Are you an experienced leader with a passion for equine welfare, high standards in charitable delivery, or inclusive activities? RDA UK is looking for dedicated professionals to join our Advisory Boards in a voluntary, non-executive capacity.
About RDA UK
Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) UK is a national charity that enables people with disabilities to experience life-changing benefits through horses. With a UK-wide network of member groups, we are committed to delivering excellence, innovation, and inclusivity in all we do.
About the Role
As an Advisory Board Member, you will support our mission by offering expert advice and thought leadership. This role is purely advisory — focused on influence, not governance or operations. There are three Advisory Boards, and the particular skills and experience we’re looking for each are listed below.
- Member Group Quality and Standards Advisory Board
- Participants – Championing the voice of our participants, ensuring the participant perspective is woven into our offering.
- Volunteers – Leading the way in volunteering, ensuring RDAs vision to be a leader in volunteering experience across the UK.
- Education – Bringing an education background to increase the RDA educational experience in its offering.
- Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) – A leader in EDI they will ensure RDA continues momentum in embedding EDI across the organisation, ensuring it is a welcoming place for all.
- Environmental sustainability – A leader in environmental sustainability field will work to bring an increased sustainability view to RDAs member group operations.
- Mental Health – A professional in mental health support, bringing to life mental health considerations in our work.
- Advanced Coaching – A RDA coaching professional with advanced coaching qualifications to support the ongoing development of coaching standards at RDA. Preference for PRACA attendance.
- Equine Welfare – An individual with clear experience in the field that will ensure equine welfare continues to be central to how we deliver our services.
- Physiotherapy – A human focused physio to help us embed the therapy benefits of our services across the organisation.
- Activities Advisory Board
- Participants – Championing the voice of our participants, ensuring the participant perspective is woven into our offering.
- Carriage Driving – A carriage driving professional with experience in RDA delivery.
- Tea with a Pony/Dementia care services – A representative with experience in delivering the ‘tea with a pony’ initiative within RDA or has experience within the Dementia care field.
- Equine Assisted Services – A leader in equine assisted services, supporting RDAs continued development in service offering.
- Equine Welfare – An individual with clear experience in the field that will ensure equine welfare continues to be central to how we deliver our services.
- Physiotherapy – A human focused physio to help us embed the therapy benefits across all out delivered activities.
- Advanced Coaching – A RDA coaching professional with advanced coaching qualifications to support the ongoing development of coaching across the different activities that RDA offer. Preference for PRACA attendance.
- Equine Welfare Advisory Board
- Vet – A qualified veterinary surgeon, leading in equine practice that will support the ongoing development of equine welfare policies and practices, supporting equine welfare to be the central part of RDAs way of delivering services.
- Farrier – A qualified farrier, who is a leader in their field, using their knowledge and experience, supporting equine welfare to be the central part of RDAs way of delivering services.
- Equine Physiotherapist – A qualified equine physio, who is a leader in their field, using their knowledge and experience, supporting equine welfare to be the central part of RDAs way of delivering services.
- Equine Research – A leader in equine research ensuring RDA remains at the forefront of the latest best practise and welfare standards.
- Equine Welfare – An individual with clear experience in the field that will ensure equine welfare continues to be central to how we deliver our services.
- Physiotherapy – A human focused physio to help us ensure equine welfare remains central to RDA as part of delivering therapy through horses.
- Advanced Coach – A RDA coaching professional with advanced coaching qualifications to support the ongoing development of coaching knowledge of equine welfare. Preference for PRACA attendance.
Note: Some roles have the option to sit across multiple Boards.
Key Responsibilities
- Offer strategic insight and professional expertise to inform key decisions.
- Contribute actively to Advisory Board meetings (minimum twice per year).
- Provide guidance on best practice, innovation, and emerging opportunities.
- Support projects and collaborate between meetings as needed.
- Assist in the development of reports and recommendations for RDA UK Trustees.
What We’re Looking For
- Proven experience and leadership in a relevant industry.
- Specialist knowledge aligned with one of the Advisory Boards.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
- Prior board or advisory experience (desirable, not essential).
- A genuine commitment to RDA’s mission and values.
Note: Advisory Board Members cannot be current RDA UK Trustees or staff.
Commitment
- Serve a 3-year term, renewable up to three times (maximum 9 years).
- Attend two Advisory Board meetings annually, with additional engagement as required.
- Maintain confidentiality and uphold RDA’s values at all times.
Why Join?
This is an opportunity to share your expertise, shape the future of inclusive equestrian activity, and help RDA UK continue delivering life-enhancing experiences. If you’re looking to give back in a meaningful way, we would love to hear from you.
Skills and Education Group is seeking an experienced board leader with strong governance expertise and a track record in complex organisations, ideally within education; to join us as our new Chair. If you're ready to provide strategic oversight and guide us through our next phase, this is a unique opportunity to shape the future of a respected organisation.
Location: Homebased with occasional in person meetings
Time commitment: 4 board meetings per year plus any additional meetings
Closing date: 9 a.m. Tuesday 12th August
About Skills and Education Group
The Skills and Education Group is a purpose-driven organisation dedicated to improving lives through further education, assessment, and social impact. With a portfolio that spans regulated awarding organisations, access to HE qualifications, and a membership body, CPD offer & charitable foundation, Skills and Education Group operates as a federated group committed to supporting individuals, providers, and communities across the UK.
Comprising Skills and Education Group Awards, BIIAB, and Skills and Education Group Access, our qualifications support lifelong learning and workforce readiness across a wide range of sectors. Our membership body represents the further education & skills sector bringing together professionals to access relevant & credible CPD and accessing the charitable foundation which provides grants and professional development to frontline educators and learners, ensuring we contribute meaningfully to social mobility and educational equity.
About the role
Following a period of significant leadership changes and organisational review, Skills and Education Group has stabilised under successful interim leadership and is now focused on building a sustainable future.
We are seeking a new Chair who will bring strategic vision and confident leadership to support the Board in consolidating recent progress and driving the organisation’s next phase of development.
Your role will involve leading the Board to ensure robust governance and effective oversight, developing collaborative relationships with executive leadership and key stakeholders, and maintaining a clear focus on the organisation’s core purpose amid evolving challenges.
The Chair of the Group Board will work closely with the CE, guiding their strategic leadership and supporting them to drive forward the organisation’s ambition and deliver associated targets.
A key part of your role will be contributing to the continued development and reform of our governance structure, ensuring it is fit for purpose and aligned with the Group’s financial, commercial and social objectives, as well as the expectations of our regulators.
You will also have the opportunity to contribute to the recruitment process for the newly appointed Chief Executive(CE), as the organisation positions itself for sustainable growth and impact.
Who we are looking for
We are seeking a governance professional with proven experience as a Chair, Vice Chair, or chairing significant committees within complex or regulated organisations—preferably in the education sector. You will bring strategic insight, sound judgement, and the ability to support an organisation working its way through a period of significant change.
You will be confident leading a Board through transition, striking the right balance between encouraging open discussion, robust debate and thoughtful challenge, while ensuring that meetings remain focused, decisions are made, and consensus is achieved.
A collaborative and transparent leadership style will enable you to build trust across the Board, leadership team, and wider stakeholders, supporting high standards of governance and accountability.
A deep commitment to the public value of education, alongside a passion for upholding high standards of governance and accountability, is essential. You will bring clarity, focus, and resilience to the role, helping the Group navigate complexity while maintaining its core purpose and ambitions for growth.
Remuneration
The position of Chair of Skills and Education Group is unremunerated, but reasonable expenses are paid.
Time commitment
As Chair, you will be expected to dedicate sufficient time to effectively fulfil your duties, including attendance at Board meetings.
The Skills and Education Group Board comprises 10 Trustees, including the CE and Chairs of the Awards/BIIAB and Access Boards.
The Board has statutory and fiduciary responsibilities under Charity Law and the Companies Act. It is responsible for setting the organisation’s strategy and providing constructive challenge to the executive leadership, who manage day-to-day operations.
The Board meets at least four times a year, recently with additional combined meetings held regularly alongside the Awards/BIIAB and Access Boards to ensure coordinated governance across the Group. The majority of meetings are held remotely. It is expected that the Chair of the Group Board will regularly meet with the CE, ideally in-person at the company headquarters in Nottingham.
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. Tuesday 12th August.
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