Chair to the board volunteer roles in europe

Use your expertise to shape education, influence communities, and grow as a leader. Roles available across England.

Are you a business leader or corporate professional looking to make a meaningful impact outside the boardroom?

By becoming a volunteer governor at a further education (FE) or sixth form college, you’ll help shape the strategic direction of an organisation that transforms lives through education and skills—while strengthening your own governance experience and leadership credentials.

Why it’s relevant to professionals like you

Further Education colleges train over 1.6 million learners annually, preparing the skilled workforce that keeps our economy moving—from engineers and IT specialists to healthcare professionals and construction experts.

As a college governor, you’ll sit on the board of an FE institution (and registered charity), where your insight into strategy, risk, people, or finance will have a direct impact on how public funds are spent, how performance is measured, and how learners are supported to succeed.

This is an opportunity to:

• Apply your corporate skills in a charitable leadership role
• Gain board-level experience and enhance your CV
• Contribute to local economic growth and social mobility
• Support a vital sector during a time of transformation

What you’ll do

As part of a governing board, you’ll:

• Set strategic direction: Help define the college’s mission and goals
• Hold leadership to account: Monitor finances, performance, and outcomes
• Ensure governance excellence: Make decisions in the best interests of learners and stakeholders
• Act as a charity trustee: Ensure financial sustainability and legal compliance

You’ll also engage with senior leaders and external stakeholders, including local employers, regulators, and community partners.

Who we’re looking for

We welcome professionals from a broad range of sectors, including but not limited to:

• Finance, Audit & Risk
• HR, People & Culture
• Strategy, Transformation & Operations
• Technology, AI & Digital
• Legal, Governance & Compliance
• Marketing, PR & Communications
• Education, Apprenticeships or vocational courses

What matters most is your strategic thinking, commercial awareness, and commitment to helping others succeed.

Prior education experience is not required. Full induction and training are provided, with access to DfE-funded development and peer mentoring where needed.

Time commitment

Expect to give approximately 1–2 days per month, including:

• Attending board and committee meetings (in-person or hybrid)
• Reading papers and preparing questions
• Participating in training and occasional college visits

The time commitment is manageable alongside a full-time role—and many employers actively support staff to take on governance roles as part of their professional development.

Where you’ll be needed

We are recruiting governors for colleges across England, with new opportunities added regularly. We’ll work with you to match your skills and location with a college in need of your expertise.

What’s in it for you?

· Enhance your board-level and governance experience

· Develop strategic oversight and leadership outside your day-to-day role

· Expand your professional network

·Give back in a way that creates long-term, measurable impact

· Gain exposure to the education, charity, and public sectors

Ready to step into a strategic, purpose-driven leadership role?

If you’re ready to bring your corporate insight to the education sector and help shape the future of skills, opportunity, and social mobility—we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now to become a volunteer college governor.

Do you believe that everyone should have access to quality advice and support, regardless of their background? As Treasurer you would have a real opportunity to shape how AdviceUK uses its financial resources to support advice organisations across the UK.

With almost 700 members, AdviceUK is the biggest network of advice services in the UK. Since 1979, we have been supporting advice providers with training, information, and advocacy to help them create greater social impact. In 2024 alone, our members helped 2.8 million people with issues including debt, housing, employment, immigration and asylum, welfare benefits, and consumer rights.

Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, we are constantly exploring new and innovative ways to strengthen the advice sector. Our vision? A society wherein every individual, regardless of means, is able to access the advice they need to exercise their rights and deal with any legal and social welfare problems they may face.

So what does the Treasurer role at AdviceUK look like?

Are you looking for a voluntary role that is rewarding and offers you the chance to provide leadership with your financial expertise? 

The Board is responsible for our strategic direction and governance, ensuring we achieve our charitable objects and are well run. Day-to-day management of the organisation is delegated to the Chief Executive and staff, while the Board focuses on general direction and oversight.

We are currently looking for an experienced finance professional to join our Board as Treasurer. The Treasurer/Finance Trustee plays a key role in overseeing the charity’s financial health and ensuring the Board can make informed, responsible decisions.

The role can fit around existing commitments, both professional and personal. Previous trustee experience isn’t required, and you will be supported into the role through an onboarding and induction process. 

Please read the candidate information pack for further information before you apply. Don’t think you quite meet all of the specifications? Please don’t count yourself out – we’d still love to hear from you and learn more about you and your interest in joining AdviceUK!

Ready to apply?

Eastside People is supporting AdviceUK in the recruitment of these roles. Please apply by submitting your CV and a cover letter, both in Word doc format.

Please use the cover letter (max 2 pages) as an opportunity to add to the information you have shared in your CV and ensure that you cover the following: 

• Why are you interested in the Treasurer role at AdviceUK? 
• Having read the information pack, what relevant experience and skills do you feel you would bring to this role? This might come from paid work, study, community or voluntary work or other experience.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Trustee (Voluntary Role)

Location: Nationwide

Department: Volunteer Roles

Salary: Volunteer Role

Job Type: Part time

Contract Type: Permanent

Guide Shannon Trust’s next chapter – Become a trustee

Do you believe that everyone, no matter their circumstances, deserves the chance to learn to read and improve their numeracy skills?

Currently, 65% of people in prison can’t read, or struggle to. Even more struggle with numeracy.

At Shannon Trust, we believe everyone deserves the chance to learn. Over recent years, we’ve made significant progress – expanding our programmes, growing our team, and reaching more people than ever before. Now, we’re looking for new Trustees to join our board and help guide the next phase of our journey.

As a Trustee, you’ll work as part of a passionate board of 14 non-executive members, helping to shape our strategic direction and ensure strong governance. You’ll be involved in setting priorities, monitoring progress, overseeing finances, and ensuring we meet our legal and regulatory obligations. Trustees also play an important role in supporting and constructively challenging senior staff and acting as ambassadors for Shannon Trust.

This is a voluntary position, typically requiring around four to ten days per year. This is an unpaid role, though reasonable travel and other expenses are reimbursed.

You don’t need previous trustee experience — we’ll provide training and ongoing support to help you thrive in the role.

We’d particularly welcome applications from people with experience in:

• Governance, regulation, or legal practice
• Digital strategy
• Marketing, communications, and brand development
• Fundraising
• Board-level financial management
• HR and organisational development
• Education and learning practice
• Leadership across the public, private or charity sectors
• Government relations
• Equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging

We’re also keen to hear from people with lived experience relevant to our mission – for example, learning to read later in life or having personal experience of the criminal justice system.

What we offer:

• Full induction and ongoing training
• Regular support to help you get the most from your role
• Reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
• The opportunity to make a difference to people’s lives through supporting them to learn

If you share our dedication to supporting people with literacy, numeracy and personal transformation, we’d love to hear from you. Please see our recruitment pack for further details.

Vacancy closes 31 October 2025

Benefits: Induction training and ongoing training to support and develop you in your volunteer role; ongoing support and quarterly reviews to gain the most from your volunteering experience; flexible volunteering opportunities, subject to the requirements of your role; reasonable, out of pocket, volunteering expenses are reimbursed.

REF-224 530

Do you want to support a local school in enhancing its outcomes for its students? Do you want to develop your board level experience? Have you got a passion for making a difference in your communities?

As a school governor, you’ll operate at board-level and develop strategic leadership skills and assist in making decisions on a wide range of topics; all while collaboratively improving education within your local community.
We’re currently recruiting volunteers for schools in Spalding to strengthen their governing boards and enhance outcomes of pupils within your communities. If you feel, you want to make a difference within your community, read on for more details about the role of a governor and how to apply.

Governors make decisions that affect schools and their pupils for years to come; our recent impact survey found that our volunteers bring £9.9 million worth of value to schools each year, and 9/10 volunteers would recommend being a governor to a friend. Becoming a governor gives you ample opportunity for personal and professional development, including exposure to finance and budgeting, safeguarding, HR, strategic planning, and more.
As a governor, you can visit the school to gain an understanding of the culture and ethos and to get the most out of the role as well as have the opportunity to meet children, parents, and teachers, and see the impact of your work first-hand. Governors act as a ‘critical friend’ to their head teacher ensuring accountability and helping to monitor and evaluate the schools progress, budget and staffing. You’ll also help to shape and implement future plans and guide the schools aims, ethos and values.

You don’t need to be a parent or have any specific skills to become a governor as long as you’re over 18 and happy to have a DBS check, you can apply! Professional skills such as HR, finance, law or project management are useful but governing boards are often needing softer skills such as leadership, communication and problem solving alongside a fresh perspective and lived experience within their communities. As a governor, you’ll be supported by the Chair, head teacher and the rest of the governing team.

This vacancy is for a primary school looking to find a governor to sit on their board with experience of SEND and Safeguarding. The school is a small friendly village school set in an old building and embraces the natural environment to ensure the children have a strong relationship with their communities. 

If you’re interested in becoming a school governor, fill out the short application form on our website.

GrantScape is currently seeking applications from enthusiastic and highly motivated people to join the Board of the charity.

There are currently two vacancies to strengthen our Board. We are particularly interested to hear from applicants with marketing, communications or HR backgrounds. Experience of and connections within the renewable energy industry are desirable, but not essential.

This is an opportunity for someone to obtain board level experience in a friendly, established and well governed charity.

GrantScape is a highly respected charity which specialises in Community Benefit Fund (CBF) grant administration and management. We provide grant-making solutions through the delivery of top quality, cost-effective grant programmes. Since 1997, we have firmly established ourselves as a leader in community fund grant administration and management and are one of the UK’s major grant-makers.

We administer CBFs on behalf of large scale renewable energy developers including wind farms and solar farms, other renewable energy plants and landfill operators (through the Landfill Communities Fund).

As an equal opportunity employer, we celebrate diversity and are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all our employees and volunteers. There are currently 11 dedicated staff, nine of which have worked for the charity for over five years, and some more than 20 years. We pride ourselves on the value we place on our staff and volunteers and our success in retaining them.

As a Trustee you will be responsible to help manage and govern the charity, and to ensure over £6 million of funding each year is awarded to the most worthwhile community, environmental and educational projects throughout England, Wales and Scotland.

The charity has four board meetings a year. Two are usually held virtually, with the other two in Milton Keynes where our head office is located. You therefore must be based in the UK. You will also be expected to participate in other grant-decision meetings by email, normally monthly, between Board meetings.

This position is not remunerated but travel and out of pocket expenses will be paid in line with the charity’s Expenses Policy.

Please apply by emailing your CV, together with a covering letter setting out your reasons for applying and what skills and strengths you can bring to the charity.

If you would like to discuss the role further before applying, please contact the charity directly to arrange a call with Libby, GrantScape's chair, or with Matt, the Chief Executive.

The closing date for applications is 31 October 2025.

Overview:

The Executive Assistant will provide high-level administrative support to the Chair & Head of Operations, ensuring smooth governance, operational efficiency, and strategic coordination. This role requires excellent organisational skills, discretion, and the ability to manage multiple tasks in a dynamic environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Administrative & Organisational Support:

• Manage the Chair & Head of Operations' calendar, scheduling meetings and appointments.

• Prepare meeting agendas, take minutes, and track action points for follow-up.

• Handle correspondence, emails, and document preparation on behalf of leadership.

• Assist in preparing reports, presentations, and briefing documents.

Governance & Compliance Support:

• Support board meetings by coordinating logistics and distributing materials.

• Ensure compliance with governance procedures, keeping records up to date.

• Assist in drafting and reviewing policies, reports, and compliance documents.

Financial & Fundraising Support:

• Assist with budget tracking, expense management, and financial documentation.

• Support grant applications, bid writing, and fundraising efforts.

• Coordinate donor communications and engagement activities.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication:

• Act as a key point of contact for internal and external stakeholders.

• Coordinate and support events, workshops, and meetings.

• Assist in managing relationships with funders, partners, and volunteers.

Qualifications & Skills:

• Proven experience as an executive assistant, PA, or in a similar administrative role.

• Excellent organisational, time-management, and multitasking abilities.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• High level of discretion and professionalism when handling sensitive information.

• Passion for nonprofit work and community impact.

Wicksteed Park opened in 1921, making it the oldest theme park on UK mainland. Its founder, Charles Wicksteed purchased the land in 1913. His initial goal was to create a model village for the local community, however following World War One and housing reforms, Charles looked to develop a park for people to spend their leisure time. He set up a charitable trust in 1916 and went on to build a number of prefabricated houses – some of which still exist and are within the park grounds.

A century ago, Charles Wicksteed put into practice his deep-held belief that all children, no matter how rich or poor, should have somewhere safe and fun to play outdoors. Public parks in Charles’ own youth had been very formal places where you walked sedately along the paths, keeping off the grass. He was determined to provide something different and here at Wicksteed he did just that, using his engineering skills to provide a new and exciting element to public open spaces.

Swings, slides and roundabouts, parks and playgrounds are the background to many of our freest and most joyful childhood memories. They are something that we all share, generations of us, from all over Britain, but this is where it all started. Wicksteed Park is truly somewhere amazing and very special.

It is good to see this story of Kettering’s contribution to our nation’s health and happiness and to remember that Wicksteed is a place with an incredible heritage and an exciting future.  Wicksteed Park is much more than an amusement park and continues to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to play and explore in its beautiful grounds.

Still delivering its core heritage but focusing on the connections with Kettering and wider communities, Wicksteed Charitable Trust has an opportunity to grow and transform, ensuring we are contributing to our communities’ wellbeing for the next century.  It is thanks to the value, care, generosity, determination of our amazing volunteers that ensures the park has continued to deliver over some challenging years for the park.

We are now looking to expand our Trustee Board and are looking for people from a range of backgrounds who understand our community, the challenges that modern families face and have the drive and determination to deliver strategic objectives to build on our links and our regional presence.  We would also like to hear from people who can bring professional expertise especially in areas including Law, Finance, Leisure and Tourism and Land Management.

As a Trustee at Wicksteed Park you will join a small team of existing Trustees. We are looking for individuals who will bring their own experience to complement our collaborative approach.  You will be asked to speak out, offer opinion and be a critical friend, enabler and constructive challenge to the team..

 About Us

Charles Wicksteed’s dream was to provide free play for all.  Today The Wicksteed Trust’s main objective is to provide a safe environment for people of all ages to relax and play and to provide a focus for community activity. Wicksteed Park is a Grade II listed Historic Park with four County Wildlife Sites and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

We play an important role in Kettering contributing to our communities’ health and happiness.  Our aim is to grow and develop our offering to Regional and National communities promoting what Wicksteed Park has to offer.

Role 

Trustees are responsible for making sure the charity stays true to its mission and vision.  Being a Trustee of an historic, community-based charity, means making decisions that will impact on the communities we serve across in Kettering and the wider county, enriching lives and providing a focus for community activity.

Trustees, led by a Chair, have independent control over, and legal responsibility for, the charity’s management and administration. They act as the ultimate decision makers of the organisation, protecting the interests of the members and the public. They agree the strategy and hold the executives to account for the management of the organisation.

Responsibilities

Governance

· Understand the charity’s purposes as set out in its governing document and ensure compliance to law and other relevant regulations.

· Ensure the charity has a clear vision, mission and strategic direction and is focused on achieving these in partnership with other Trustees.

· Ensure the sustainability of the charity and sound risk management.

· Oversee what the charity does and what it needs to achieve.

· Be responsible for the performance of the charity and for its 'corporate' behaviour.

· Act as a guardian of the charity's assets, both tangible and intangible, taking all due care over their security, deployment, and proper application.

· Ensure the charity's governance is of the highest possible standard.

Leadership

· Contribute to the development of the charity‘s long term strategy.

· Raise public profile and promote the reputation of the organisation.

Financial Management

· Ensure the charity’s assets are only used to support or carry out its purposes.

· Evaluate risks to the assets or reputation.

· Monitor and assess the organisation’s results in relation to the agreed strategy, budget and implementation plan.

In addition to the above 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 leading sub committees, leading discussions, identifying key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, and evaluating or offering advice on other areas in which the Trustee has particular expertise.

Person Specification

The Board of Trustees collectively needs skills and experience in the following areas:

· Law

·        Finance

· Land Management

· Leisure and Tourism

Essential

· Ability to commit to essential Board and Sub Committee meetings and participate on any further critical meetings or email discussions as appropriate.

· Good communication skills across all levels.

· Excellent planning and organisational ability with long term focus.

· Genuine passion and interest in the charity’s work.

· Integrity and openness.

· An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of Trusteeship.

Desirable

· Understanding of charity governance, legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities.

· Understanding of the voluntary sector.

Length of appointment

Our Trustees are appointed for an initial three-year term, and can be re-appointed for up to two more three-year terms (there is a maximum of nine years’ continuous service).

Time commitment

The estimated Trustee time commitment is a minimum of 6 half day full trust meetings each year (held every other month), plus reading and preparation time.  Board meetings will be held at Wicksteed Park in Kettering.  Additional commitment to any sub-committee or ad-hoc duties may be reasonably required.  Sub-Committee meetings may be held online and it is expected these will be held quarterly.

Remuneration

The Trustee appointment is voluntary but reasonable expenses will be reimbursed in line with the expenses policy.

Location

Wicksteed Park, Kettering, NN15 6NJ.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Wicksteed Charitable Trust follows the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion and seeks a diverse Trust Board to meet the needs of the organisation.

The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (the Institute or NIESR) is one of Britain’s leading independent policy and research institutes dedicated to understanding the economic and social forces that shape people’s lives.

NIESR has a long-standing reputation for accurate, authoritative analysis founded on excellent research, and for bringing its insights to bear on the issues of the day. As such, it acts to bring together an array of policymakers, academics, the media and other research institutes, and plays a pivotal role in both national and international policy debates.

We are seeking to appoint up to three trustees to join the Institute’s Council of Management and are seeking individuals with backgrounds in HR, leadership within an SME professional services context, or economic research.

Our Trustees are responsible for overseeing the management of the Institute, including approving strategy, operational plans and budgets, monitoring organisational performance, managing the Institute’s principal risks and ensuring the fulfilment of the Institute’s charitable objectives. The time commitment for a trustee is the equivalent of between half a day and a day a month. The role is not remunerated.

Full details of the role and responsibilities of a trustee can be found in our Trustee Candidate Pack attached. 

The skills and experience that we are looking for are:

 Experience

• An individual with senior HR expertise, preferably in a context where professional staff are the key asset of an organisation; OR
• Someone with leadership experience in a small-to-medium sized organisation, preferably within a professional services context and in an economics-related field; OR
• An internationally-renowned academic with research interests aligned to the work of the Institute.

 Skills and abilities

• An understanding and appreciation of the work of NIESR and its importance to public policy.
• The ability to act with credibility and authority in the role as trustee, preferably with experience of working in a governance or board context.
• Fully able to commit to attendance of Council meetings and relevant sub-committee meetings.
• Objectivity, fairness, independence of mind, integrity, wisdom, discretion and good judgement. 
• Strategic vision and the ability to focus on practical issues.
• Readiness to make and be accountable for decisions.
• A willingness to attend other NIESR events and engage with NIESR publications and output.

To apply

To apply for a trustee position at NIESR, please send:

• A tailored CV of no more than two pages; and
• A supporting statement of no more than one side of A4 setting out how you meet the skills and experience criteria outlined above.

Your statement should detail your relevant experience, ensuring it is aligned with the role description and person specification above, and providing specific evidence demonstrating how you meet the criteria. Your statement should also highlight your interest in the work of the Institute and your motivation for joining our Council of Management.

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our board to ensure the Institute benefits — at board level — from a broader range of perspectives, more creativity in generating ideas and solutions, and to improve decision-making. In addition to finding individuals with the specific skills outlined above, we would especially welcome applications from women, who are under-represented on our board.

Use your skills and experience in supporting vulnerable groups to help drive forward our locally focused endowed foundation. Our purpose is to provide funding to relieve financial, physical and emotional hardship.

What will you be doing?

This is a great opportunity for someone keen to use their professional experience in supporting vulnerable groups to help drive forward the work of a locally focused endowed foundation. Our purpose is to provide funding to relieve the burden of financial, physical and emotional hardship in our local community of Hampton, Teddington, Twickenham and Whitton.

The perception of Richmond Upon Thames as a wealthy borough masks high levels of need and disadvantage. That means that support for those in need locally rarely comes from outside the borough which in turn means the work of local funders and voluntary sector organisations, like Hampton Fund, is critical.  Our endowment of £60m+ enables us to make grants to both individuals and community organisations of £2m-£2.5m pa.

We wish to appoint a new trustee who will have the enthusiasm, time and commitment to contribute to the work of the charity as it delivers an ambitious new three-year strategy.  You will be involved in making decisions on a wide range of issues, influencing the development of our work and bringing about change. We are specifically seeking a trustee with professional experience in any aspect of social care for vulnerable groups relevant to our grant making. This could, for example, be in the areas of cost-of-living support, health, social work or children’s services.

It is hoped that the candidate will have a connection to our area of benefit through either their daily life or work.

It is not necessary to have previous board committee experience as training will be provided. We encourage applications from people with a range of life experiences, ages and backgrounds.

What are we looking for?

Professional experience and expertise in a relevant aspect of social care to that of our grant making. 

We are looking for someone with a good current knowledge of social care infrastructure and systems across either the statutory or voluntary sector, or both. This could, for example, be in the areas of cost-of-living support, health, social work or children’s services.

It is expected that Trustees will either live, work or have another connection to our area of benefit. It is not necessary to have previous board committee experience as training will be provided.  

 Personal Qualities

• Empathy with the aims of the charity.
• The ability to think broadly and objectively: trustees are involved in making decisions on a wide range of issues.
• An understanding of the voluntary sector and the needs of voluntary sector organisations.
• An understanding of the broader issues around poverty and disadvantage.
• The ability to get on with people and work collaboratively.
• To act as an ambassador for the charity when attending external meetings and events as a trustee.
• To be discreet and respect confidentiality in all matters related to the charity’s activities. 

Additional Information

• Trustees do not receive any remuneration, but reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.
• The appointment is normally for a period of five years and a Trustee can serve no more than two terms of office, i.e. ten years. 

What difference will you make?

As a trustee with experience in supporting vulnerable groups, you will be involved in making decisions on a wide range of issues, influencing the development of our work and bringing about change.  

Before you apply

Contact us via the Reach platform to apply.

Closing date for applications is Friday 7th November.

Interviews are likely to be held the week commencing 17th November 2025.

The Fundraising Lead is key in helping ADHDadultUK diversify and 
grow its income to support core operations, projects, and campaigns. Working closely 
with the Chair and other trustees, the Fundraising Lead leads on fundraising planning, 
supports volunteer fundraisers, ensures compliance with fundraising regulations, and 
builds relationships with donors and supporters.

Skills and experience:
• Experience in fundraising, income generation, or marketing, ideally in a charity or
non-profit context (not essential).
• Ability to think strategically and identify new income opportunities.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills; confident in speaking to donors 
and partners.
• Comfortable working with digital platforms (email, online forms, fundraising 
portals, spreadsheets).

Key Responsibilities:

1. Fundraising Strategy:
• Lead the development and implementation of our fundraising strategy aligned 
with the charity’s mission and values.
• Identify suitable funding streams including individual giving, community 
fundraising, corporate sponsorship, grants, and events.

2. Income Generation and Campaigns:
• Oversee and support individual and community fundraising activities (e.g., 
sponsored runs, birthday fundraisers, merchandise).
• Work with trustees, volunteers, and supporters to coordinate campaigns and
appeals.

3. Governance and Compliance:
• Ensure fundraising activities comply with the Fundraising Regulator’s Code of
Practice, data protection laws and the charity’s Ethical Fundraising Policy.
• Maintain appropriate records of donations, donor communications, and income
sources.
• Report to the Board on income generation progress and risks.

4. Support and Collaboration:
• Support the wider team in developing grant applications and fundraising 
content.
• Act as a point of contact for supporters who want to fundraise for ADHDadultUK.
• Provide guidance to trustees and volunteers on how they can support fundraising
efforts.

5. Risk Management:
• Monitor fundraising risks and report any reputational or financial concerns to the
Board.

Are you looking for a skilled volunteering opportunity to support your career progression? Do you have a passion for improving outcomes for all children? Could you use your professional skills to help shape the future of education?

As a school governor, you’ll operate at board-level and develop strategic leadership skills and assist in making decisions on a wide range of topics; all while collaboratively improving education within your local community.
We’re currently recruiting volunteers for schools in Eastbourne to strengthen their governing boards and enhance outcomes of pupils within your communities. If you feel, you want to make a difference within your community, read on for more details about the role of a governor and how to apply.

Governors make decisions that affect schools and their pupils for years to come; our recent impact survey found that our volunteers bring £9.9 million worth of value to schools each year, and 9/10 volunteers would recommend being a governor to a friend. Becoming a governor gives you ample opportunity for personal and professional development, including exposure to finance and budgeting, safeguarding, HR, strategic planning, and more.
As a governor, you can visit the school to gain an understanding of the culture and ethos and to get the most out of the role as well as have the opportunity to meet children, parents, and teachers, and see the impact of your work first-hand. Governors act as a ‘critical friend’ to their head teacher ensuring accountability and helping to monitor and evaluate the schools progress, budget and staffing. You’ll also help to shape and implement future plans and guide the schools aims, ethos and values.

You don’t need to be a parent or have any specific skills to become a governor as long as you’re over 18 and happy to have a DBS check, you can apply! Professional skills such as HR, finance, law or project management are useful but governing boards are often needing softer skills such as leadership, communication and problem solving alongside a fresh perspective and lived experience within their communities. As a governor, you’ll be supported by the Chair, head teacher and the rest of the governing team.

This vacancy is for an alternative provision looking to find a governor to sit on their board who is passionate about making a difference. The school is passionate about offering young people the chance to realise their unique talents and potential. 

If you’re interested in becoming a school governor, fill out the short application form on our website.

As life becomes ever more difficult for migrants across London, the UK and the world, Waltham Forest Migrant Action (WFMA) are committed to fighting back in solidarity and supporting our fellow human beings who are often suffering in the most extreme of circumstances. Since 2013, we’ve run a weekly Drop-in Centre providing visitors a warm welcome, free advice on immigration, accommodation and welfare issues, and opportunities to socialise with the local community. Last year, we helped 366 people from 71 nationalities, and our numbers continue to grow. WFMA is currently in an exciting phase of development. In recent years, we have transformed from an all-volunteer organisation to having six part-time staff, navigating a period of sustainable growth.

The role
We are looking for 2-3 compassionate individuals with a strong interest in migrant justice to contribute to an organisation that centres migrant voices and experiences. Whether you bring experience in HR, marketing & communications, finance, legal, fundraising, operations, service delivery, or another area, your insight and guidance has the potential to strengthen our organisation. We welcome applicants from all ages and backgrounds, and we are open to first time Trustees!

We strive to have a board that is diverse and representative of the communities we work with and for, and we are particularly keen for those under 30 and / or with lived experience of the UK migration system to apply. We value skills gained both through formal professional experience and through grassroots activism, voluntary work, or community organising.

Essential

• A strong interest in migrant justice and anti-racism

• Commitment to the aims and objectives of WFMA, and its vision 

• Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort required

• Good oral and written communication skills in English

Desirable but not essential
Following recent a skills audit, we have identified priority areas and skills needed for our board, and we are particularly keen to hear from candidates who can contribute one or more:

• Lived experience of the UK migration system and the difficulties faced by migrants in accessing services

• Fundraising and bid writing experience

• Financial oversight and accounting experience (we are keen to recruit and train a potential future Treasurer)

• Experience and/or willingness to serve as Chair

Time commitment
This role requires around 10 days commitment a year, and this includes attending bi-monthly board meetings, sub-groups, strategy days and reading board reports prior to meetings.

We are seeking a Finance & Audit Trustee to join our Board, someone who will play a crucial role in shaping our financial strategy, overseeing governance, and supporting our leadership team to ensure our decisions are both values-driven and financially sustainable.

If you bring professional expertise in finance, audit, or risk management, and if you share our belief in the power of second chances and the potential of every woman to thrive, we would be delighted to hear from you. Together, we can continue to build a future where every woman is safe, respected, and supported to reach her full potential.

We are now seeking a Marketing, Communications and PR Trustee to join our Board, someone who can help us amplify our voice, strengthen our visibility, and share the powerful stories of transformation that emerge from our work.

This trustee will play a key role in shaping our external communications strategy, supporting our leadership team to build our brand, engage our supporters, and influence decision-makers. By helping us to tell our story more effectively, you will help ensure that more women can access the support they need, and that our impact is recognised across Leicester and beyond.

If you bring professional expertise in marketing, communications, media or public relations, and share our belief in the power of second chances and the potential of every woman to thrive, we would be delighted to hear from you. Together, we can continue to build a future where every woman is safe, valued, and supported to reach her full potential.