5 External trustees and expert committee member volunteer volunteer roles

Choose to be a Trustee for the Wildlife Trust BCN. Choose the Wild Life.

Choose to give your time to the Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs and Northants – BCN for short – and you’re choosing to see nature not as a luxury but as the system that keeps us alive. 

Choose to shape a brighter future for nature in our three counties, and you’re choosingto work with an organisation that doesn’t just count its outputs, but measures its actual impact. 

We’re looking for three new Trustees to provide strategic direction and keep our ambitious plans for a wilder future on track.

We want our Board to reflect our community and actively encourage applications from people of all identities and walks of life. We particularly invite applications from groups currently underrepresented within environmental charities including people from ethnic minority backgrounds and those with disabilities. 

In return for your input, we’ll give you fascinating insights into nature and charity operations, lively and respectful debate and field visits with expert staff.

About you

You don’t need to be an expert on wildlife. We only ask that you care deeply about it.

Nor do you need to have had a long career. We only ask that you’re over 18.

And you don’t need to be a member of the Wildlife Trust to apply, although we will ask you to join if you’re appointed.

We’re looking for:

·A passion for nature and a belief in our vision and values.

·The ability to step back from the detail and see the bigger picture.

·An open mind and a commitment to listening, learning and valuing others’ perspectives. 

·The desire to share your experience and expertise.

·A commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

·The ability to work collaboratively as part of a team with your fellow Trustees and with charity staff. 

In addition, for two of the three posts, we’re particularly seeking Trustees with experience in:

·fundraising and/or membership

or

·farming, agronomy or land management.

The third post is not sector specific.

Time commitment

You’ll attend up to eight evening meetings per year – 6pm to 8pm. One meeting is in-person at our offices in Cambourne; the others are hybrid. You’ll need to read papers in advance and come ready to contribute to the discussion.

We have an annual strategy away day in the working week and we encourage Trustees to attend our AGM and Members’ Day on a Saturday.

Trustees are appointed for an initial three-year term. 

Would you like to join our Board of  Trustees of Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust?

This year we are looking for three people to join our Board of Trustees at our AGM in October 26.

Trustees of the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust (SRWT) are volunteers who together lead the organisation in the planning, resourcing and delivery of its activities, so that it can achieve its charitable objectives.  An enthusiastic, committed and active Board of Trustees, with a good range of knowledge, skills, experience and personal qualities is vital to the healthy and effective running of the organisation.

The Board of Trustees:

• lead the strategic development and planning of the Trust

• develop and adopt appropriate policies

• aim to ensure that the Trust is legally compliant and works to best practice wherever possible

• supports, guides and advises the Trust’s staff and volunteers, especially the CEO and the Executive Team

This year, we are especially keen to hear from people who:

Have expertise, knowledge and experience in one or more of the of the following areas:

• Marketing

• Commercial management, business acumen, profit for purpose experience (with reference to our consultancy)

• Green finance.

• Enterprise development

• Income generation

• Legal experience

• Health, Safety and safeguarding policy and compliance

• Have a good knowledge of communities and/or natural environment in Rotherham

• Can represent more of our diverse community in Sheffield & Rotherham

We are also recruiting for a Trustee to be our Treasurer who will have:

• Professional accounting qualification (e.g. ACA, ACCA, CIMA, AAT)

• Ability to analyse proposals and understand financial consequences

• Understanding of financial risk

Skills & Experience

Trustees should demonstrate some or all of the following:

• Passion for nature

• Interest in and enthusiasm for the work of the Wildlife Trust

• Experience of working as part of a decision-making group, board or committee either in a business or voluntary environment

• Experience or knowledge of the legal requirements of a charity

• Local knowledge of the places in which the Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust operates

• Experience of financial management and budgeting in a business or voluntary environment 

The following areas of expertise are always welcome on the Board:

• Environmental Law/ Protected species

• Land Management and Conservation 

• Community Outreach and Development

• Education & Training, Working with Children and Young People

• Advocacy & Campaigning

• Research: relevant to the work of the Trust

• Fundraising

Closing Date: 9am, Monday, 14th September
Interview Dates: Week commencing Monday, 5th October
New Trustees will be confirmed at our Annual General Meeting on Saturday 24th October 2026

LGBT Foundation is governed by a board of trustees who also serve as directors of the company. Our various arrangements for governance are brought together in one place within our governance manual, which is reviewed on a bi-annual basis, and amended as and when applicable. This helps to ensure we remain responsible, robust and resilient. 

The board of LGBT Foundation is the first and last decision-making mechanism of the charity and trustees also constitute the membership of the charity. The board has several mechanisms in place to consult with key stakeholders, (such as staff, volunteers and service users), to inform our work and decision-making. 

All new trustees are required to undertake an induction programme, including the provision of an extensive induction pack, staff presentations, and peer mentoring as desired. Trustee training needs are assessed, and a programme of internal and external training arranged on an annual basis to meet these needs. 

Trustees are not remunerated, but reasonable expenses to attend meetings can be claimed.

Trustees are ultimately accountable for the organisation and their governance responsibilities include: 

• Setting and maintaining vision, mission, and values 
• Developing strategy together with the CEO 
• Ensuring suitable policies and documents exist 
• Ensuring compliance with the law, the governing document and charitable objects 
• Maintaining proper financial oversight 
• Maintaining effective board performance including board appraisals 
• Promoting the organisation and protecting its reputation 
• Recruiting and supporting the CEO 

Role Accountabilities

Trustees are expected to contribute around 8 hours per month, including: 

• Quarterly Board meetings (usually on a Saturday, occasionally a weeknight evening, in person) 
• Annual AGM (quarterly preceding October’s Board meeting, in person) 
• Service on 2 standing committees (4-6 times per year, remotely, weeknight evenings) 
• Participation in selected events, learning, or campaigns 

Trustees need to allow enough time to prepare for meetings by reading the paperwork, and doing any other preparatory reading, research or thinking to fully engage and contribute to robust discussion and decision-making.

To support the work of our board, we have three committees. These are: 

Fundraising & Marketing Committee – maintains an overview of strategic fundraising, marketing, and communications. 

Finance, Audit, Risk & Governance Committee – maintains a scrutiny and review role to ensure effective financial, people and systems management and ensuring that effective governance structures are in place across the 6organisation. 

People, Performance & Resources Committee – maintains an overview of project, people and programme performance, ensuring that (i) quality is maintained and/or increased; (ii) set targets are achieved; and (iii) ideas for innovation are explored. 

Person Specification

We seek trustees who offer a blend of technical expertise, values-driven motivation, and community alignment. 

Personal Attributes: 

• Commitment to and deep resonance with LGBT Foundation’s mission and values 
• Strong commitment to championing equality, inclusion and human rights 
• Commitment to the values of accountability, probity, openness and equality of opportunity 
• Ability to listen sensitively to the views of others 
• Willingness to challenge and question 
• Ability to work as an effective member of the board, of whose members are equally and jointly responsible for its decisions 
• Clear understanding of the responsibilities of a trustee and sufficient time/commitment to fulfil the role 

While the trustees are not the day-to-day executive team for LGBT Foundation, similar professional skills and experiences are required, such as finance, HR, communications, fundraising, representation and networking across the private, voluntary and public sectors. 

To complement the existing skills and experience of the Board, we are particularly looking for applicants with experience in: 

• Fundraising
• Changemaking, marketing, and communications
• Financial management, audit, risk and procurement
• Legal and regulatory expertise (charity, employment, governance)
• AI and technology

LGBT Foundation actively seeks to maintain a diverse board representative of the communities we serve. We are taking positive action to encourage applications from people of colour (PoC) and other racially minoritised communities, trans*, non-binary, younger (aged 30 and under) and/or older people (aged 50+), disabled people, and people with experience of navigating asylum or refugee systems, to improve the representation of colleagues from these communities on our board. 

*Trans is an umbrella & inclusive term used to describe people whose gender identity differs from that which they were assigned at birth; including non-binary people, cross-dressers, and those who partially or incompletely identify with their sex assigned at birth. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ROLE PLEASE DOWNLOAD THE RECRUITMENT PACK

Position Description 
This is an exciting time to join the Heart of the City trustee board. You will join a small but ambitious Charity with strong foundations and networks across the public and private sector. This is an opportunity to shape the next chapter for the Heart of the City, with a strong focus on developing a robust, sustainable three-year Strategy. The Strategy will be supported by work to further diversify funding streams, that provide greater financial resilience without compromising our mission to support SMEs to become responsible businesses and play a full role in responding to the Climate Emergency.

The incoming Chair will support the team to develop a three-year Strategy to support the growth of the Charity.

The plan will explore:

• The Mission of the Charity and how it should grow
• Diversifying and securing new sources of funding
• Broadening our programmatic offer to SMEs
• Defining the strategic relationship between Heart of the City and the City of London Corporation

Unlike most small charities, Heart of the City has an extensive network and governance structures with prestigious organisations. The Chair will help manage key relationships with the Bank of England and Corporation of London, as well as key Council Members. The Chair will be instrumental in managing an effective and focussed set of Trustees to help shape, scrutinise and deliver the Charity’s mission.

By the end of the three-year period as Chair, you will have supported the development and implementation of a Strategy, which meets the vision of the Charity, helped develop a sustainable and resilient funding model, ensured that the Charity is making an impact and reporting on its achievements and maintains effective relationships with key strategic partners.

Typically, the Chair will:

• Hold regular fortnightly meetings with the Managing Director.
• Attend quarterly Trustee Board meetings (usually lasting around two hours and held during the working day).
• Participate in a strategy half-day with Trustees and staff.
• Attend Council meetings (up to two per year).
• Support introductions to potential members, partners and stakeholders.
• Attend and occasionally speak at Heart of the City events on an ad hoc basis.

The Chair will contribute to ad-hoc requests including:

• Sharing their views on responsible business in interviews for our newsletter, social media or webinars
• Championing our work at other external events and meetings, on social media and on their own biographical profiles

About you
We do not expect one person to fulfil all specifications but would welcome applications from individuals who are able to demonstrate most of the following:

Experience & Knowledge

• Senior Executive experience in the Corporate, Charity or Public sector.
• Strong understanding of SMEs, their motivations and challenges.
• Strong commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices.
• Proven track record of setting strategic direction and leading senior teams.
• Well-connected senior network across businesses.

Skills & Attributes

• Excellent chairing, facilitation and sound judgement in complex situations.
• Strong strategic thinking with the ability to align resources to long-term mission and impact.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, able to engage audiences from SME leaders to senior stakeholders.
• Strong ambassadorial and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent listening, questioning and consensus-building abilities.

Commitment

Commitment to Heart of the City’s mission, values and responsible business agenda. Willingness to devote the time and energy required to fulfil the role effectively.

Closing application date
Midnight on 27 September 2026

Interviews
Trustees aim to meet with the candidates in the week commencing 12 October 2026.