Chair of the trustee board volunteer roles
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!
We are currently seeking an independent committee member possessing an accounting qualification and high-level expertise in audit, risk, and financial governance to join the Audit and Risk Committee of STAR Academies, a nationally-renowned Trust of 36 schools. While the Trust is centred in Lancashire, the successful applicant may be based elsewhere in the country and able to undertake the role in a largely remote fashion.
Star Academies is one of the country’s leading multi-academy Trusts (MATs), operating 36 schools across Lancashire, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, the Midlands and London. The Trust includes primary, secondary, and all-through schools, with a strong track record of delivering exceptional educational outcomes. Almost half of Star’s schools have been rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted, while the majority of the remaining schools are rated ‘Good’. A small number are undergoing improvement, including a school that joined the Trust in November 2024 after being rated as requiring special measures.
Star Academies has a well-earned reputation for excellence. It originally established and ran outstanding Muslim faith schools before expanding into non-faith schools and sponsoring underperforming schools, leading them to significant improvement. The Trust operates its own teaching school, providing training and development for teachers and school leaders at all levels.
Founded in Blackburn, Star Academies has strategically expanded to support communities across London, the West Midlands, West Yorkshire, Lancashire and Liverpool. The Trust was invited by the Department for Education (DfE) to expand into new regions, reflecting its national reputation for high standards.
Sir Hamid Patel CBE, Star Academies’ Chief Executive, has been a key figure in national education leadership. Knighted in 2021, he serves on several influential boards and committees, most recently as the interim Chair of Ofsted. His leadership has positioned Star Academies at the forefront of educational improvement and governance excellence.
Star Academies employs rigorous governance structures to maintain its financial and operational integrity. The Trust engages Beever and Struthers (external auditors) and RSM (internal auditors) to ensure financial compliance. Prospective candidates should ensure there are no conflicts of interest that may affect their ability to provide independent scrutiny.
The Trust’s Requirements
Star Academies is seeking to appoint an Independent Committee Member to join its Audit & Risk (A&R) Committee. This individual will not serve as a Trustee but will work closely with existing Trustees, executives and auditors to provide scrutiny, challenge and oversight of the Trust’s audit and risk management processes.
The A&R Committee plays a critical role in governance, overseeing the Trust’s financial systems, risk management, and regulatory compliance. While financial oversight is the responsibility of a separate Finance Committee, the A&R Committee ensures that risk and internal control processes meet the highest standards. It also serves as the first governance checkpoint for any new schools joining the Trust. Minutes, reports and recommendations from the A&R Committee are shared with the Finance Committee and Trust Board, ensuring a cohesive approach to governance and compliance.
The Independent Committee Member will bring high-level expertise in audit, risk, and financial governance. Star Academies is particularly seeking a qualified accountant with demonstrable experience in managing risk within an organisation or group of companies with a significant turnover. Candidates should be comfortable operating in a highly professional and strategic environment, where they will be expected to challenge, question and support executives and auditors in a robust yet constructive manner.
Meetings are well-structured and efficient, with all papers provided in advance via an online portal. Committee Members are expected to read these materials ahead of time to ensure discussions are focused, strategic and impactful. The preparation for each meeting is estimated to take around 90 minutes.
The Audit & Risk Committee meets three times per year, typically around Christmas, Easter and the summer break. Meetings are scheduled on Thursdays from 5.00–7.00 PM but often conclude within one hour. While there is an annual opportunity to visit the Trust and meet the team, all committee meetings are conducted remotely via video conferencing, with in-person meetings arranged if necessary for induction purposes.
This is a rare opportunity to work with one of the UK’s most respected Multi-Academy Trusts, contributing to strong governance and strategic oversight. The role offers a high level of engagement with minimal time commitment, making it ideal for a senior finance professional looking to contribute to the education sector or an experienced MAT Trustee wishing to support a leading national Trust.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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!
We're organising a new support group in Hull and are looking for a group facilitator. Would you be interested in taking on this role?
The primary purpose of this flexible volunteering role is to support us as peer support group facilitators for support groups for those affected by brain tumours.
- Hours: Variable – depending on individual circumstances and what people can do
- Support Supervisor: Amy Gorse
We want to ensure that volunteering with us is not daunting, so the exact tasks might vary depending on your circumstances. However, some typical tasks may include:
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Facilitating peer support group sessions
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Provide emotional support to attendees
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Offer information on YBTC services
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Attending relevant training
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Maintain records of attendance and provide feedback to YBTC
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Liaise with the venue about group bookings
We are looking for people who are:
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Are compassionate and non-judgmental
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Have personal or professional experience with brain tumours
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Confidence in facilitating group discussions
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Commitment to scheduled group sessions
We can offer you the following:
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Full induction and ongoing training
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Ongoing support and supervision in your role
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Opportunity to learn new skills
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The satisfaction of making a positive impact on those affected by brain tumours
We appreciate any volunteering help you can offer YBTC and want to ensure our volunteers have a positive experience with us. We pledge to support you as much as we can.
To improve people's lives impacted by a brain tumour in Yorkshire through local support and research.
To improve the lives of people impacted by a brain tumour in Yorkshire, through local support and research.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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!
Hours: Variable – depending on individual circumstances and what people can do
Location: Variable – we are looking to extend our reach of peer support walks throughout Yorkshire
Main Tasks:
We appreciate any volunteering help that you can offer YBTC and want to make sure that our
volunteers have a positive experience with us. We pledge to support you as much as we can.
We want to ensure that volunteering with us does not feel too daunting, so the exact tasks might
vary depending on your circumstances. However, some typical tasks may include:
· Support our regular wellbeing/peer support walks
· Welcome participants and help them feel comfortable, fostering a friendly and inclusive atmosphere
· Encourage conversations among participants, offering a listening ear
· Be attentive to the well-being of all participants during the walk
· Offer information on YBTC services
· Attending occasional training sessions or volunteer meetings organised by YBTC
We are looking for people who are:
· Are warm and non-judgemental
· Reliability – are punctual and committed to scheduled walks
· Collaborative mindset to work effectively with staff and volunteers
· Basic physical fitness to complete the walks, awareness of the needs of participants with
different mobility/health conditions
We can offer you the following:
· Full induction and ongoing training
· Ongoing support and supervision in your role
· Opportunity to learn new skills and meet new people
· The satisfaction of making a positive impact on those affected by brain tumours
Background
Founded in 2003 and originally named Andrea’s Gift and later Brain Tumour Research and Support
Across Yorkshire, Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity (YBTC) is Yorkshire and Humber’s leading
brain tumour charity. Offering practical, financial and emotional support to both adult and child
brain tumour patients, together with their families.
We fund brain tumour research in Yorkshire; we hope this research, dedicated to identifying new
approaches to the discovery and treatment of brain tumours will improve outcomes for patients.
At YBTC we are a small team who are growing to meet the needs of those affected by a brain
tumour in Yorkshire. Around 15 new cases of primary brain tumours are diagnosed in the region
every week.
Our charity values are: Integrity, Compassion, Community & Ambition.
Our Vision/Mission
To improve the lives of people impacted by a brain tumour in Yorkshire through local support and research.
To improve the lives of people impacted by a brain tumour in Yorkshire, through local support and research.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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!
We appreciate any volunteering help that you can offer YBTC and want to make sure that our
volunteers have a positive experience with us. We pledge to support you as much as we can.
We want to ensure that volunteering with us does not feel too daunting, so the exact tasks might
vary depending on your circumstances. However, some typical tasks may include:
· Helping with event preparation
· Manning checkpoints
· Walking support
· First-aid support
· Marshals
· Support drivers
· Helping with community stalls
We are looking for people who are:
· Warm and non-judgemental
· Willing to learn about the work of YBTC
· Able to communicate with a range of different groups
· Good team players, able to work with other staff/volunteers
· Reliable and able to commit to agreed requirements
We can offer you the following:
· Induction and ongoing training
· Ongoing support and supervision in your role
· The opportunity to learn new skills
· YBTC commitment to health and safety
About Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity
Background
Founded in 2003 and originally named Andrea’s Gift and later Brain Tumour Research and Support
Across Yorkshire, Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity (YBTC) is Yorkshire and Humber’s leading
brain tumour charity. Offering practical, financial and emotional support to both adult and child
brain tumour patients, together with their families.
We fund brain tumour research in Yorkshire; we hope this research, dedicated to identifying new
approaches to the discovery and treatment of brain tumours, will improve outcomes for patients.
At YBTC we are a small team who are growing to meet the needs of those affected by a brain
tumour in Yorkshire. Around 15 new cases of primary brain tumour are diagnosed in the region
every week.
Our charity values are:
Integrity, Compassion, Community & Ambition.
Our Vision/Mission
To improve the lives of people impacted by a brain tumour in Yorkshire, through local support and research.
To improve the lives of people impacted by a brain tumour in Yorkshire, through local support and research.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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!
We appreciate any volunteering help that you can offer YBTC and want to make sure that our
volunteers have a positive experience with us. We pledge to support you as much as we can.
We want to ensure that volunteering with us does not feel too daunting, so the exact tasks might
vary depending on your circumstances. However, some typical tasks may include:
· Asking people you know who might be willing to have a collection box in their business
· Approaching local businesses to display the boxes and collect loose change from their customers
· Building and maintaining relationships with your box holders to inspire loyalty and encourage people to continue giving year after year
· Collecting the boxes in your area as and when required and taking to your YBTC contact
We are looking for people who are:
· Have a warm, friendly and confident outlook
· Willing to learn about the work of YBTC
· Able to communicate with a range of different groups
· Are creative and imaginative – spotting opportunities to boost your distribution
· Are well organised and enjoy meeting new people
· Reliable and able to commit to agreed requirements
We can offer you:
· Induction and ongoing training
· Ongoing support and supervision in your role
· The opportunity to learn new skills
· YBTC commitment to health and safety
Founded in 2003 and originally named Andrea’s Gift and later Brain Tumour Research and Support
Across Yorkshire, Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity (YBTC) is Yorkshire and Humber’s leading
brain tumour charity. Offering practical, financial and emotional support to both adult and child
brain tumour patients, together with their families.
We fund brain tumour research in Yorkshire; we hope this research, dedicated to identifying new
approaches to the discovery and treatment of brain tumours, will improve outcomes for patients.
At YBTC we are a small team who are growing to meet the needs of those affected by a brain
tumour in Yorkshire. Around 15 new cases of primary brain tumour are diagnosed in the region
every week.
Our charity values are Integrity, Compassion, Community, & Ambition.
Our Vision/Mission
To improve the lives of people impacted by a brain tumour in Yorkshire, through local support and
research.
To improve the lives of people impacted by a brain tumour in Yorkshire, through local support and research.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.