Chief executive officer volunteer roles in ,

Hope House Children’s Hospices is a charity that gives every local child with a life-threatening condition and their family access to professional care and improves their quality of life from the point of diagnosis.

Our trustees play a vital role as the leaders and ambassadors for our highly regarded and loved regional charity, setting the strategic direction and ensuring the charity delivers its charitable purpose.

Would you like to use your personal and professional skills to make a real difference to a cause that matters to you?

Training and support is provided to develop your skills in other areas so you can confidently contribute to discussions and decisions.

The attached brochure containing stories and words from our team will give you a taste of what we do – but nothing beats seeing our work for yourselves.

If you would like to speak to our Chair, Steve Henly, or Chief Executive, Andy Goldsmith, before applying, please contact the HR Team on 01691   679679.

You are also invited to an Open Morning, as an opportunity to visit the hospice and meet some of our Senior Team and Trustees, this will take place between 10.30 and 12.30 on Saturday, 5th July, if you are able to attend please email or call 01691   679679.

You can also find out about our work, our Purpose, our values and our ambitions on our website.

Closing Date for site – 15th July 2025

Be responsible for finding funding opportunities for the charity and writing professional proposals to earn grant money, whilst raising awareness and building relationships with donors and supporters alike. 

What will you be doing?

- Develop and manage fundraising events.

-  Work with the marketing team to develop and produce fundraising communication material.

-  Prepare presentations and manage meetings.

-  Support the CEO and Trustees to create a fundraising strategy.

What are we looking for?

• excellent knowledge of proposal submission and fundraising processes
• ability to study and understand programmes and funding requirements of the organisation
• excellent multitasking, organisational and time management skills
• excellent written and verbal communication skills
• the ability to deal with information in a confidential manner and respond with sensitivity
• proficiency in using email and Microsoft Office
• commitment to the values of Rebuilding Lives UK

Time commitment and expenses:

• 1-3 hours per week, either in or out of office hours.
• We request a minimum commitment of 3 months volunteering.

What difference will you make?

- Increased confidence.

- Development of new skills.

- Make new connections.

- Changing the lives of those who need it the most.

Could you bring your HR skills to our board and help us create a brighter, more inclusive future for young people in Aylesbury Vale?

About Youth Concern

We are an independent charity based in Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire that supports 13-25 year olds. We are inclusive; we aim to support all 13-25 year olds, but specialise in helping those facing additional challenges.

What will you be doing?

As a trustee, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our organisation and the lives of those we serve. Your expertise, passion, and fresh perspective will be invaluable assets as we navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the Vale’s young people.

We are seeking an HR Trustee to help us move to the next level of governance as befits the charity’s increase in staff and volunteers, complexity, size and scope, and to provide guidance on HR issues relating to employees, freelance workers and volunteers. Day to day support, templates and 24/7 advice is provided to Youth Concern by HR service provider Croner.

 Time commitment (estimated at one day per month)

•  Attend 6 Board meetings annually. Currently meetings are held in person, with the option to attend remotely
• Attend sub-committees, once every two months
• Scheduled meetings as required with the CEO with flexibility to respond swiftly to the occasional ad hoc HR related issue
• Attend an annual half day strategy session

For the full role description please see the candidate pack.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for a trustee with a strong commitment to supporting young people in Aylesbury Vale and who has the following qualities / experience:

• Experience working in a senior HR role. CIPD qualification or equivalent
• Good current knowledge of employment law, policy and practice and ability to keep up to date with developments in HR
• The highest standards of personal integrity and professionalism
• The ability to build and develop strong, supporting working relationships with trustees and the CEO
• Flexibility to respond to emails, occasionally at short notice

You do not need to have been on a board before and as a new trustee will be supported by your fellow trustees and the dedicated executive team.

What Difference will you make?

Why should you apply?

Youth Concern believes every young person has the right to be fed, to a safe home, to a good education and later, to employment. In becoming a trustee, you will be helping young people thrive. And because:

• You believe a few hours a month, working for young people, is a good investment of your time; 
• You want to give something back
• Your skill set will benefit a growing local charity
• You want to be part of Youth Concern’s success story

Purpose of the role

To conduct research and apply for grants and funding that Rebuilding Lives UK are eligible for.  To contribute to fundraising strategies and share and implement fundraising ideas.

What you will be doing

We are looking for fundraiser volunteers to join our team to: 

• Lead research for grants and funding that the charity is eligible for.
• Prepare information about grants, trusts and foundations, advising the CEO and Trustees of the requirements for the applications, the deadlines being worked towards and the final outcomes.
• Write and tailor content for grant applications as required.
• Support with the grant application process and build relationships with trusts and other stakeholders.
• Share ideas for fundraising.

What are we looking for?

The following skills and experience would be helpful for this role:

• Experience in grant applications is essential
• To understand content, requirements and strategy needed for applications.
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Good organisational skills and attention to detail
• The ability to deal with information in a confidential manner and respond with sensitivity
• Proficiency in using email and Microsoft Office
• Commitment to the values of Rebuilding Lives UK
• Able to work independently as well as collaboratively in a team

Time commitment and expenses:

• 3-7 hours per week, either in or out of office hours.
• We request a minimum commitment of 3 months volunteering.

What difference will you make?

Joining our team will give you the opportunity to:

• Use and share your expertise.
• Learn new skills.
• Gain valuable experience for those who are looking for a job in fundraising.
• Be part of a friendly team of people
• Make a big difference to the charity and the lives of our beneficiaries.

Active Humber trustee vacancies

Support us to encourage people across the Humber to benefit from an active lifestyle

Due to the four-year term ending for a number of our trustees, Active Humber are looking to recruit to the following Board vacancies:

• Chair of the Board
• Senior Independent Director
• Welfare and Safety Director
• Non-Executive Trustee

These are crucial roles for our Board, and we are looking for people who share our passion and energy to work with us to create a happier, healthier and stronger community across the Humber.  To achieve our goals, we need a board of trustees who are as diverse as the people we are trying to reach.

Active Humber is a registered charity and is one of 42 nationwide Active Partnerships who are funded by Sport England to improve lives through physical activity and sport. 

Our vision is that the Humber is a place where everyone, everyday is physically active.

Our mission is to get the most physically inactive to be active.

Our role is to help people think differently about physical inactivity.

What is it like to be a Board Member at Active Humber? 
The Board at Active Humber is integral to what we are trying to achieve in the Humber.  If you join us as a trustee you will help to lead Active Humber to achieve their mission and purpose - you might ask questions to challenge us to think differently, make suggestions to move things forward, or act as a sounding board for ideas.

To learn more about Active Humber and what we have achieved and what we are hoping to achieve, please explore our website.

What we’re looking for:

We’re seeking individuals who are enthusiastic about our vision and have the time and skills to contribute to the board. We are particularly looking for expertise in one or more of the following areas;

• Experience of chairing a Board
• Knowledge of Safeguarding and Welfare, in relation to Children and Young People and/or Adults at Risk
• Experience of governance matters, or legal issues
• Experience within environmental sustainability matters
• An understanding of equality and inclusivity

Application Process
Each of the vacancies has its own areas of responsibility, and there are role descriptors for each of the roles that we are advertising. We also have a recruitment pack giving more details about the expectations of being an Active Humber trustee, which is relevant to all the roles. 

This information is available via our vacancies pages.  Please read these documents fully to support you in making a decision about whether to apply.  You should also consider which role suits your skills and experience so reading each of the role descriptions is recommended. 

We would suggest an informal chat with our CEO, David Gent or our Chair, Richard Smith as the first step in your application.  Please email the hr email address and we would be happy to arrange this.

If you then wish to go ahead and apply, please send the following information:

1. A covering letter expressing which role you are applying for.
2. Your covering letter should explain why you are interested in being an Active Humber trustee, and how your skills and experience meet the criteria set out in your preferred role and person specification.
3. A copy of your current CV.

Applications should be submitted by 9th July 2025.

Interviews will be held in person at the Aura Centre on 23rd or 24th July 2025.

If you have any queries about the role or the application process, please do not hesitate to email HR who will be happy to help.

This is a crucial and exciting time for CIMSPA as we continue to build our profile as the professional body for the sport and physical activity sector.  We are looking to appoint individuals to join our Board of Trustees who bring with them energy and commitment, and who are passionate about the sport and physical activity sector and the benefits it can bring to the UK.

We are looking for trustees who can provide a clear visionary and strategic overview of the landscape which CIMSPA sits within, and who have a passion for working for the benefit of the public.  You will need to be inspired by CIMSPA’s vision of being a recognised and respected sport and physical activity sector that everyone wants to be part of.

Board trustees work in partnership with the CEO, Chair of the Board, other trustees, committee members and the senior leadership team. They ensure CIMSPA pursues its objectives, as defined in its Charter and Statutes, whilst remaining compliant with charity law, company law and other relevant regulations. 

Specialisms

Based on the Board’s annual skills review, we have identified the following as a priority for recruitment: 

• Digital 

• Sports Leadership and Administration 

• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion 

• Commercial 

• Leisure Operations 

• Legal and Regulatory 

Therefore we are seeking to appoint trustees with significant experience at a senior level in one or more of these areas. 

For more information about this role, please go to our website to view the full role description.

Closing date for applications: Friday 6th June at 5pm
Interviews provisionally to be held remotely on: Tuesday 24th June 2025

�� Become a Trustee of Orbis UK - make a global impact ��️ 

Orbis is a global leader in the fight against avoidable blindness and vision loss. With 1.1 billion people living with vision impairment worldwide - 90% of which is preventable and treatable - our mission is more important than ever. 

We’re on the lookout for a passionate, strategic and experienced individual to join our Board of Trustees. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a world-changing cause and help us raise Orbis's profile to engage new audiences and further our impact. 

As a Trustee, you’ll: 

✅ Ensure we meet our charitable objectives and comply with legal and ethical standards. 

✅ Contribute to strategic direction, policy-setting and performance evaluation. 

✅ Safeguard the organisation’s reputation, values and financial stability. 

✅ Support our talented staff and oversee key decisions, including CEO performance. 

This is a voluntary role with the potential to make a real difference in the lives of millions. Board meetings are held in London with the flexibility for remote attendance. Travel expenses are covered. 

We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, belief or disability. We are committed to diversity and inclusion. Let’s create a world where everyone has access to the eye care they need to thrive

This is an exciting time to be joining UoGSU as we are implementing our new strategy. As an organisation we have been focused on communities, change and the education of our members.

We are looking for a trustee with experience and expertise in finance – this trustee will sit on our Audit and Risk committee. You will be a qualified accountant with experience of financial management, governance and oversight and an understanding of financial audit best practice. Previous experience of Audit and Risk committee work is of interest but not essential.

The individual appointed as trustee will need to be sympathetic to the aims of the SU and more generally share a commitment to the broader values of the student movement; student representation, student rights and the student experience – and the importance of students having a platform to organize together to help make these values a reality.

The role requires a careful balance; trustees need to respect the democratic will of the membership where possible but also be willing to think creatively, challenge constructively and point out potential risk. The Board is comprised of External Trustees, Officer Trustees and Student Trustees and oversees the work of a team of permanent staff a led by the Chief Executive.

An eye for detail to ensure the SU is being well governed and the ability to see future opportunities are also important.

The role is to serve on the board of trustees. Each term lasts 3 years and trustees can serve a maximum of 2 consecutive terms. Extensions are dependent on re-election to the board.

General candidate requirements:

All candidates will need to be comfortable reading and understanding financial information (or be willing to learn more about this aspect of the role). They should also have the following:

- An understanding of business management.
- A willingness and ability to devote the necessary time and effort to attend board andother meetings, including preparing and reading for those meetings.
- A willingness to speak their mind and contribute.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Analytical ability and good independent judgement.
- An understanding and acceptance of the role of a Charity’s Board of Trustees (including the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of Trusteeship).
- A commitment to act in accordance with the Nolan principles for ethical conduct in public service and the SU own values.

Desirable but not essential:

-Recent experience of the higher education sector or of Students’ Unions.
-Experience or knowledge of board governance.

Commitment required

Board Meetings: There are 5 scheduled hybrid meetings each year, usually held early evening and lasting 2 to 2.5 hours, with extra meetings added if required (although this is rare). Each meeting will have associated reading and preparation work. Meetings are usually conducted face-to-face, but trustees may participate remotely depending on their schedule and other commitments.

Sub-committees: All trustees sit on a remote board sub-committee – the Audit & Risk or People Committee. These committees usually meet up to 4 times each year and are scheduled to fit trustee availability.

Board members will also need to be available to approve decisions electronically between meetings if required.
If feasible, Board members are also encouraged to visit the SU and observe major events such as Welcome.

Join Population Matters as our next Chair

Population Matters is at a pivotal moment: with a bold new five‑year strategy launched in February 2025, we’re poised to amplify our impact on the critical interplay between human numbers, consumption and planetary health. As our current Chair reaches their two‑term limit, we seek a visionary leader to partner with our dynamic CEO and skilled Board in realising our mission: a world where people live fairly and sustainably with nature and one another.

About Population Matters

Vision: A world in which our human population lives fairly and sustainably with nature and each other.

Mission: To address the negative consequences of ever more people using ever more of the planet’s resources—and to inspire and engage others in finding, sharing and promoting solutions as swiftly as possible.

Values: Evidence‑based learning • Local and global partnerships • Openness and commitment to truth • Promotion of women’s choices

The Chair role
As Chair, you will ensure the Board’s effectiveness in shaping and delivering strategy, upholding exemplary governance and fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation. You will:

Lead and inspire an international, growing charity.

• Chair Board meetings, guide decision‑making and oversee high‑quality Board papers.
• Appoint, support and appraise the CEO, ensuring robust performance and development.
• Review Board composition and sub‑committees, nurturing Trustee talent and diversity.
• Act as an ambassador for Population Matters, engaging funders, regulators and strategic partners.

We are looking for someone:

• with the gravitas and personality to lead and inspire a growing, internationalizing charity.
• with an affinity with Population Matters, its strategy and its goals.
• with strong interpersonal and relationship skills, inside PM and externally.
• with good communication skills and experience with public presentation and negotiations.
• familiar with the demographics and politics around human population.
• familiar with the international development and nature protection debates.

Other attributes:

• Experience at a senior, strategic level within an organisation of similar size.
• Previous Trustee or Non‑Executive Board Director experience (essential).
• Financial literacy and understanding of charitable sector finance.
• Proven ability to build external collaborations and foster strong internal teams.
• Experience working with charity regulators, significant funders and institutional or political leaders.

Time commitment
As well as the time commitments for all Trustees (one day per month), the Chair role will require an additional 0.5 – 1 day per month to support and collaborate with the Chief Executive.

Location: Board meetings held in London SE1, with some meetings online.

If you would like to receive an Information Pack with full details, including how to apply, please send an expression of interest and (optional but appreciated) a CV or professional profile in confidence to our consultant, Jenny Hills at Harris Hill, via the apply button. For an informal and confidential conversation about this position, please contact Jenny at the above address with suitable times to talk.

Closing date for applications: 9am Monday 23rd June.

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

We are looking for Trustees to join us on this journey. Following a recent skills audit, we are particularly looking for individuals with experience in the following areas: accountancy, clinical expertise (medical, nursing or other healthcare backgrounds), marketing and communications, digital technologies, and the charity sector.

I encourage you to review the profiles of our current Board members to understand the breadth of expertise and perspectives we already have. We are proud to have a dynamic and highly engaged Board. Our discussions are strategic, forward-looking, and always centred on how we can best serve our patients, families and communities.

Purpose

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the charity. They will oversee all aspects of the organisation, working closely with the Group Chief Executive and Executive Leadership Team.

Ensuring the Board of Trustees reach sound decisions. This may involve scrutinising board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, or other subjects in which the Trustee has special expertise.

Legal Context

Trustees are responsible for the legal stewardship of St Giles Hospice. This involves ensuring that the Hospice is compliant with legislation and its own governing documents. They are also responsible for the corporate governance of the organisation and report annually to the Charity Commission and Companies House. We expect all Trustees to be aware of the Charity Governance Code.

Charity Commission guidance states that Trustees must:

Ensure that everything they do helps and supports to meet the charity’s objectives Comply with the charity’s governing documents and law

Act in the charity’s best interests

Manage the charity’s resources responsibly; Act with reasonable care and skill and take advice where necessary

Ensure the charity is compliant with statutory accounting and reporting requirements

The person specification sets out the essential qualifications, experience, skills, knowledge, personal attributes and other requirements, which the post holder requires to perform the role to a satisfactory level. Without these qualities, the applicant cannot be appointed to the post.

Skills and experience

Essential

• An understanding of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship
• Successful track record of consistent achievement at board or executive level
• Robust governance experience
• Knowledge and understanding of equal opportunities
• Excellent oral and written communication skills

Desirable

• Medical / clinical background
• Digital leadership skills
• Fundraising experience
• Marketing experience
• Knowledge of working within the charity and/or healthcare sector

Personal attributes

• Empathetic
• Team player
• Able to work under pressure
• Collaborative
• Ambassador for St Giles Hospice
• Strategic thinker

Key tasks and responsibilities

The role entails but is not limited to:

• Ensuring that St Giles complies with all its governing documents, charity law and other legislation or regulations
•  Attending and contributing to Board meetings/sub-committee meetings
• Representing St Giles at events, conferences and media as and when required
• Bringing impartiality to decision making
• Always acting in St Giles’ best interests and with reasonable care and skill to provide clear strategic direction
• Proving guiding principles and overall plans for St Giles to progress against the strategy objectives
• Ensuring the financial stability, probity and sustainability of the organisation in relation to the financial aspects of the charity to safeguard the charity’s reputation and values
• Adhering to the Trustees code of conduct (known as the Trustee Charter) and comply with it
• Supporting and advising the Executive Leadership Team in your areas of expertise
• Being collectively responsible for the governance of the charity with other Board members
• Overseeing organisational risk registers, ensuring adequate assurance is provided or risk mitigations in place
• Exercising control over the financial affairs and protecting its assets
• Ensuring the effective and efficient administration of the charity
• Protecting and managing the property of the charity and ensuring the proper investment of the charity’s funds
• Ensuring and maintaining efficient administration of funding, insurance and premises
• Sitting on recruitment/disciplinary panels as and when required by the Head of HR
• Ensuring the Boards agreed position is represented when speaking publicly on behalf of the organisation
• Ensuring information gained during the course of working as a Trustee is kept confidential and in particular the contents of emails and board papers

Academy trustees are volunteers. The Charity Commission defines trustees as the people responsible for governing a charity and directing how it is managed and run.

The purpose of the board of trustees is to provide:

• Strategic leadership of the academy trust
• Your role is to help set and embed your trust’s vision and strategy, and use these to monitor how the trust and its schools are progressing towards your strategic goals
• Accountability and assurance, meaning the board has robust oversight of the operations and performance of the trust, including education, pupil welfare and finance
• You'll monitor these areas and hold trust leaders to account for performance and compliance in them
• Engagement
• This means your board has strategic oversight of relationships with the trust's stakeholders: parents, pupils, staff, local communities 
• You'll make sure your schools and your trust are communicating with and involving these groups, so that decision-making is supported by meaningful engagement

Responsibilities

• Develop the trust’s vision and strategy
• Establish a culture of high educational standards, which promotes staff and pupil wellbeing
• Set the trust’s strategic aims and objectives
• Make sure all pupils have access to a broad and balanced curriculum
• Monitor provision for pupils with SEND
• Monitor educational performance of the trust’s academies, using a range of data sources
• Ensure stakeholders (parents, pupils, staff and the local community) are informed and consulted as appropriate
• Approve the budget for the academy trust and, where relevant, for academies within the trust
• Monitor and evaluate the trust’s financial performance 
• Approve and review trust policies, and hold staff to account for their implementation
• Ensure the trust is compliant with legal requirements, including that all statutory policies and documents are in place
• Make sure the trust complies with laws that apply to charities and companies, and with its funding agreement
• Carry out the appointment and performance management of the principal/chief executive
• Be a source of challenge and support to the principal/chief executive
• Monitor and evaluate the trust’s staffing structure(s)
• Monitor health and safety in the academy/across the trust
• In a multi-academy trust, work with those involved in local academy governance, supporting and holding them to account

Skills and experience

Essential:

• Critical listening and ability to ask effective questions
• Strategic thinking
• Excellent communication
• Problem-solving and analysis

Desirable:

• Understanding of data
• Information Technology expertise 
• HR experience
• Knowledge of education
• Leadership and management skills
• Risk management skills
• Legal expertise, particularly knowledge of charity law
• Marketing and communications skills

Benefits to you

New skills you’ll gain:

• Strategic planning
• Experience on a board
• Holding senior leaders to account and ability to provide challenge
• Finance, and maintaining oversight of potentially multi-million pound budgets
• Analysing data
• Human resources and performance management 
• Project management
• Marketing
• Communication and teamwork
• Decision making
• Problem solving

Time commitment

The time commitment for the trustee role will vary. However, all trustees must attend at least 3 meetings of the full board per year. The term of office is 4 years.

Usually trustees sit on a committee focused on an area they have knowledge of, or are particularly interested in – for example, the finance committee. Committees generally meet up to six times a year.

Preparation for meetings includes reading papers and preparing questions for senior leaders. 

You will also be expected to undertake any training required to enable you to discharge your role effectively.

Additional information

Academies are both charities and companies limited by guarantee. Academy trustees are therefore both charity trustees and company directors, and must comply with company and charity law. 

This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.

We are seeking a new Chair to lead our Trustee Board  

Citizens Advice Winchester District is a dynamic, values-led, and award-winning local charity which is passionate about creating a fairer society for all.

We do this by helping people to resolve a wide range of problems they’re facing, so that everyone can achieve a good quality of life.  Every year, we provide free, confidential and impartial advice on issues such as debt, housing, benefits and employment advice to over 5,000 people across the Winchester district, many of whom are in desperate or challenging situations and have nowhere else to turn. Our greatest asset is our dedicated team of staff, volunteers and trustees, who also advocate for lasting policy change both locally and nationally. 

We’re seeking an inspiring leader with a passion for making the biggest possible difference to the lives of people in our local community, as well as the willingness and ability to lead the charity over our next phase of development with great strategic insight and analytical skills.

As Chair, you will:  

• lead the Board of Trustees in overseeing the strategic direction of our forward-thinking charity;

• work closely with our Chief Executive, offering insight, support and challenge;

• be committed to ‘living our values’ and ensuring that the people we help (our clients) are at the core of everything we do; 

• help us to continually improve and adapt to emerging needs and challenges.

We’re looking for someone who:  

• has previous experience as a trustee/Chair (charity governance a plus);

• understands the value of community services in tackling inequality; and

• brings enthusiasm, ideas, and a collaborative approach to leadership.

We are committed to being an inclusive workplace and we value diversity - we welcome and encourage applications from all walks of life, whatever your background or situation.

The closing date for completed application forms is Thursday 19 June 2025 at 5pm. 

We look forward to hearing from you! 

ABOUT US

Somebody goes missing in the UK every 90 seconds. Missing People exists to ease the heartache experienced by those missing someone, and to help people who are away from home find their way back to safety. Our vision is for every missing child, adult and family left behind to find help, hope and a safe way to reconnect. We are a non-judgemental, highly skilled team of staff and volunteers working for everyone who needs us. We provide free, confidential support, help and advice by phone, email, text and live chat.

In our 30th anniversary year, The Trustees and Executive launched a new 2023-2028 Strategy – From Crisis to Hope in consultation with people with lived experience and key stakeholders. The three key goals are:

1. Going missing is understood as a crisis that can be a matter of life or death
2. All missing people and their loved ones get the right help at the right time
3. Fewer missing people come to harm.

THE IMPACT YOU WILL HAVE

Our Chair of Trustees is integral to the mission and purpose of the charity, holding the Board and Executive Team to account for delivering the mission and achieving our ambitious goals. The Board of Trustees is made up of an experienced team of individuals who bring breadth of background, a range of deep skill sets, lived experience of the issue of missing and demonstrable empathy and passion for the work of Missing People. The Chair of Trustees will be responsible for the effectiveness of the Board of Trustees, planning and guiding meetings to ensure broad dialogue, good decision-making and clear actions.

Our Chair will work closely with the CEO and the Board to develop the charity’s strategy and to oversee its implementation and progress against its business plan. As part of this the Chair will provide support and challenge to the CEO and their senior team. 

As the Chair of Trustees at Missing People you will be driven by a powerful mission to be a lifeline when someone disappears. You will work closely alongside the Board, Executive team and Chief Executive in a collaborative way to lead the charity. The role provides a good opportunity to be involved in strategic planning in an organisation grounded in the issue of missing with a diverse group of committed and motivated Trustees.

Trustees meet quarterly at online and in-person meetings (usually in London). The Board has dedicated Committees for Finance, HR, Ethics, and Safeguarding, and Advisory Groups representing people with lived experience of the issue of going missing, policing, fundraising and policy. The Chair will attend and be a member of other committees or working groups and ensure that the governance arrangements are working in the most effective way for the charity.

ABOUT YOU

The new Chair of Trustees must be passionate about Missing People, its purpose and its values. 

We are looking for a new Chair of Trustees who brings valuable experience, skills and expertise. This might relate to the issue of missing (including personal experience of going missing), senior financial experience, charity experience, policing, legal experience and safeguarding. We are keen to further broaden thinking and perspectives and welcome applications from all areas of the United Kingdom, from all communities, which is important as missing touches every community. We believe diversity is important, and we aim for our board to have a mix of people, talents and backgrounds..

You will need to be aged over 18 and have:

• A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to your duties as the Chair of Trustees - approximately 2-3 days per month
• Leadership, strategic vision and creative thinking
• Ability to manage a trustee board and take decisions for the good of the charity
• Ability to chair board meetings effectively and manage diverse perspectives
• Strong communication, interpersonal and networking skills
• Independent judgment and be willing to speak your mind
• The ability to read, understand and question reports including financial plans and information
• The ability to follow the rules of governing documents and any professional advice
• The ability to work effectively as a member of a team and encourage team working
• A commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion policies and practices

WHAT YOU WILL RECEIVE IN RETURN FOR YOUR COMMITMENT

In return for your commitment you will use your skills and experience to benefit society and to provide better services for missing people and the families left behind. You will receive training in your role as Chair of Trustees and learn new skills and confidence in a range of governance areas.

This is a voluntary role. Please note that Trustee roles are not paid. Reasonable expenses are reimbursed.

FIND OUT MORE AND APPLY

If you want to be a lifeline when someone goes missing, click apply. You will find attached a detailed role description and person specification, a letter to applicants, an overview of committees and a summary of Missing People's Achievements 2024.

To apply, please ensure you include your CV and a brief covering letter explaining the skills and experience you would bring to this role.. We look forward to receiving your application.

Closing date: 23:59 on 6th June 2025

Interviews: Mid June 2025

Canine Partners trains assistance dogs to transform the lives of adults with physical disabilities and their wider community of family, friends, and colleagues. Our values are excellence, respect, passion, teamwork, innovation and the personal touch’. The charity has a National Training Centre in Leicestershire, and a national network of staff and volunteers, supporting and developing our dogs from birth through to partnership then retirement and beyond with their welfare and care prioritised throughout.

Our teams work with adults with a wide range of complex physical disabilities as they partner with dogs and benefit from the deeply rewarding bonds that are formed. The Canine Partners team of over 90 staff includes occupational therapists, highly skilled dog trainers, experts in dog breeding, veterinary professionals, and skilled support teams working alongside around a thousand volunteers who help at every stage of the journey to creating life-changing partnerships between dogs and people.

This is an extraordinary opportunity to make a positive and sustained difference, not only to the lives of adults with disabilities, but also to their families and communities.  We are actively seeking to attract new Trustees who will use their skills, experience and expertise to make a real difference to our well-respected and growing charity. We are particularly looking for people who have experience or knowledge in the following areas: 

• Fundraising 

• Veterinary or animal wellbeing

• Dog training or dog behaviourist experience

• Occupational health 

• Working with people with disabilities e.g., health care sector

• IT or digital technology

• People/human resources 

What is involved in our Trustee role for Canine Partners  

The Canine Partners Trustee Board is diversely talented, highly engaged and united in its purpose. It works closely with the Chief Executive and Senior Leadership Team to ensure Canine Partners effectively delivers its mission and is governed to the highest standards.

We are seeking to attract new Trustees who will use their skills, experience and expertise to make a real difference to our well-respected and growing charity. You will possess strategic vision, organisational acumen and a passion to support adults with disabilities and their network. 

Trustees of Canine Partners will possess the right balance of skills, commitment, interests and motivations to serve the needs of the charity at the time. This will be determined in line with the strategic needs and the profile of the other members of the Council of Trustees. 

We ask for a commitment of attendance at our meetings, five to ten board meetings per year. Our meetings are a combination of online and face-to-face.

We ask you to read associated documentation and contribute to discussions. During our meetings, we debate important decisions robustly, drawing on many different perspectives, and always prioritising the interests of our beneficiaries. Decisions made in these meetings are delivered with collective responsibility, so it is important that Trustees feel empowered to question the Officers and Executive accordingly. 

In addition, Trustees may be asked to offer their skills, expertise and insight into specific projects and/or support Executive arms of the Charity in determining and delivering strategic objectives. This offers the opportunity to both broaden and deepen knowledge and understanding of the work of Canine Partners and, more broadly, a complex skills-led organisation. 

The board celebrates the charity’s values and leads by example. 

Knowledge, Experience and Attributes - What we require from you 

Charitable Trustees have a general obligation to: 

• Act in the charity’s best interests 

• Manage the charity’s resources responsibly 

• Act with reasonable care and skill 

Trustees should understand the purpose and activities of the charity and ensure they are in line, and complying, with the governing documents (the Memorandum and Articles of Association). Potential future Trustees must be over 18 and will be appointed following the procedures outlined in the charity’s governing documents. 

A Trustee must have: 

• A commitment to Canine Partners vision and mission 

• A willingness to meet the minimum time requirement.

• Integrity

• Strategic vision

• Good, independent judgement

• An ability to think creatively. 

• Willingness to speak their mind an understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of trusteeship.

• To work effectively as a member of a team and to take decisions for the good of Canine Partners 

• Enthusiasm and curiosity 

• Support and challenge the senior leadership team. 

From time to time, formally or informally, Trustees may have to represent Canine Partners to a wide range of current or potential stakeholders. Trustees are expected to ascribe to the Canine Partners values of Excellence, Respect, Passion, Teamwork, Innovation and The Personal Touch and conduct themselves accordingly.

Trustees are expected to commit the necessary time and resources to fulfil their obligations. It is recognised and accepted, however, that individual capacity may vary from time to time. 

Further Reading and Information 

For further information on the duties and responsibilities of charity Trustees, please click here. 

We encourage applications from all sections of society and locations and are keen to ensure continued diversity brings constructive challenge and adds to the governance and work, of the charity.