Education support volunteer roles
A Peer Mentor is a volunteer who has experienced similar challenges and experiences as the person they are supporting. Being a peer mentor is seen as a positive and secure way to progress towards education, work, or employment.
Volunteers who take on peer support roles can feel empowered, have a greater confidence and a more positive sense of identity.
Could you provide an authentic voice that our clients can relate to?
· Do you have 1-2 hours a week to support a client
· Can you inspire others, give them hope through self-disclosure and by being an example of recovery?
· Build relationships based on trust, acceptance, understanding and an empathy from a shared lived experience?
· Can we rely on you to tap into your own experiences to help us identify barriers and gaps in our services and how we can be improving and identify good practice?
If you can answer ‘yes’ to these questions, then we would love to hear from you!
Key Responsibilities:
· Inspiring service users by using your own life experiences and by being a positive role model
· Providing a safe sounding space, listen in a non-judgemental way
· Helping to improve wellbeing, confidence, and independence by exploring activities that promote this
· Assist service users to engage with formalised support
· Attend appropriate training and development opportunities as required
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!
Bright Futures UK is looking for passionate and knowledgeable KS3 Science tutors to provide educational support and a fun, safe learning environment for young people living with long-term illnesses.
What will you be doing?
- Run tutoring sessions online to support a young person.
- Offer subject area knowledge and expertise related to KS3 Science.
- Help to combat social isolation through fun and engaging tutoring sessions.
What are we looking for?
- Subject Knowledge: Strong understanding of KS2 and KS3 Science concepts and specifications.
- Teaching Skills: Ability to explain complex ideas in a clear and engaging way.
- Empathy and Patience: Kind and understanding nature, especially towards those facing health challenges.
- Reliability: Consistent availability for the agreed-upon time commitment.
- You must be a UK resident and be at least 18 years old.
What difference will you make?
- Academic Progress: Help young people stay on track with their studies despite their health challenges, ensuring they do not fall behind.
- Confidence Builder: Provide a stable and encouraging presence that helps build the students' confidence and resilience.
- Future Opportunities: Equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.
What will you gain?
- The opportunity to fight education inequities and make a difference in a young person's life
- Enhanced DBS Certificate
- Safeguarding level one training
- Skill development opportunities and practical experience
Location
- Remote/Online
Time
- 1 Hour per Week
- Duration: 14 Weeks minimum
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!
Bright Futures UK is looking for passionate and knowledgeable KS3 Art tutors to provide educational support and a fun, safe learning environment for young people living with long-term illnesses.
What will you be doing?
- Run tutoring sessions online to support a young person.
- Offer subject area knowledge and expertise related to KS3 Art.
- Help to combat social isolation through fun and engaging tutoring sessions.
What are we looking for?
- Subject Knowledge: Strong understanding of KS3 Art curriculum, skills and specifications.
- Teaching Skills: Ability to explain complex ideas in a clear and engaging way.
- Empathy and Patience: Kind and understanding nature, especially towards those facing health challenges.
- Reliability: Consistent availability for the agreed-upon time commitment.
- You must be a UK resident and be at least 18 years old.
What difference will you make?
- Academic Progress: Help young people stay on track with their studies despite their health challenges, ensuring they do not fall behind.
- Confidence Builder: Provide a stable and encouraging presence that helps build the students' confidence and resilience.
- Future Opportunities: Equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.
What will you gain?
- The opportunity to fight education inequities and make a difference in a young person's life
- Enhanced DBS Certificate
- Safeguarding level one training
- Skill development opportunities and practical experience
Location
- Remote/Online
Time
- 1 Hour per Week
- Duration: 14 Weeks minimum
Are you passionate about the natural world and inspiring others to engage with it?
Join us as a Trustee at the Field Studies Council and help shape the future of environmental education.
- You can be based anywhere in the UK
- You’ll need to commit approx. 10 days a year
- It’s a voluntary position but reasonable expenses are reimbursed
About Us
Field Studies Council is an environmental education charity. For over 80 years, we've been inspiring people to understand and care for the natural world. Through our network of centres across the UK, we provide fieldwork and outdoor learning experiences for all ages — from school groups and university students to families and lifelong learners.
We are a leader in biodiversity training, the publisher of best-selling wildlife ID guides, and a champion for accessible outdoor education, particularly for disadvantaged young people. Our mission is simple but vital: to create outstanding opportunities that inspire everyone to engage with and care for the environment.
Your Opportunity to Make a Difference
We’re currently looking to appoint four new Trustees to bring fresh perspectives and help us grow in diversity, representation and expertise. As a Trustee, you'll help guide and shape our charity’s future.
While the day-to-day running of our charity is handled by our staff and volunteers, the Board of Trustees plays a key role in making sure everything stays on track.
That includes overseeing our work, making big-picture decisions, and ensuring we meet our legal and regulatory responsibilities. It’s an important role, but you won’t be doing it alone. You will:
- Provide strategic oversight and guidance to support our mission and values
- Use your insight and experience to influence decisions that impact tens of thousands of learners annually
- Act as an ambassador for environmental education and social inclusion
- Contribute to Board and committee meetings, and participate in key annual activities including visiting one of our field centres each year to see our work in action
- Use your knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm to help us innovate, grow, and reach more people
Who We’re Looking For
You don’t need to be an academic, ecologist or environmentalist to join us or have charity trustee, company director or equivalent experience — we welcome applicants from all walks of life. We are especially interested in candidates with skills in:
- Charity governance
- Finance (qualified professionals – potential Honorary Treasurer role)
- Fundraising & stakeholder engagement
- Marketing & communications
Above all, we want individuals who are:
- Passionate about equal access to outdoor learning
- Ready to speak up and bring a new perspective
- Willing to give their time and energy to support the Field Studies Council
We’re committed to building a Trustee board that is inclusive, representative, and reflective of the diverse communities we serve.
We warmly encourage applications from individuals who are underrepresented in charity governance — including people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, LGBTQIA+ communities, young people, and those with lived experience of social or economic disadvantage.
If you're excited by our mission and ready to help others experience the power of nature, we’d love to hear from you.
What’s Involved
- Approx. 10 days per year commitment for an initial 3-year term (this includes board and committee meetings, and a centre visit)
- Most meetings are held virtually, with one in-person event annually
- All reasonable expenses are covered
- Appropriate training and support will be provided
Please download the Trustee Candidate Information Pack to learn more and take the next step in helping us connect people with the natural world
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!
Founded in 1997, the Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants provides a place for refugees, migrants, and people seeking asylum to rebuild their life with support and community. From classes to casework to financial assistance, the Centre has a wide offering available for our community of over 200 people. Our approach is compassionate and human and the support we offer is long term - on average people stay with us around four years.
The current Board brings a wide range of charity and public body experience including strategy and fundraising and we are looking for skills to both enhance and complement these strengths.
The Centre has a dedicated and talented staff team led by our CEO, Andy Ruiz Palma, who joined in 2000 as an English teacher. In addition to this staff resource we have around 40 volunteers who provide direct support through activities. We also have in place accountancy support to the executive and a dedicated fundraising team.
We are looking for people who can demonstrate a strong empathy with our client group and who understand how to work with organisations rooted in a local community. You will bring excellent people and communication skills and demonstrate good team-working.
You will demonstrate this through your experience working with marginalised communities (either in a frontline operational role, a policymaking role, or on the Board of another organisation) or personal lived experience as a member of a marginalised community.
We are open to applications from people looking for their first Trustee role or who may not have considered being a Trustee before and will provide mentoring to help trustees find their feet.
We are looking to recruit 2- 3 new trustees and have a strong preference for any of the following or a combination of these skills:
- Finance/Accountancy qualification – we have an excellent Treasurer Trustee and are looking for a deputy
- HR
- Fundraising
- IT/Data management
- Lived Experience as a refugee or migrant
Our mission is to offer people the emotional support, practical tools and sense of community they need to be happy and have a decent quality of life.
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!
Are you passionate about singing and would like to empower others to use their voices in a choir? We are recruiting for a Choir Lead Support Volunteer in Ealing. Choirs have shown to reduce stress levels and depression as well as creating a sense of togetherness. Your role will be to participate in the choir and support the Choir lead as and when needed to provide necessary guidance and direction on tone, rhythm, pitch, tempo, and harmony to the rest of the choir in their absence.
Volunteering with Hestia will mean that you will play a key role in promoting strategies for positive wellbeing and recovery through music and singing!
What you will be doing
- Participate in the choir and support in the absence of the Choir Lead.
- Direct choir members in warm-ups prior to practices and performances
- Decide on appropriate musical pieces for the choir to perform depending on the occasion and setting and Choose individual choir members to perform solo pieces.
- Build a structure, choir harmony, Determining voice types
- Provide necessary guidance and direction during choir rehearsals to help choir members in attaining the correct tone, rhythm, pitch, tempo, and harmony.
- Direct choir members during musical performances
- Craft appropriate choir formations for rehearsals and performance
- Selects music to meet the needs of the performance while also taking into account the group's aptitude and abilities
The skills you need
- Patient, passionate, creative, and assertive and knowledge and experience of working with individuals that live with mental health issues
- Music Education, or related field is preferred
- Experience of directing choirs
- Can interpret various styles of music
- Bold leadership and listening capabilities
- Strong communicator
What's in it for you
- Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
- Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
- Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards and Celebration events; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering; We hold social events and outings for our volunteers to get together and have some fun
We deliver services across London as well as campaign and advocate nationally on the issues that affect the people we work with.




Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
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!
Bright Futures UK is looking for passionate and knowledgeable A-Level Psychology tutors with knowledge of the AQA syllabus to provide educational support and a fun, safe learning environment for young people living with serious illnesses.
What will you be doing?
-
Run tutoring sessions online to support a young person.
-
Offer subject area knowledge and expertise related to A-Level Psychology.
-
Help to combat social isolation through fun and engaging tutoring sessions.
What are we looking for?
-
Subject Knowledge: Strong understanding of AQA A-Level Psychology concepts and specifications.
-
Teaching Skills: Ability to explain complex ideas in a clear and engaging way.
-
Empathy and Patience: Kind and understanding nature, especially towards those facing health challenges.
-
Reliability: Consistent availability for the agreed-upon time commitment.
-
You must be a UK resident and be at least 18 years old.
What difference will you make?
-
Academic Progress: Help young people stay on track with their studies despite their health challenges, ensuring they do not fall behind.
-
Confidence Builder: Provide a stable and encouraging presence that helps build the students' confidence and resilience.
-
Future Opportunities: Equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.
What will you gain?
-
The opportunity to fight education inequities and make a difference in a young person's life
-
Enhanced DBS Certificate
-
Safeguarding level one training
-
Skill development opportunities and practical experience
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Immediate Theatre is a Hackney based community arts organisation with almost 30 years’ experience of providing quality arts opportunities in East London. We are looking for people willing to bring energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the role, and who will broaden the diversity of thinking on our board. Estimated time commitment 25 hours a year.
We are particularly keen to engage people with at least one of the following attributes:
- Young people under 25 interested in developing leadership skills.
- Lived experience of the issues facing our participants e.g.:
- 90% of our youth theatre participants are from diverse ethnic backgrounds and a high proportion experience economic disadvantage, we know of 115 regular participants who access Free School Meals.
- 32% of registered participants have special educational needs or a disability
- Many participants on our Pathways to Employment programme have mental health challenges
- We work with over 60’s including those experiencing long term illness
- Knowledge about education, we are keen to engage someone with knowledge of Secondary Education and/or academic connections with a relevant University
- Experience of managing a similar size organisation or team
- Experience of marketing.
- Experience in the community arts sector
A full breakdown of the trustee role can be found on Immediate Theatre's website.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
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!
Bright Futures UK is looking for passionate and knowledgeable GCSE Science tutors to provide educational support and a fun, safe learning environment for young people living with serious illnesses.
What will you be doing?
- Run tutoring sessions online to support a young person.
- Offer subject area knowledge and expertise related to GCSE combined science or each of the individual areas (Biology, Chemistry and Physics).
- Help to combat social isolation through fun and engaging tutoring sessions.
What are we looking for?
Subject Knowledge: Strong understanding of GCSE science concepts and specifications.
Teaching Skills: Ability to explain complex ideas in a clear and engaging way.
Empathy and Patience: Kind and understanding nature, especially towards those facing health challenges.
Reliability: Consistent availability for the agreed-upon time commitment.
You must be a UK resident and be at least 18 years old.
What difference will you make?
Academic Progress: Help young people stay on track with their studies despite their health challenges, ensuring they do not fall behind.
Confidence Builder: Provide a stable and encouraging presence that helps build the students' confidence and resilience.
Future Opportunities: Equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.
What will you gain?
The opportunity to fight education inequities and make a difference in a young person's life
Enhanced DBS Certificate
Safeguarding level one training
Skill development opportunities and practical experience
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Outstanding in every area, Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) are looking for new members to join their Board and support them as they navigate their strategic development and delivery on their journey for even greater success.
Location: Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stafford
Time commitment: Approx. 10 hours per month
Closing date: 9 a.m. Wednesday 25th June
Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) is Staffordshire’s leading General Further Education College, with pass rates and student achievement rates amongst the very best in the country.
We provide a wide range of academic, vocational and apprenticeship qualifications from entry to degree level, along with support services to help our students achieve their goals. The College has grown significantly over the past 10 years and is currently home to a population of over 8,000 students studying full-time, part-time, higher education and apprenticeship programmes with us.
Who we are
In 2019, NSCG became the first further education provider in England to achieve the top grade of Outstanding in every area of Ofsted’s reformed Education Inspection Framework.
When we were inspected again in October 2024, we were able to demonstrate the continued consistency of our provision by once again achieving the same result – Outstanding in every area!
The latest inspection report praised all areas of our provision, acknowledging the pace at which our students make progress in their learning as well as the high aspirations that our leaders have by commenting that “with clarity and passion, leaders set high expectations for staff and learners” whilst also highlighting the extensive investment we have made in state-of-the-art facilities across the college.
The philosophy underpinning everything we do, whether you are a student, a lecturer, a member of our support staff, a manager or a Governor, is to be ‘committed to excellence’.
Our continued aim is to be recognised nationally as an outstanding organisation where students and staff thrive, achieve and make a positive contribution to the cultural and economic prosperity of Staffordshire and beyond.
About the role
The NSCG Corporation is the College’s governing body and currently comprises 16 members. Our board members provide representation from local businesses, local councils and community groups as well from our staff team and our student body.
Through their role on our Corporation Board, our members represent the particular interests of the local community and public interest in general. They oversee the way the College is run, ensuring it meets the needs of the local community, school leavers and employers.
It ensures the highest professional and ethical standards as well as the effective use of resources. Governors are responsible for the financial solvency of the institution, the proper use of public funds, sound management and the quality of education, training and business service provided. Perhaps even more importantly, our Governors set the tone of our organisation, shape our culture and help define the values through which we work.
Who we are looking for
Successful candidates will be those who can offer their commitment to supporting the College’s ambition to build on our successes and drive forward our aspirations to be an even more effective and impactful organisation.
These roles offer a fantastic opportunity to join an ambitious and committed Corporation and become a member of one of the College’s committees allowing you to genuinely have an impact on the success of our College, the achievements of our students and the future prosperity of our local communities.
This passion and commitment should be underpinned by a track record of significant expertise and impactful leadership that would be relevant in relation to the following committees.
Audit Committee
Firstly, we will welcome candidates with expertise and experience gained in the areas highlighted below. Candidates will not only be motivated to join our Board but will also be able to commit the time to joining our Audit Committee.
- Qualified senior audit professionals
- Senior risk and compliance professionals
- Senior professionals with expertise in data protection and/or cyber security
- Qualified finance professionals
Education & Standards Committee
We also seek applications from strategic leaders from across the wider education sector. This experience could come from those working within the higher education sector, in local secondary schools, multi-academy trusts, independent training providers, specialist SEND providers, or the further education sector itself.
We will also welcome applications from candidates who are based within large employers but who have an understanding and appreciation of the impacts that our provision has on their workforce. We believe such candidates will offer valuable insights into the future development of our curriculum.
Successful candidates with this particular experience will be appointed to our full Board as well as our Education & Standards Committee, which currently has eight other members.
Finance & General Purposes Committee
Finally, we also seek to appoint a new member to our board who is an experienced, senior and strategically focused, qualified, finance professional. Whilst candidates may have professional expertise as a senior financial leader, they may also have additional experience of working in more board operational roles which encompass responsibilities linked to estates and resource functions.
The successful candidate will be appointed to our full Board as well as our Finance & General Purposes Committee, on which there are currently six other members.
Expectations and commitment
Successful candidates will be appointed on the basis of a four-year term of office.
Whilst previous governance experience is not essential, candidates will need to be able demonstrate an understanding of the principles of good governance and how these should be implemented to discharge fiduciary responsibilities in the context of a non-executive board.
You will be able to apply your specialist knowledge and expertise to contribute to strategic discussions and decision-making by working constructively as part of a non-executive team whilst demonstrating an understanding that Governors must act fairly and impartially, with a commitment to the principles of safeguarding, equality and diversity.
The appointed candidates will be expected to attend five meetings of the Board each year, and the frequency of our Committee meetings varies as below:
- Education & Standards Committee: four meetings per year
- Audit Committee: three meetings per year
- Finance & General Purposes Committee: three meetings per year
We try to always ensure that meetings are held in person as this allows governors to experience the vibrant College atmosphere whilst on site.
Governors usually dedicate an average of around 10 hours per month to their role, which includes meeting preparation, attendance and follow-up. However, we are privileged that our Governors also dedicate additional time to the College. They each spend time each term, visiting our sites, engaging with our staff and students, and use this as a chance to see our impacts first-hand. We hope to receive applications from individuals who would be open to offering a similar level of commitment to our organisation.
All of our Governors are supported throughout their terms of office. Induction, training and development opportunities are all available, as well as the invitation to attend a range of exciting events and ceremonies throughout the year. This type of engagement by the governing body with the wider College community is both encouraged and supported, and allows our governors to fully appreciate the vibrancy, inclusivity and success of the organisation.
We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to join our Board, to better reflect our communities and welcome different thinking to ensure we include all voices of our society.
Peridot Partners and Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group 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.
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!
Bright Futures UK is looking for passionate and knowledgeable KS3 Maths tutors to provide educational support and a fun, safe learning environment for young people living with long-term illnesses.
What will you be doing?
- Run tutoring sessions online to support a young person.
- Offer subject area knowledge and expertise related to KS3 Maths.
- Help to combat social isolation through fun and engaging tutoring sessions.
What are we looking for?
- Subject Knowledge: Strong understanding of KS2 and KS3 Maths concepts and specifications.
- Teaching Skills: Ability to explain complex ideas in a clear and engaging way.
- Empathy and Patience: Kind and understanding nature, especially towards those facing health challenges.
- Reliability: Consistent availability for the agreed-upon time commitment.
- You must be a UK resident and be at least 18 years old.
What difference will you make?
- Academic Progress: Help young people stay on track with their studies despite their health challenges, ensuring they do not fall behind.
- Confidence Builder: Provide a stable and encouraging presence that helps build the students' confidence and resilience.
- Future Opportunities: Equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.
What will you gain?
- The opportunity to fight education inequities and make a difference in a young person's life
- Enhanced DBS Certificate
- Safeguarding level one training
- Skill development opportunities and practical experience
Location
- Remote/Online
Time
- 1 Hour per Week
- Duration: 14 Weeks minimum
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
As our current Chair, Tim Roberts, comes toward the end of his final term of office, we are now seeking a new Chair of Trustees to succeed Tim and support The Mayor’s Fund for London as we take forward our ambitious strategy over the coming years.
It’s a vital time for young people in London – with many facing challenges around poverty and cost of living, mental health and wellbeing, and a lack of access to opportunities and services. But at the same time, there are real opportunities, through the London Growth Plan, and the appetite of communities, businesses and education to work together to ensure young people do have the chance to thrive. The Mayor’s Fund for London is a charity at the heart of connecting these agendas, driven by the voices of young people and the organisations that support them.
As Chair of Trustees, you’ll lead a highly skilled, very engaged and diverse board of Trustees, working with a talented staff team, within an organisation which enjoys great relationships and a growing reputation as a leading voice in London. If you care passionately about young Londoners succeeding, have great connections in business, can navigate through London’s civil society and the policy landscape and have a good grasp of governance, diversity and inclusion then this exciting and unique opportunity could be the one for you.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
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!
Bright Futures UK is looking for passionate and knowledgeable GCSE Maths tutors to provide educational support and a fun, safe learning environment for young people living with serious illnesses.
What will you be doing?
-
Run tutoring sessions online to support a young person.
-
Offer subject area knowledge and expertise related to GCSE Maths.
-
Help to combat social isolation through fun and engaging tutoring sessions.
What are we looking for?
-
Subject Knowledge: Strong understanding of GCSE Maths concepts and specifications.
-
Teaching Skills: Ability to explain complex ideas in a clear and engaging way.
-
Empathy and Patience: Kind and understanding nature, especially towards those facing health challenges.
-
Reliability: Consistent availability for the agreed-upon time commitment.
-
You must be a UK resident and be at least 18 years old.
What difference will you make?
-
Academic Progress: Help young people stay on track with their studies despite their health challenges, ensuring they do not fall behind.
-
Confidence Builder: Provide a stable and encouraging presence that helps build the students' confidence and resilience.
-
Future Opportunities: Equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.
What will you gain?
-
The opportunity to fight education inequities and make a difference in a young person's life
-
Enhanced DBS Certificate
-
Safeguarding level one training
-
Skill development opportunities and practical experience
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Join our Trust with a unified vision for educational excellence as a Trustee and influence how our schools operate, improve and evolve.
Location: Hybrid / Peterborough and North Cambridgeshire
Time commitment: 4 board meetings + 3 committee meetings / year
Closing date: 9 a.m. Monday 9th June
Thomas Deacon Education Trust (TDET) is a thriving multi-academy trust serving over 5,500 pupils across seven academies, including primary, secondary, all-through and alternative provision schools. We are proud of our strong community focus and the work we do to empower communities through high-quality education across Peterborough and North Cambridgeshire.
We are now seeking passionate, high-calibre individuals to join our Board of Trustees, particularly those with expertise in finance and estates/infrastructure.
These are key appointments at a time of strategic transformation and increasing operational efficiency. You’ll help shape the future of our Trust, support the executive team and ensure we continue delivering high-quality education for all children and young people across our diverse communities.
Who we are
Our Trust was established to bring together local schools under a unified vision for educational excellence, community service and sustainable growth. We currently operate seven schools — five in Peterborough and two to the south in Cambridgeshire — across primary, secondary, all-through and alternative provision settings.
We have matured as an organisation, embedding centralised services (HR, IT, Estates, Finance), promoting stronger curriculum alignment across schools and building a sense of collective identity. Like all multi-academy trusts, we continue to face challenges, especially around funding, SEND provision and estate management, however, we remain committed to progress. All of our schools have been inspected in the last three years, and our improvement journey is well underway.
Our governance model is evolving. We’re reintroducing two subcommittees — Education Committee and Finance, Audit and Risk Committee — in 2025/2026. Trustees meet three times per year for full board meetings and three times for the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee and Education Committee.
Our high-performing board currently has a strong educational presence, with trustees drawn from school and higher education backgrounds. However, we are thin on numbers and underrepresented in critical areas.
Now, we are particularly seeking individuals from finance, business services and estates sectors to strengthen our ability to challenge, support and guide the Trust as it enters its next phase.
We do not stand still as a Trust. Our new Trustees will join at an exciting time as we undergo new complex estates projects (e.g., a multimillion-pound roof repair at Thomas Deacon Academy), evolving community partnerships and growing cross-trust collaboration. We are ready for the next step, and we need exceptional trustees to help lead the way.
About the role
As a Trustee, you will play a key role in the strategic leadership and governance of the Trust. This is a high-impact, voluntary role with real influence over how our schools operate, improve and evolve. Your focus will be to ensure that the Trust is delivering on its educational mission while remaining financially sustainable and operationally sound.
We are particularly looking to appoint individuals to:
- Join the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee or Education Committee
- Provide strategic and technical oversight of finance, audit, or capital/infrastructure projects
- Chair the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee, if suitably experienced
You’ll be part of a collaborative, values-driven board that works closely with a dedicated executive team. Your insights will help guide decisions around budget setting, estates investment, compliance and educational outcomes. You’ll need to commit to regular reading of board papers, engage in meaningful discussion at meetings and support the executive team with scrutiny and challenge.
Meetings are a mix of online and in-person formats, with the flexibility to accommodate professional commitments. While we have a strong preference for candidates based in or connected to Peterborough or Cambridgeshire, we are open to outstanding individuals from further afield who share our mission and can commit the necessary time and attention.
The role is voluntary, but the impact is profound: you’ll be helping shape the education, life chances and wellbeing of thousands of young people across the region.
Who we are looking for
We are seeking candidates with a passion for education and a deep commitment to public service. Your professional background might be in finance, audit, capital projects, or estates management, ideally with experience overseeing budgets, risk, or infrastructure in complex organisations.
We’re especially interested in individuals who can bring:
- Finance expertise (accounting, audit, financial oversight)
- Capital or estates experience (infrastructure, property, construction)
- Leadership experience within high-accountability or regulatory environments
- Strategic mindset, with the ability to interpret data, challenge assumptions and support sound decision-making
We would also value:
- Familiarity with multi-academy trusts or the Academy Trust Handbook
- Experience chairing audit or governance committees
- Links to our local communities in Peterborough and South Cambridgeshire
Equally important is who you are as a person: communicative, thoughtful, committed and unafraid to ask the difficult questions. We’re looking for trustees who bring a mix of professionalism and heart, who care deeply about equity, diversity and inclusive education and who want to make a tangible difference.
We are committed to building a board that reflects the rich diversity of our schools and their communities.
If you want to be part of a Trust that’s ambitious, community-rooted and on a clear improvement trajectory, then we would love to hear from you.
Peridot and Thomas Deacon Education 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.
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!
Why we want you
Our vision is a society in which Armed Forces, veterans and their families can thrive. When anyone in the Armed Forces community finds themselves in need, SSAFA is the charity they can turn to – no one’s service is ever forgotten. More and more people need help, Come and join our team!
The Project
Gurkhas have served the British crown for more than 200 years, with dedication and valour. They are hugely respected worldwide, but less known are their wives who are dedicated and brave, quietly supporting their husbands, raising their children and looking after their families. When Dame Joanna Lumley worked with HM Government to allow retired Gurkha soldiers and their families to settle in the UK, the lives of these women underwent a huge change. They found themselves in a new country, with a new language, customs they didn’t understand and a very confusing environment. A group of volunteers set about teaching these ladies a mixture of English and other basic skills in a nurturing and happy environment, raising their confidence, so that they could shop, visit the doctor, talk to the local council and enjoy their new environment supporting their integration into the community and life in the United Kingdom.
We are now looking for a new lead to take this very successful project into its second decade. You will be making a real difference to the lives of those that attend our class and beyond.
We value all our volunteers and the unique skills and experience they bring.
What you will be doing
We are looking for a project lead to plan, support and facilitate the term time run lessons, working collaboratively with the existing team of helpers and external professionals to provide an exciting, enjoyable class providing language, skills and cultural education. Also to provide a wider understanding of support available to the community and the ability to sign post and or refer to specialist support when appropriate.
Key responsibilities
- Establish and foster good relationships with the ex-Gurkha Community, overcoming cultural differences and encouraging integration.
- Manage and organise weekly language classes with appropriate guest speakers when possible.
- Support, guide an amazing team of existing volunteers to aid facilitation of the weekly classes.
- Provide a lesson plan (Scheme of works) and supporting documentation on a termly basis.
- Signpost and support beneficiaries to additional sources of support as appropriate.
- Keep and Maintain records of attendance for reporting purposes.
- Raise awareness of SSAFA and the volunteering opportunities that we offer to the Nepali community.
The skills you need
Friendly, approachable, empathic Non-judgemental approach, great written and verbal communication skills, great organisational and administration skills, good IT skills, some teaching or presentation experience.
What's in it for you
An opportunity to use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others. Be part of a friendly and supportive SSAFA team. Access to a range of training and learning opportunities
An opportunity to gain experience and develop your knowledge and skills which you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
Additional information
This role requires an enhanced DBS and completion of mandatory online training including GDPR and Safeguarding.
Disclaimer SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment. This role qualifies for a criminal record check, which will be carried out at no cost to you. If you have a criminal record, it won't necessarily stop you from becoming a volunteer. Please read our Volunteer Vetting Guidance for more information
Time Commitment
Classes run every Tuesday in term time. Additional time for planning will also be required.
Our vision A society in which the Armed Forces, veterans and their families can thrive.




The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.