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!
About Classics for All
We believe that delving into the ancient world – through ancient history, classical civilisation, Latin and Ancient Greek – is not only enjoyable but also profoundly beneficial for all pupils. It enhances their cultural awareness, sharpens their language and analytical skills, and boosts their aspirations and achievements.
We are currently developing a new strategy, and as a trustee you will have an opportunity to help shape and deliver our new vision.
Vision
A future where every young person can unlock the wisdom, wonder, and imagination of the ancient world - regardless of background or circumstance.
Mission
We believe that discovering the ancient world can transform lives.
That’s why we work to:
- Ignite curiosity and a lifelong love of learning through the stories, ideas, and cultures of the ancient world
- Raise aspirations and broaden horizons by connecting students with the richness of the past
- Build cultural capital, giving every child access to the knowledge and confidence to thrive
- Empower state schools and teachers to bring Classics to life in every classroom
- Champion the value of Classics as a vital part of a broad, rich, and inclusive education
Our governance
Our Board members are all passionate about changing young people’s lives through accessing Classics education. They are responsible for the strategy and good governance of the charity, working in partnership with the Chief Executive.
There are up currently nine members of our Board, including the Chair and Treasurer. Trustees serve a three-year term which can be renewed.
The Board meets for formal meetings, both in-person and virtually, four times a year. Along with other duties, whilst voluntary, this represents a sizeable time commitment and hard work.
Board committees
In addition to the Board, there is a Finance and Operations Committee who meet quarterly. There are some other operational committees that support different aspects of our work. The committees are small groups of Trustees and volunteers, who focus on particular areas of the charity in line with strategic developments and make recommendations.
Trustees will be encouraged to join a committee best suited to their skills on appointment to the Board. Each committee will be led by a Chairperson who is responsible for the overall running of their committee.
- Finance and Operations Committee: develops and delivers the financial strategy of the charity, including the budget, financial controls and fundraising strategy. It is also responsible for risk management.
- Remuneration Committee: has oversight of the pay process for staff.
- Nominations Committee: responsible for leading Trustee recruitment.
- Philanthropy Advisory Group: supports our fundraising through activating networks and sharing ideas to develop our income generation activities.
- Events Committee: supports the ideation and delivery of events supporting our charitable goals.
Responsibilities of a Trustee
The Board of Trustees is legally responsible for the charity – this is a significant responsibility and one that should not be taken lightly. Trustees have responsibility for ensuring the charity is well run, financially secure, and doing the work it is meant to be doing. There are specific legal and other duties. It is recommended you look at the Charity Commission ‘The Essential Trustee’ guidance, which can be found online here.
You can also view our profile on the Charity Commission website. If you want to find out more about our current Trustees, visit our website.
Trustees are volunteers; they are not paid. Reasonable expenses can, however, be reimbursed (e.g. to cover travel costs).
As a Trustee, you will be acting collectively as part of the Board of Trustees. Together, the Board is responsible for all of the points above.
Role Description
Trustees are expected to:
- set the vision, mission, values and objectives of the charity.
- develop the strategic direction of the charity; establish and monitor policies necessary for the proper governance of the charity’s activities.
- ensure that Classics for All operates in accordance with its governing documents, and is accountable to its regulators, funders, members and beneficiaries.
- maintain oversight of the management of the charity’s financial and other resources.
- support the Chief Executive.
- maintain oversight of risks faced by the charity.
- have regard for how the charity contributes to public benefit.
- appoint from its members representatives to other committees.
- ensure suitable representation of the charity to other bodies.
- promote Classics for All to external organisations, acting as spokespeople as necessary, and to review and develop partnerships with other organisations.
- to regularly appraise their own work, delegating responsibility to committees where necessary.
Skills
- We need a well-rounded Board with a diverse skill set. No one individual is expected to have experience in everything, therefore we are always on the lookout for individuals who bring a range of experiences and differing perspectives to the group.
- We are additionally interested in those who can bring experience from the legal world, digital transformation and marketing and communications.
Diversity and inclusion
As a social mobility charity, being inclusive is a fundamental value of Classics for All. We welcome applications from all eligible people and are particularly keen to receive applications from those who are from communities that are less represented within charity governance and Classics education. We are particularly interested in receiving applications from those who attended a UK state-maintained school, regardless of if Classics was offered at their own school. You do not need to be a Classicist to join our Board – there will be no Latin tests!
Other requirements
There are just a few more requirements. We are seeking candidates who:
- will be aged 18+ on 1 September 2025.
- are allowed by law (both company law and charity law) to be a Trustee. This means that you must not be disqualified from being a Trustee or Director. Individuals are disqualified if:
- they have an unspent conviction for offences of dishonesty or deception (the same goes for attempting, aiding or abetting these offences);
- they are currently declared bankrupt or subject to bankruptcy restrictions or an interim order;
- they are subject to a debt relief order, a debt relief restrictions order or interim order;
- they have been disqualified from being a company director;
- they have unspent convictions for terrorism-related offences, money laundering or bribery;
- they have violated certain Commission orders relating to finances or property;
- they have committed misconduct in public office, perjury or perverted the course of justice;
- they have disobeyed an order or direction of the Commission on application to the High Court;
- they have committed civil contempt of court relating to false statements;
- they are a designated person for reasons linked to terrorist activity by the Treasury;
- Individuals who are subject to notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2013
- are not subject to a disqualification Order under the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 or Protection of Vulnerable Adults List.
How to apply
The closing date for applications is Monday 4 August 2025 at 12noon. Please complete thieonline form. The questions you will need to answer are listed below for ease of preparation. You will also be asked some diversity monitoring information. Please be assured that this information will not be used as part of the screening process.
Unfortunately, we are unable to give feedback to applicants not shortlisted for interview. We actively try to provide feedback to candidates interviewed.
By submitting an application, you are giving permission for your personal information to be stored and processed for the purpose of arriving at selection decisions, for it to be used as a basis for a personal record if you are successful, and for sensitive data to be anonymised and used for the purpose of diversity monitoring.
Questions
Each question has a maximum character allowance of 1,500 characters (approx. 300 words)
- What motivates you to support the teaching of Classics in state schools, and how does this align with your personal or professional experiences?
We are particularly interested in how your experiences have shaped your views on educational inequality and social mobility. Please share any relevant experiences that have influenced your commitment to widening access to Classics.
- Trustees play an active role in the governance and strategic direction of the charity. Can you describe a time when you’ve taken on a leadership or governance role –formally or informally – and what you learned from that experience?
We are looking for evidence of your willingness to contribute time and energy to the work of the Board, and how you approach collaboration, decision-making and accountability.
- What unique perspectives, skills, or lived experiences would you bring to the Classics for All Board, and how would you hope to contribute to our future development?
We are especially keen to hear from candidates with expertise in marketing and communications, legal, or digital transformation, but we also welcome other skills and experiences that could enrich our Board’s diversity and effectiveness.
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.
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!
About Us
For three decades, Forward Arts Foundation (‘Forward’) has been at the forefront of new poetry and now reaches an estimated 131 million people each year. We are a national charity working across the UK and online to widen poetry’s audience, honour achievement and support diverse talent. Through our two flagship programmes, Forward Prizes for Poetry and National Poetry Day, we work towards a better society where individuals and communities can develop their innate creativity, their agency and their understanding through the making and sharing of poetry.
Leadership and Management
Forward is led by its board of eight Trustees, chaired by Jamie Andrews. Jamie is Director of Public Engagement at the British Library and brings extensive experience as a trustee of several charities, including Oxford House. Other trustees are Forward’s founder William Sieghart CBE, responsible for the 2013 Sieghart Report on libraries and e-books; Kim Evans, former senior executive at BBC and Arts Council; Aoife O’Connor, poet and producer; Amelia Richards, culture and communications leader; treasurer and CFO Latinka Pilipovic; marketing manager Maya Ophelia and data scientist Mary Amanuel.
The organisation is led by Mónica Parle and Lucy Macnab, Co-Executive Directors. Both have experience as directors of writing organisations (First Story and Ministry of Stories). Mónica is an award winning writer and Lucy brings national policy and strategy design experience from Arts Council England. With joint accountability, they each work 0.5FTE. The team also includes Jay Bhadricha, Head of Programmes, and Annalise Peters, Finance and Operations Coordinator.
The team is supported by freelance specialists in education, communications, finance and fundraising.
We believe poetry is for everyone. Our approach to recruiting trustees is shaped by a commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion. We particularly welcome applications for vacancies from D/deaf and disabled and black and minority ethnic candidates, as well as candidates from lower socio-economic backgrounds, as they are under-represented in the arts, and we commit to review our processes to ensure that our organisation more closely reflects the society it serves.
Chair Role
The Chair leads the board, ensuring that it governs the charity effectively, in service of the charity’s vision and mission. The Chair leads in an inclusive way, supporting the board to work together well, and providing support and challenge to the Chief Executive. The Chair is also an ambassador for the charity.
- Provide strategic leadership to the charity and the Board.
- Work in partnership with the Co-Executive Directors and Vice Chair.
- Lead the board in ensuring that it fulfils its responsibilities for the governance of the organisation.
- Plan and chair the board meetings with the Vice Chair and Co-Executive Directors.
- Act as a spokesperson and figurehead for Forward.
What we are looking for
- Experience of being a trustee. You do not need to have been a Chair before.
- A keen sense of strategic purpose.
- An inclusive leadership style: able to inspire and support everyone to participate on an equal footing.
- The ability to listen and engage effectively. You are comfortable with challenge and debate and are able to encourage that in others whilst fostering a collaborative board environment.
- Advocate - be able and willing to champion Forward’s work through personal networks, social media, and other channels.
- A strong personal commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
- Be responsive. At a small charity, things sometimes ‘come up’ that require the Chair to advise, support or give consent to. It is very helpful to have a Chair who is available and responsive.
Trustee roles
We are also looking for trustees with expertise in any of the below and a belief that your skills will contribute to the strong and effective governance and growth of a small charity. We are especially looking for experience and networks in:
- Fundraising or philanthropy
- Governance/institutional/policy leadership
- Digital/data/design
- Education
- We’re also interested in applications from those under 30 or those seeking their first trusteeship, and offer support and guidance from an experienced ‘buddy’ trustee.
- Ideally, applicants should show interest in or understanding of the literature/arts sector and/or literacy and education.
Responsibilities of all trustees
- Support and provide advice on Forward’s purpose, vision, goals and activities.
- Approve operational strategies and policies, and monitor and evaluate their implementation.
- Oversee Forward’s financial plans and budgets and monitor and evaluate progress.
- Ensure that key risks are being identified, monitored and controlled effectively.
- Provide support and challenge to Forward’s Co-Executive Directors
- Keep abreast of changes in Forward’s operating environment.
- Applying your skills, expertise, knowledge and contacts to promote Forward’s work.
Essential qualities and attributes of all trustees
- Willingness and ability to understand and accept their responsibilities and liabilities as trustees and to act in the best interests of the organisation.
- Ability to think creatively and strategically, exercise good, independent judgement and work effectively as a board member.
- Effective communication skills and willingness to participate actively in discussion.
- A strong personal commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
- Enthusiasm for our vision and mission.
- Willingness to lead according to our values of wonder, play and openness.
- Commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership
Terms and Commitment
Location: All board meetings may be attended online. We will try to meet face-to-face when we can. But trustees are welcome wherever they live.
We estimate you’ll need to commit around 30 hours over the course of a year. The board meets quarterly and we have a strategy day one afternoon a year. Trustees are appointed for a 3-year term, with a maximum of 2 terms.
Salary: Unpaid, travel expenses will be reimbursed if needed and where necessary.
Deadline for applications: 21 July
Interviews beginning w/c 28 July
To apply or find out more, contact Co-Executive Director Lucy Macnab explaining why you would like to be a trustee. If you are interested in being Chair, please make this clear. You may want to tell us what your previous experience is, and what knowledge and skills you have and what you would like to gain from the experience. Also someone we can talk to as a referee. We will accept applications in any medium.
For those applying for the chair role, you are welcome to have a call with Jamie Andrews, current chair, to find out more.
Forward Arts Foundation is a registered charity (charity number: 1037939) and a company limited by guarantee (company no: 02902864), registered in England and Wales.
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.
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.