:

• Organised – able to manage schedules, documents, and deadlines effectively.
• Clear communicator – confident in liaising with Trustees and the Chair.
• Attention to detail – accurate in preparing agendas and recording minutes.
• Reliable – consistent in following through with agreed tasks.
• Confidential – able to handle sensitive information with discretion.

At Merstham Community Facility Trust our vision is thriving community where every resident has the opportunity to belong. We aim to support, empower and connect the people of Merstham.

The purpose of the charity is to support the Merstham community by delivering services that reflect the needs and ideas of local residents. We are committed to championing community led projects, events and volunteering opportunities, and we strive to foster a sense of belonging, enhance personal development and promote wellbeing.

If you are a committed and enthusiastic person who wants to make a difference to the lives of the people of Merstham then this could be the volunteering position for you!

Our key initiatives are:

Addressing financial hardship by running a food club, hosting a food bank and providing a Community Fridge, using surplus food collected from local supermarkets and making it accesible to local residents, also saving tonnes of food ending up as waste. During the winter we provide a 'warm hub'

Improving Wellbeing including activities to address social isolation for example a community allotment, bee keeping, chatty tables, Craft tables, games evenings and a Cinema Club -aimed at reducing social isolation in the elderly. We have a number of mental health initiatives and have trained 20 Community Champions - who can give basic advice on mental and physical health issues. We organise various community events for example an Easter Egg Hunt, Christmas Fayre and Coach outing to the coast.

Community Enablement Signposting to support, including access to Citizens advice, food bank and support groups. Employment support - provided by partners at the Hub to assist path to employment and increase employability. Up-skilling and training of volunteers and Lead volunteers to put skills back into our community, IT support

The Board is currently composed of six trustees and two associate trustees. We employ a manager, four part time office staff and three caretakers who conduct the work of the charity. There are about 60 volunteers and 20 Wellbeing Champions involved in the Hub, carrying out activities such as IT support, reception duties, Repair cafe etc. During the winter months we run a 'Warm Hub' where people of reduced means can receive a cup of tea, biscuits and a friendly welcome.

 As Chairman of the Board of Trustees you will play a vital role in shaping the future direction of the charity, and securing it's success in challenging the social inequalities faced by the community of Merstham.

Core Skills

1. Leadership & Facilitation

   • Ability to lead and inspire trustees and volunteers.

   • Encourages participation and manages diverse opinions.

2. Communication

   • Clear, respectful, and persuasive speaking and writing.

   • Able to represent the charity in public and with stakeholders.

3. Governance & Strategic Thinking

   • Understanding of charity governance and trustee responsibilities.

   • Can help develop and oversee long-term plans.

4. Meeting Management

   • Skilled in chairing meetings effectively, ensuring they are focused, inclusive, and productive.

5. Financial Awareness

   • Basic understanding of budgets, funding, and financial accountability (doesn’t need to be a finance expert).

6. Conflict Resolution

   • Ability to manage disagreements constructively and maintain harmony on the board.

Key Attributes

1. Integrity

   • High ethical standards and commitment to the charity’s mission.

2. Commitment

   • Willing to dedicate sufficient time and energy.

3. Impartiality

   • Treats all opinions fairly and avoids favouritism or personal agendas.

4. Empathy & Community Focus

   • Understands and connects with the community the charity serves.

5. Confidence Without Ego

   • Willing to make decisions and stand by them, but open to being challenged.

6. Reliability

   • Can be counted on to follow through with responsibilities and support the board and staff.

Optional but Valuable

• Fundraising experience

• Policy or nonprofit background

• Local community ties

• Experience managing volunteers

Concordia offer life changing work and global volunteering opportunities. Join their Board as Chair or Trustee and help them fulfil their vision to create a world of peace, prosperity and opportunity.

Applications close at 9 a.m. Monday 20th October.

Time Commitment: Chair 2-3 days a month and Trustees 1-2 days a month

Since 1943, Concordia has helped over 750,000 people through work and volunteering programmes across the world and around the UK. They have ambitious and exciting plans to expand their programmes and grow their impact.

Concordia’s mission is to support people to thrive. They achieve this by giving people, particularly young people, transformative experiences and skills.

They help connect UK Growers with a diverse workforce from across the world. They are a trusted recruiter of seasonal workers within the UK Agriculture Industry and have a welfare-focused approach to ensure migrant workers are treated fairly.

Concordia work with over 120 UK Farms to connect over 7,500 workers from 11 countries a year, on average.

About the roles

Concordia is in an exciting period of strategic growth and change. They have ambitions to grow their impact through a new and additional strategic Pillar. This new Pillar will relate to their core purpose of giving people, particularly young people, transformative experiences and skills. Concordia’s third Pillar will support the diversification of income, expand its impact and strengthen its sustainability.

They have a strong board with diverse skills and trustees who have served multiple terms. With their ambition for expansion and strategic diversification, they need a new Chair who has the motivation, skills and commitment to lead the board and support the Executive and staff team through the next phase of their positive development and growth.

The new Chair needs to be someone with excellent chairing skills who can lead the Board and CEO through change.  Strategic knowledge and influence, and an ambitious passion for supporting young people, international development and skills development are crucial too. They need to have credibility and bring gravitas to help represent Concordia and positively grow the reputation and value of the Charity, alongside the CEO. Most importantly, they need to be values-aligned, motivated and committed to the cause of supporting people to thrive and making global connections.

Trustees will have experience in the following areas:

• Safeguarding
• Human Resources (HR) to chair HR Committee
• Finance to chair 
• Finance, Audit & Risk Committee

Who we are looking for

You will be a committed and well-motivated leader with cross-sector experience and understanding of the complexity of growing an organisation in partnership with the civil society and other partners. Experience on Boards, ideally as Chair, and a passion and willingness to learn and to develop others so that the board can thrive and support the executive and wider staff team.

All Trustees are encouraged to contribute actively to the Board of Trustees’ role in giving firm strategic direction to Concordia, in relation to specialist skills and role and setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets, and evaluating performance against agreed targets. Financial stability and protecting income, investment and the oversight of expenditure are the collective responsibilities of the board. Insuring against liability and ensuring compliance is also key. Support and line Management for the CEO is led by the Chair on behalf of the board, as is their regular performance review. The Chair also supports the recruitment and performance of Trustees.

Please click 'Redirect to recruiter’ 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 at 9 a.m. Monday 20th October.

About It’s Time:

It’s Time is a charity created by and for young adults who have experienced the death of a parent. Founded by people who know this grief first-hand, the charity ensures no one aged 18–35 has to navigate such loss alone. Through peer-led support, events, free group therapy, and tailored resources, It’s Time offers connection and understanding during an often isolating time. The charity also partners with universities, workplaces, and families to promote better bereavement support - recognising that grief doesn’t follow a timeline, and the help offered to young adults shouldn’t either.

The charity was founded in 2021 and we now run local peer support groups throughout England, have a year long waiting list for our group therapy and supports around 500 people in the online community.  We recognise that as we grow our needs and those of our community are changing and are looking for someone skilled in charity growth to steer us into the next phase of our development.

Remuneration: This is a voluntary role with no financial remuneration. Travel expenses will be reimbursed.

Location: Remote, with one in-person strategy day per year (usually on a Saturday in London).

Time Commitment:

• 4 board meetings annually (Tuesday evenings via Zoom)

• 1 annual in-person strategy day (usually a Saturday in London)

• Participation in any relevant sub-groups

• Ad hoc involvement in events, meetings, or training as needed

Reporting to: Chair and the Board of Trustees

Role Overview

The Vice Chair supports the Chair and Trustee Board in ensuring the effective governance and strategic direction of the charity. This includes providing inclusive leadership, promoting accountability, and upholding the mission and values of the organisation.

The Vice Chair will work closely with the Chair and the senior staff team to help the Board function effectively, and may represent the charity externally when needed.

Principal Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

Working with the Chair and Trustee Board to:

• Ensure the charity delivers maximum impact for its beneficiaries

• Uphold the Board’s responsibilities in effective governance

• Support the development and delivery of strategic direction

• Monitor major risks and opportunities, ensuring systems are in place to manage them

• Safeguard the financial health and accountability of the charity

Governance

Working with the Chair and Trustee Board to:

• Ensure governance arrangements are fit for purpose and effective

• Support trustee development and capability building

• Encourage positive change and help resolve conflicts

• Ensure a diverse and skilled Trustee Board

• Operate within agreed charity policies

External Relations

Working with the Chair and Trustee Board to:

• Represent the charity at external functions, meetings, and events

• Act as an ambassador for the cause

• Support the management of external relationships and stakeholder engagement

Efficiency and Effectiveness

Working with the Chair and Trustee Board to:

• Ensure meetings are well-structured, objective, and lead to effective decision-making

• Maintain strong engagement and collective ownership among Trustees

• Foster constructive relationships within the Board

• Support the senior staff in preparing meaningful agendas and ensuring implementation of decisions

Relationship with Senior Staff

Working with the Chair and Trustee Board to:

• Build and maintain an open, constructive relationship with senior staff

• Support accountability of senior staff for strategic objectives

• Provide guidance and act as a sounding board while respecting staff autonomy

• Offer support on organisational matters as appropriate

• Contribute to the annual appraisal of senior staff if requested

Person Specification

Personal Qualities

• Strong commitment to the charity’s mission and strategy

• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills

• Tact, diplomacy, and the ability to engage and listen

• Collaborative and team-oriented approach

• Ability to dedicate time to the role, including occasional out-of-hours events

Experience

• Experience in strategic leadership roles

• Track record of achievement in professional or voluntary contexts

• Experience in business/community growth

• Experience representing an organisation externally

• Familiarity with chairing or co-chairing meetings is desirable

Knowledge and Skills

• Understanding of the Civil Society sector and key current issues

• Leadership and motivational skills

• Understanding of charity finance and governance

Term of Appointment
The Vice Chair will serve a three-year term, with the possibility of reappointment for one additional term.

Global Canopy is a data-driven not for profit delivering real transparency and accountability for market impacts on nature and people. Our special focus is on ending deforestation – an essential step in achieving urgent global goals on climate, nature and human rights.

We deliver our work via three main strategies:

1. on open data (including via major global data platforms like Trase, Forest 500, Forest IQ, and ENCORE);
2. on creating stronger voluntary and compliance frameworks to address nature loss (we are a founding partner of the TNFD);and on accelerating accountability and action by the finance sector towards deforestation-free portfolios.

Global Canopy Initiatives (GCI) is a new Social Enterprise subsidiary wholly owned by Global Canopy.

The purpose of the social enterprise is to create sustainable revenues for open data on nature – a critical challenge for nonprofits working in this space. Done right, this will help safeguard the availability of open data for all as more commercial incumbents enter this space, will drive uptake by the market and identify where gaps remain, and will help ensure the sustainability of our vital offering. 

GCI ultimately aims to maximize the impact and uptake of our work to tackle market-driven impacts on nature, forests and people. Any profits from these activities are invested back into the charity.

Forest IQ Pro

Forest IQ is an open data partnership and platform that brings together aligned, best-in-class, and actionable data on how more than 2,400 major companies are addressing their links to deforestation.

Forest IQ Pro is a paid-for tier, specially designed for financial institutions to help enable their transition to deforestation-free financial portfolios. Offered through GCI, it includes access to licensed data, financial identifiers (ISINs), a bespoke API, and priority technical and customer support.

The role: overview

This is an exciting time to be joining the Board of Global Canopy Initiatives. As Chair of the Board you will be a key leader for the organisation, responsible for guiding the Board of Directors in governance, strategy, and oversight.

You will ensure that Global Canopy Initiatives fulfils its mission effectively, flourishes commercially, and fosters strong relationships with key stakeholders – from major financial institutions that are our customers, to data and ESG service providers that are our partners, to the trustees of the parent charity Global Canopy. 

This is an opportunity for a passionate and experienced leader to drive environmental innovation and impact at a high level – while helping to tackle a key challenge for the future: how to ensure the sustainability of high-quality open data provided by the non-profit sector.

We ask for a minimum commitment of 2 days per month for GCI, including board meetings and strategic engagements. There are opportunities to go above and beyond this minimum for those that wish.

The Chair of the Board is a voluntary, and therefore unpaid, position, with all expenses covered. The Chair is typically appointed for an initial term of three years, with the possibility of renewal subject to board approval.

As Chair of GCI, you will contribute to our wider organisational culture of kindness, collaboration, rigour and accountability in equal measure. You will come to this work with a sense of urgent mission, but one balanced by emotional intelligence. You will share our conviction that it is not just what we do that matters in our working life, but how we do it too.

The role: responsibilities

• Provide leadership for the Board, ensuring effective governance and strategic direction.

• Facilitate and preside over board meetings, setting agendas in collaboration with key stakeholders in GCI and GC.

• Support our ongoing and agile strategy development in a fast-changing market

• Serve as a key ambassador for the company (and its parent charity), opening doors and representing it to key audiences including customers, technology partners, policymakers and donors.

• Ensure financial oversight, risk management, and compliance with regulatory requirements.

• Foster a strong, collaborative relationship between the Board and GCI Leadership Team.

• Recruit, mentor, and support board members to enhance board effectiveness.

• Uphold and model our organisational values, while fostering a culture of operational excellence and ambition in fulfilling our mission.

About you

To be successful in this role, these are the things that will matter the most: 

• Your will have DEEP KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE in finance sector environmental due diligence and reporting, and the data needed to deliver on requirements.
• You will be a SEASONED LEADER, with experience at C-level or board level, able to work to effectively govern the work of GCI – a startup in the non-profit sector, but one that builds on the strong foundations, intelligence and networks of its parent charity.
• You will be MISSION DRIVEN with a strong commitment to tackling the climate and nature crisis, including via market action and reform.
• You will be well NETWORKED with links to relevant people in relevant sectors and disciplines, with an emphasis on finance sector sustainability and data.
• You will be AGILE and ENTREPRENEURIAL in your approach.
• You will bring EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE to how you approach leadership and teamwork, valuing the importance not just of what we do at work, but how we do it too.

How to Apply: 

To apply for the position, please follow the links below and submit an up-to date CV and covering letter.

The covering letter should explain your motivation for the role, and how your skills and experience fit the person specification. (Please no more than 1 side of A4). 

All candidates are asked to complete an anonymous diversity monitoring form when they apply.

The closing date for applications is 29 September 2025 at 9am BST. Early application is encouraged; we may close applications early if suitable candidates are identified. Screening calls are provisionally planned for w/c 6 October, and will be conducted remotely via a video call.

At Global Canopy, we value diversity and inclusion. You can read our diversity statement on our website. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and are committed to having a team with a diverse set of skills, experiences and abilities.

Global Canopy works on issues of global deforestation. We are particularly interested in strengthening our team to include those with a background from forest regions such as Latin America and South East Asia. We would welcome applications from people from these regions.