Community development officer volunteer roles in paddington, greater london
Join The Girls' Learning Trust as Chair of the Trust Board. A unique opportunity to influence the future of girls’ education in the UK’s largest all-girls and only state-funded multi-academy trust.
Applications close: 9 a.m. Monday 23rd June 2025
Location: South West London, SM3 8AB
Time commitment: 8 – 10 meetings per year
About The Girls’ Learning Trust
The Girls’ Learning Trust (GLT) is a large all-girls multi-academy trust, comprising three high-performing schools: Carshalton High School for Girls, Nonsuch High School for Girls and Wallington High School for Girls. Each school maintains a strong identity and autonomy while benefiting from shared governance, support services and collaboration through the Trust.
Our purpose is simple but powerful: to transform lives through girls’ education. Across all our schools, we provide a broad and challenging curriculum, enriched by exceptional pastoral care and co-curricular opportunities.
Our students are supported by skilled, passionate staff who are experts in their fields and deeply committed to developing confident, capable young women.
The GLT is both a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee, funded directly by the Department for Education. We also generate additional income through lettings and capital projects, reinvesting every penny into educational delivery.
We are known for our strong relationships between students and staff, within governance and with our wider community.
About the role
We seek to appoint a Chair of the Trust Board who can provide strategic leadership to the Girls’ Learning Trust during a period of development and change.
The Chair will lead us collectively to set the tone, expectations and culture of the Board. You will lead the governance of the Trust, working closely with the Chief Executive and fellow Trustees to oversee our strategic direction, performance, safeguarding and compliance. This includes championing our new Trust Strategy, ensuring that executive leaders are held to account for educational standards and financial risk outcomes and supporting the Trust to grow sustainably.
Who we are looking for
If you are an experienced leader with the time and commitment to contribute to a growing and ambitious Trust, we would be delighted to hear from you. While prior experience in education is welcome, it is not essential – we value strategic thinking, integrity and a collaborative spirit.
This role requires both strategic vision and a practical, hands-on approach. You’ll need to be available for regular meetings and occasional urgent issues, and you’ll be supported by a professional governance lead who manages scheduling, papers and compliance.
We are looking for someone who:
- Has the confidence and curiosity to challenge constructively and hold senior leaders to account.
- Understands the principles of good governance and is committed to accountability, transparency and continuous improvement.
- Is passionate about educational equity, especially the value of girls’ education in creating confident, future-ready young women.
- Can bring people together, building trust and positive relationships across a diverse Board and executive team.
- Is committed to inclusion and values diverse perspectives.
Above all, we seek someone who embodies the Girls’ Learning Trust values: aspirational, inclusive, collaborative and courageous. You will be a visible leader of the Trust’s mission, playing a key part in its next chapter of growth and transformation.
Peridot Partners and The Girls’ Learning Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and our client expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references before any final offer can be made.
Please click 'Redirect to recruiter’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the candidate profile and register your interest to apply.
Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Monday 23rd June 2025.
We’re an executive search firm working across third sector, education and membership sectors to transform leadership and inspire change.

Our existing 12 trustees bring a variety of skills and experiences, such as fundraising, safeguarding, finance and investments and lived RAF experience to the Fund. Your background, skills and experience will further enhance this for the benefit of the RAF Family.
The successful candidates will:
• be aligned to our vision, purpose, key goals and values and be able to demonstrate their commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion;
• be able contribute positively to the Fund in a non-executive capacity, operate strategically, be held accountable and hold others to account;
• be able to build supportive relationships and work as a team. This will involve working collectively with others, supporting collective decision-making, being comfortable in sharing your views and expertise with fellow trustees and the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) trustees whilst still bringing your own ideas, perspectives and experiences to discussions;
• have the ability to analyse and interpret complex information and evidence, demonstrate impartiality, intellectual flexibility and sound judgment;
• have the ability to listen, communicate and influence effectively;
• have the capacity and skill to understand stakeholder priorities; and
• be a collaborative and pragmatic problem-solver and have the ability to adapt and respond to change.
Our vision is that everyone in our RAF Family – veterans, serving personnel and their families – gets support in their hour of need.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Shape the future of student advocacy and social change by joining the NUS UK Board as a Lay Director.
We’re looking for an independent director to help steer our strategy, governance, and accountability. This is an ideal opportunity for someone with experience in campaigning, communications, legal affairs, or non-profit leadership who’s passionate about supporting one of the UK’s most impactful student-led organisations.
Who We’re Looking For
We want to attract the broadest possible range of talent. Whether or not you’ve previously held a board or committee role, if you bring relevant expertise, lived experience, or a fresh perspective, we’d love to hear from you.
We’re particularly interested in candidates with backgrounds in:
-
Financial oversight, audit, or risk management
-
Human resources, recruitment, or EDI expertise
-
Legal, strategic, or governance experience
-
Communications, campaigning, or public affairs knowledge
-
Experience in the charity, education, or membership sectors
-
A collaborative and values-driven mindset
We are committed to equality of opportunity and especially welcome applications from black, Asian, and minority ethnic candidates, who are currently under-represented as Directors of NUS UK and within the sector more broadly.
Why Volunteer With Us?
-
Help shape the student movement and the future of education
-
Influence decisions that impact millions of students
-
Work alongside experienced, passionate, and values-led colleagues
-
Develop your leadership and governance skills
-
Make a meaningful contribution to social change
You’ll receive a full induction, ongoing support, and all reasonable expenses covered—including travel and accommodation when needed.
How to Apply
To apply, please send your CV (or a link to your LinkedIn profile) and a short covering letter (max 1 page) outlining your motivation and what you would bring to the role.
Apply by: Thursday 3 July 2025, 12 noon.
If you’d like an informal chat about the role before applying, we’d love to hear from you.
Please read the attached Trustee Information Pack for more detail
As a Trustee, you will play a crucial role in the governance and strategic oversight of the charity, ensuring that we operate effectively, achieve our mission, and comply with all legal and regulatory requirements. Trustees are collectively responsible for safeguarding the charity’s assets, ensuring they are used exclusively to further our objectives, and overseeing the charity’s financial health, including budgets, financial controls, and reporting. Acting with integrity and in the charity’s best interests is at the heart of the role.
To strengthen our board and support the growth of our charity, we have identified three key areas where additional expertise is needed:
- Marketing
- Legal
- Fundraising
Each of these areas play a vital role in helping us achieve our mission, enhance our impact, and ensure the charity’s sustainability for years to come. In the attached Recruitment Pack, we have outlined individual role profiles for each of these specialisms.
We welcome candidates from diverse professional backgrounds who share our commitment to supporting those affected by Body Dysmorphic Disorder. If your current or previous skills or experience align with any of these profiles, we encourage you to apply and join us in driving meaningful change.
To apply for this role, please submit the following documents:
- An up to date CV outlining your relevant experience and qualifications.
- A cover letter of no more than 800 words indicating which role you are applying to, explaining why you are interested in the Trustee role, what you would bring to the board, and how your skills align with the needs of the charity.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a panel interview. The interview panel will include:
- Dr. Rob Willson (Chair of the Board)
- Dr. Amita Jassi (Vice Chair of the Board)
- Kitty Wallace (Managing Director)
- Gemma Ponting (People & Projects Manager)
Interviews are due to take place week beginning 16th & 23rd June 2025
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
This is an exciting time in our growth as we look to grow our governance systems, build on our successes and ensure we are a radical, dynamic organisation rooted in our anti-racist and anti-oppressive values. We are looking for a new Chair for our Trustee board, to join us and help lead and shape the future of the organisation.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.