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Mothers’ Union (MU) is a women-led, volunteer movement founded in 1876, with a membership of some 4 million worldwide. It is a movement based on Christian fellowship, with members driven to express their faith through action in their local communities, aiming to create a world where every individual can reach their full potential, by stopping poverty, injustice and violence.
We are a federated international movement with the central Charity, Mothers’ Union, registered and operating in England, sitting at the centre of the global movement. We connect and support the global movement to achieve its aims and objects and thus transform the lives of women and families around the world.
The Central Charity is governed by an international Board of Trustees, made up of elected leaders from within the global movement and also appointed external experts to fill identified skills gaps.
The Trustees collectively are responsible to the global membership for ensuring that the Central Charity achieves its core purposes. This is achieved through overseeing the management and administration of operations and ensuring that the charity has a clear strategy and that operations and goals are in line with that vision.
The Worldwide Board comprises:
- Worldwide President (elected)
- 11 Zonal Trustees (elected)
- Up to four appointed trustees, with expertise to complement the skills and experience of the elected Board members.
All Board members have voting rights.
Zones: The list of Provinces as allocated to Zones is given in the detailed role specification. Elections are held every 3 years, and the current Board took up office in 2025. The appointed trustees are also appointed for up to 2 terms of 3 years each. However, these do not need to be co-terminus with the elected trustees.
This is un UNPAID position
General Responsibilities of All Trustees:
- To participate actively in Board discussion, to ensure that the Board takes appropriate steps to determine the organisation’s vision and mission, by engaging in strategic planning and tracking progress towards achievement of strategic goals.
- To approve and monitor the organisation’s operational plans and budgets.
- To safeguard the assets and resources of the charity and provide effective financial, risk and operational oversight, by the proper consideration of management accounts, external audits, risk reviews, policies and internal procedures and controls.
- To ensure organisational compliance with all statutory duties and sector best practice.
- To ensure adequate financial resources are available to carry out the work of the whole organisation by consideration and approval of subscription levels and alternative income streams worldwide.
- To enhance the organisation’s public image by participating in activities that promote a positive image of Mothers’ Union, recognising that we need to challenge stereotypes rather than contribute to their perpetuation.
Particular Focus for the Trustee with expertise in Finance:
The elected Board members conducted a skills audit and determined that they do not have strong backgrounds in finance and resources management. The role of the Finance trustee would be to ensure that the appropriate level of support and challenge is given by the Board to management to discharge their duties effectively, be a critical friend to the Director of Finance and Services and be an active member of the Audit and Risk Committee.
They will be asked to provide a particular focus on ensuring that key strategic initiatives, including the ongoing development of IT systems, the potential future sale of the building, Mary Sumner House, and the implementation of the fundraising strategy are executed in line with agreed parameters
All trustees are asked to:
- have an active commitment to Christian faith;
- be committed to the aim and objects of Mothers’ Union;
- be confident with virtual communication and have an ability to access an appropriate device and the internet easily;
- be able to travel internationally if required;
- be in a good state of health, mental and physical, to enable them to discharge their duties fully and well.
- devote the time required to this critical role
A strong Candidate for Finance Trustee would have many of the following attributes, skills and experience:
- CCAB Qualified finance professional (or QBE)
- Experience of operating at Board level and of the charity sector
- An understanding of membership organisations
- Experience of Audit and Risk Committees and engaging with external advisors
- Experience of risk management
- Experience of project evaluation and funding
- Experience of change management
- Basic knowledge of Charity SORP and GDPR requirements
- IT competent
- Proven ability to communicate finance information clearly to non-finance professionals
- An understanding of the governance responsibilities and accountabilities of a Board member of a major international Charity
Additional Information:
What is the time commitment in a three-year period?
In a three-year term of office, Trustees are expected to attend three residential Trustee meetings (one per year) each lasting around 5 days, generally in the UK. We recognise that this may be challenging for professionals, so attendance for at least one day of the week would be acceptable. In addition, at least a further 3 virtual formal meetings a year, each comprising roughly 2 hours starting at 12.00 UK time. The Board may also choose to meet informally on a number of further occasions for fellowship or capability development, virtually, by mutual agreement – it is recognised that this may not be feasible for an active professional.
Written material is circulated to Trustees prior to each meeting. Trustees are expected to read and study the material before the meeting and any follow up material after the meeting.
The specialist trustee for finance will additionally prepare for and attend the quarterly Audit and Risk meetings which take place on Zoom, each lasting 2-3 hours
The specialist trustee may be asked to be available to the Director of Finance and Resources as a sounding board, and to provide input on a time-limited basis to strategic projects
Who will this Trustee work with/relate to in the role?
1. Worldwide President, Chief Executive, fellow Trustees and Leadership Team members
2. Mothers’ Union members from around the world.
3. Finance team
Work Location
This role can be performed fully remotely most of the time.
How to Apply
If you are interested in this position, please apply by sending your CV and a Cover Letter via Charity Jobs. The Cover Letter should clearly outline how your skills match the main responsibilities of the role.
Application Deadline
The deadline for applications is 17 September 2025 at 5:00 pm. Due to the number of applications we may receive, we will not be able to individually respond to each applicant. Kindly note, we will only be getting in touch with the applicants shortlisted for an interview. We aim to get in touch with the shortlisted candidates after the application deadline. We will be conducting interviews for suitable candidates as we go along and may fill the role before the closing date.
Registered Charity 
21 - 50
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
About Us
Age UK London is a charity that campaigns for an age-friendly London. We have been working to promote the interests of older Londoners for over 20 years and support the network of London Age UK’s and other older people’s organisations across all 33 boroughs.
Our CEO, Abigail Wood, joined us in 2020 and under her leadership Age UK London has gone through a significant period of consolidation and transformational change, streamlining activities and organisational structure, whilst maximising our impact.
Background to the role
A highly successful recent strategy day highlighted that the staff and trustees are closely aligned and have a strong sense of being part of one team, all pulling in one direction. We want to build on that by welcoming new Board members with key skills and expertise to enhance and further sharpen our work.
The Age UK London board currently comprises seven trustees, one of whose term will finish at our AGM in the autumn. Our chair, Tony Burch, took on the role in December 2024, having been a trustee since 2018. Our former chair, Imogen Clark, left having stayed on as a trustee until our CEO had returned from maternity leave in February of this year, and two other trustees resigned earlier this year for personal reasons.
We are a friendly, committed and effective board, and we foster a productive relationship with the Age UK London CEO and her team. We are passionate about campaigning to improve the lives of older Londoners.
We’re now keen to welcome someone who brings skills and experience in campaigning, public affairs and policy. Given that this is the key focus of our work, it’s important that our Board is replete with a deep understanding of the challenges as well as the possibilities for influence and change.
If you feel you are the right person to join our board, we would be delighted to hear from you!
Main Responsibilities
- To be aware of and accept the responsibilities of a charity trustee and director of a charitable company.
- To ensure equality, diversity and inclusion is promoted and sustained through all aspects of Age UK London’s work and relationships.
- To represent the board as necessary, on internal disciplinary and complaint panels or other panels, and on external bodies by agreement.
- To act properly at all times, declaring any conflict of interests or perceived conflict of interests which may have a bearing on their role as a trustee.
- To act in good faith with due care and diligence for the best interests of Age UK London and working within the charity’s vision, mission and values.
- To attend and actively participate in board meetings, contributing own opinions and ensuring that papers are read in preparation for meetings.
- To undertake training and attend induction.
- To respect the confidentiality of matters discussed at board and any other meetings set up by the board.
- To evaluate the performance of the board in relation to the agreed objectives.
- To engage with the wider work of Age UK London and its network.
- Willingness to commit to a minimum of two years in the role.
In addition to the above duties, each trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they may have to help the board of trustees reach sound decisions. This may involve scrutinising board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, and providing advice and guidance on new initiatives or other issues in which the trustee has special expertise.
Person Specification
Among your key attributes, we are looking to secure experience at a senior level of public affairs, including how organisations can engage with Government and influence policy through a combination of lobbying and public campaigning, as well as:
- Ability to understand and accept the duties and liabilities of a Trustee and how they differ from operational management
- Empathy with the vision, mission and values of the charity
- Willingness and ability to devote the necessary time and effort
- Ability to think and apply knowledge strategically
- Ability to analyse and evaluate management information and any other evidence
- Ability to communicate clearly and sensitively and to participate in discussions
- Ability to work effectively in group situations
- Ability to constructively challenge and ask questions in an appropriate manner
- Ability to manage difficult/challenging situations
- Ability to maintain confidentiality on confidential and sensitive information
- Ability to manage boundaries and conflicts of interest appropriately
Our commitment to diversity
We value equity, diversity and inclusion. We value and respect all the differences that make us who we are, including age, cultural background, ethnicity and race, disability and mental health, neurodiversity, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, social background and lived experience.
We believe that effective leadership and good decision-making is enabled through a diverse board membership, a culture of listening to, and acting on, diverse perspectives and, having board behaviours that embody respect, openness and constructive challenge. We are seeking to increase the diversity of our broad and warmly welcome qualified candidates who bring new perspectives.
How to apply
Eastside People is supporting Age UK London in the recruitment of these roles. Please click here to 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 a Trustee role at Age UK London
- 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 want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential. If you have a disability or require reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process, please contact us so we can support you appropriately.
The closing date for applications is 15 September. Shortlisting interviews will take place shortly after and shortlisted candidates will have an interview with Age UK London during the week beginning 22 September.
