Finance trustees volunteer roles

Help Us Resore Hope: Join as a Trustee of Women on the Frontline Ministries (WOFM) Are you passionate about making a lasting difference in the lives of vulnerable women? Do you ahve the heart to serve and the skils to lead? We're looking for compassionate, committed trustees both women and men to join growing, Christian-led charity and help shape a future filled with restoration, justice and hope.

We exist to reach and support women affected by prostitution, sexual exploitation and domestic abuse. Rooted in Christian values, we walk alongside those who have been marginalised, offering holistic support, safety, and the hope of a life with purpose. Our work is deeply relational, trauma-informed, and driven by the belief that every women is precious and deserving of dignity.

As we grow we're seeking trutees who will bring wisdom, governance, and strategic oversight to our mission. You'll help guide the vision, ensure accountability, and prayerfully steward our resources so we can continue to serve the most vulneraable with excellence and intergrity.

We're Looking for Individuals Who:

• Share and support our Christian ethos
• Bring experience in areas such as finance, safeguarding, charity governance, lived experience, community development, commercial strategy and planning for sustainable growth.
• Are committed to inclusion and gender equity in leadership
• Want to see both women and men engaged in the fight against sexual violence and exploitation 

While our work focuses on women, we believe that men play a vital role in helping shape a safer, more compassioante society. We encourage applications from both men and women who feel called to help lead with humility and courage.

Trustee

Royal Trinity Hospice

Clapham, London SW4

Trinity, the UK’s oldest hospice, was founded in 1891, and we have been an innovator and a leader in the hospice sector ever since.

Today, we provide expert specialist palliative and end of life care to over 2,500 patients each year from our state-of-the-art inpatient unit and in the community across seven central & south London boroughs.

In August 2019, the Care Quality Commission rated our care as Outstanding, and the impact of our new clinical model of care introduced in 2022 was recognised with a national Palliative and End of Life Care Award in 2025.

We are renowned for our patient-centred care and have an optimal nurse-to-patient ratio. This allows us to focus on high-quality nursing standards, giving clinicians the time and space to deliver the patient care that inspired them to join the profession.

We are an ambitious and forward-looking organisation with a clear strategic vision, with the goal of reaching even more people in our community who would benefit from our care.

We are working to do this within the context of the national hospice funding crisis and have a creative and robust financial plan to continue expanding our offer to beneficiaries.

This is an exciting time to be joining our organisation. We are looking for two trustees to join our Board, who will bring financial expertise, particularly in investments and fundraising, with the view that one individual will become the new Honorary Treasurer.

By joining the Board of Trinity, you’ll be joining a dedicated team with a shared ambition to provide the best quality care for our patients, helping them to make the best of every moment.

Potential Trustees should be able to demonstrate they have the following:

• Commitment to the charity and its vision and charitable objectives • Strategic vision suitable to support the charitable objectives

• Ability to make independent judgements and think creatively

• Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of charity trusteeship

• Ability to work effectively in a team

• Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort, including 10 meetings a year (4 Board; 4 sub-committee meetings; 2 Board Away Days)

• Willingness to attend fundraising and awareness raising events on behalf of the charity at least three times a year.

Our meetings:

• Our Board meetings are held four-times per year on Tuesday evenings, 17.00-19.00, in person at the hospice

• We run two whole-day Board Away Days each year to provide additional time for strategic discussion and trustee development

• We have four Committees which all meet four-times per year, with meetings on Tuesday afternoons and evenings, and Wednesday evenings 

For an informal chat or visit please contact Alexandra Letellier (Executive Office Manager) 

Closing date for applications: Sunday 12 October 2025

Interview and stakeholder panel: Thursday 30 October 2025

About Friends Provident Foundation

Friends Provident Foundation is an independent charity dedicated to building a fair and sustainable economic system that serves both people and the planet. Through a combination of grant-making, social investments, and the strategic use of its endowment, the Foundation connects, funds, supports, and invests in bold new ideas that contribute to shaping an economy that works for all.

Trustee Opportunities

The Foundation is seeking to appoint new Trustees to help guide and govern its programmes of giving and investment. These programmes are focused on enabling a fair and sustainable economy across the UK through funding impactful initiatives, generating knowledge, and deploying capital as a force for systemic change.

The Foundation is particularly interested in individuals who bring fresh perspectives and who are willing to challenge established thinking. Ideal candidates will have a strong interest in how the economy functions and a genuine commitment to contributing to social change.

Candidates should share the Foundation’s mission and be motivated by the opportunity to use all of its assets—financial, reputational, and strategic—to create long-term impact. The Foundation is looking to appoint more than one Trustee and welcomes expressions of interest from individuals with experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Financial management

• Social investment and/or capital market investment

• Organisational development

• Systems change

Trustees work closely with the Foundation’s executive team to advance its mission and are expected to commit an average of one day per month to Board activities.

In line with its commitment to equity and inclusion, the Foundation actively welcomes applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including underrepresented groups across age, ethnicity, geography, physical ability, and socio-economic experience.

For further information and details on how to apply, please visit the Foundation’s website.

If there are any potential barriers to participation, the Foundation encourages individuals to get in touch to discuss how these might be addressed.

British Blind Sport (BBS) is the National Disability Sport Organisation that represents blind and partially sighted people in sport. Our vision is to empower all people living with sight loss to get active and enjoy sport, whether it is taking their first steps or helping to secure talent pathways to encourage individuals to fulfil their potential. Working across both the sight loss and sport sector, we work with strategic partner organisations to fulfil our aim and, by doing so, we positively impact the lives of hundreds of people every year.

About the role:

To support this work and to help us to demonstrate our commitment to VI sport we are looking for an Independent Director to help support the Finance Director with the responsibility for Finance, Audit and Accounting.

Duties and responsibilities:

• To work with our Finance Director, advise and guide Board members and staff on Finance, Audit and Annual Accounts, as appropriate.
• Assist the Finance Director to oversee the financial affairs of the organisation and ensure they are legal, constitutional and within accepted accounting practice.
• Assist the Finance Director to ensure proper records are kept and that effective financial procedures are in place.
• Assist the Finance Director with the monitoring and reporting on the financial health of the organisation.
• Assist the Finance Director to oversee the production of necessary financial reports/returns, accounts and audits.
• To contribute actively to the board of trustees' role in giving strategic direction to the organisation. Setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets.
• To safeguard the good name and values of the organisation.
• Be a member of board sub-committees as requested by the Chair of Trustees and in relation to your expertise.

Specifically

• Liaise with the Finance Director, relevant staff, Board and committee members to ensure the financial viability of the organisation.
• Ensure that Board and committee members are aware of their financial obligations, and take a lead in interpreting financial data to them.
• To ensure that the organisation complies with its governing document, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
• Regularly report the financial position at Board meetings (balance sheet, cash flow, fundraising performance etc).
• Support the production of an annual budget and propose its adoption at the last meeting of the previous financial year.
• Ensure proper records are kept and that effective financial procedures and controls are in place.
• Assess the financial viability of plans, proposals and feasibility studies.
• Support on appointing and liaising with auditors/independent examiner.

Skills, knowledge and abilities

• Significant Financial/Accounting experience, including relevant qualifications.
• Leadership skills within this area.
• Ability to scrutinise and prepare management and annual accounts.
• To work with Auditors in the Annual Statutory Accounts process and Annual review.
• Ability to explain finances in a clear and simple way for non-financial people.
• An understanding of charitable accounts would be an advantage.

We are seeking a new Chair to provide strategic leadership at a time when demand for our advice services is at an all-time high. Help shape our vision, champion our mission, and make a tangible difference in the lives of those facing challenges.

About Citizens Advice East Berkshire
Citizens Advice East Berkshire offers crucial help and advice when people need it most. No one but Citizens Advice sees so many people with so many different kinds of problems, and that gives us a unique insight into the challenges people are facing today. 

What will you be doing?
We are at an important stage in our development and we are seeking a new Chair to replace our current Chair who will be standing down as her term finishes. We have ambitious plans for our future and we are looking for a Chair who can help drive our mission forward.

Building on our successes to date, we want a new Chair to lead us through the next exciting phase of our journey. You will have a strong background and track record of providing leadership at board and/or senior executive level and will have a passion for supporting people facing tough life challenges. You should have the judgement and vision to operate effectively at strategic level and you should demonstrate the skills and expertise to help drive our mission forward. We are looking for someone with 3 years+ professional experience in one of the fields of Fundraising strategy, Governance, Operations management or Advice / Advocacy. 

We are looking for someone who has:

• Experience of operating at a senior strategic leadership level within an organisation
• Successful track record of achievement through their career
• Experience of charity governance and working with or as part of a Board of Trustees
• Passion for supporting people facing tough life challenges
• Ideally has served as a Chair or Vice Chair and is familiar with leading a Board

What are we looking for?

You’ll need to:

• Understand the type of work undertaken by a local Citizens Advice and the Citizens Advice network
• Understand and accept the responsibilities and liabilities of a trustee
• Be non-judgmental and respect views, values and cultures that are different to your own
• Have a good basis of leadership skills (and preferably you have served within a Board, ideally as Chair or Vice Chair or led a Committee)
• Have the ability to facilitate and lead meetings
• Have good interpersonal skills
• Have good listening, verbal and written communication skills
• Be able to exercise good independent judgment
• Have good numeracy skills to understand accounts with the support of the treasurer
• Be willing to learn about and follow the Citizens Advice aims, principles and policies, including confidentiality and data protection
• Be willing to undertake mandatory training in your role
• Line manage and support the Chief Executive Officer

What difference will you make?
Citizens Advice East Berkshire makes transformational differences to people who need support when facing life crises. As Chair you will play a significant part in ensuring we are able to expand and grown our services to make a significant difference to many more individuals and families. 

Concordia offer life changing work and global volunteering opportunities. Join their Board as Chair or Trustee and help them fulfil their vision to create a world of peace, prosperity and opportunity.

Applications close at 9 a.m. Monday 20th October.

Time Commitment: Chair 2-3 days a month and Trustees 1-2 days a month

Since 1943, Concordia has helped over 750,000 people through work and volunteering programmes across the world and around the UK. They have ambitious and exciting plans to expand their programmes and grow their impact.

Concordia’s mission is to support people to thrive. They achieve this by giving people, particularly young people, transformative experiences and skills.

They help connect UK Growers with a diverse workforce from across the world. They are a trusted recruiter of seasonal workers within the UK Agriculture Industry and have a welfare-focused approach to ensure migrant workers are treated fairly.

Concordia work with over 120 UK Farms to connect over 7,500 workers from 11 countries a year, on average.

About the roles

Concordia is in an exciting period of strategic growth and change. They have ambitions to grow their impact through a new and additional strategic Pillar. This new Pillar will relate to their core purpose of giving people, particularly young people, transformative experiences and skills. Concordia’s third Pillar will support the diversification of income, expand its impact and strengthen its sustainability.

They have a strong board with diverse skills and trustees who have served multiple terms. With their ambition for expansion and strategic diversification, they need a new Chair who has the motivation, skills and commitment to lead the board and support the Executive and staff team through the next phase of their positive development and growth.

The new Chair needs to be someone with excellent chairing skills who can lead the Board and CEO through change.  Strategic knowledge and influence, and an ambitious passion for supporting young people, international development and skills development are crucial too. They need to have credibility and bring gravitas to help represent Concordia and positively grow the reputation and value of the Charity, alongside the CEO. Most importantly, they need to be values-aligned, motivated and committed to the cause of supporting people to thrive and making global connections.

Trustees will have experience in the following areas:

• Safeguarding
• Human Resources (HR) to chair HR Committee
• Finance to chair 
• Finance, Audit & Risk Committee

Who we are looking for

You will be a committed and well-motivated leader with cross-sector experience and understanding of the complexity of growing an organisation in partnership with the civil society and other partners. Experience on Boards, ideally as Chair, and a passion and willingness to learn and to develop others so that the board can thrive and support the executive and wider staff team.

All Trustees are encouraged to contribute actively to the Board of Trustees’ role in giving firm strategic direction to Concordia, in relation to specialist skills and role and setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets, and evaluating performance against agreed targets. Financial stability and protecting income, investment and the oversight of expenditure are the collective responsibilities of the board. Insuring against liability and ensuring compliance is also key. Support and line Management for the CEO is led by the Chair on behalf of the board, as is their regular performance review. The Chair also supports the recruitment and performance of Trustees.

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 20th October.

Treasurer – Role Summary

The Treasurer plays a vital role in overseeing the financial health and sustainability of the charity. They monitor financial performance and report to the Board of Trustees and Chief Officer at both Board and Finance Sub-Committee meetings. This includes detailed reporting on income and expenditure against budget, cash flow, the balance sheet, and the charity’s reserves position.

The Treasurer liaises with the charity’s external independent examiners, guiding and advising fellow trustees to ensure the formal approval of the annual report and accounts. They also ensure that the Chief Officer submits annual accounts and returns to all relevant regulatory bodies in a timely and compliant manner.

Acting as a steward of the charity’s finances, the Treasurer ensures that financial management and investment practices are responsible, legal, and aligned with accepted accounting standards. They are also responsible for ensuring the maintenance of proper financial records and the implementation of effective financial procedures.

Specific Responsibilities

• Liaise with the charity’s external bookkeepers to ensure that all financial records are accurately maintained and up to date.

• In conjunction with the bookkeepers, review and/or prepare monthly management accounts. Investigate any significant variances from the budget.

• Submit monthly management accounts and a summary of key figures to the Finance Sub-Committee. Provide written or verbal reports to the Board in advance of, or at, formal trustees’ meetings.

• Review and update the charity’s Finance Policy and Procedures on an annual basis to ensure ongoing compliance and relevance.

• Act as a countersignatory for bank payments and funding applications as required.

• Collaborate with the Chief Officer on the preparation of the annual budget, presenting a draft to the Finance Sub-Committee for review and recommending its adoption to the Board of Trustees before the start of the financial year.

• Ensure that all strategic and operational plans are financially appraised and that corresponding budgets align with both short-term and long-term objectives.

• Support the Chief Officer in ensuring compliance with the financial filing requirements of Companies House and the Charity Commission.

Join disability and education charity National Star as a Trustee, guiding the organisation as it implements its recently agreed five-year strategy.

What will you be doing?

Do you want to play your part in supporting one of the UK’s leading disability charities to achieve its ambition for growth, providing more education and long-term living opportunities for people with complex disabilities?

National Star, whose headquarters is in Gloucestershire, is seeking several people who share its vision of a world in which people with disabilities are able to realise their potential as equal and active citizens in control of their lives. As a member of the Trustee Board, you will also be a company director as the charity is also a registered company.

Ideal Trustees will:

* Adhere to the charity's values

* Have personal integrity and be able to demonstrate a passion and commitment to National Star

* Prepare and participate actively in meetings

* Work collaboratively with fellow Trustees and Governors, demonstrating empathy and awareness of the needs of others

* Have good communication skills, tact and diplomacy

* Have experience, or a willingness to learn, about strategic thinking and risk

* Have knowledge, or a willingness to learn, about issues affecting people with disabilities and the specialist education sector

* Be prepared to commit time to conduct the role well, including travel and attending events out of office hours.

What you will bring:

The charity is looking to recruit people with a broad range of experience and are particularly interested in attracting candidates with knowledge / experience of:

* Company law and the specific legal requirements for charities in special needs and social care sectors

* Marketing and communication expertise including networking and fundraising

* Business acumen with a strong financial background

National Star is a Disability Confident Employer. The charity is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all sections of the community, including those currently under-represented on o0ur Trustee Board, which includes women, people with disabilities and members of black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

The Trustee Board meets four times a year, generally during the week between 4pm – 7pm. In addition, Trustees are expected to become active members of a sub-committee. Board papers are distributed in advance to allow Trustees to prepare for each meeting.

What are we looking for?

Ideal Trustees will:

* Adhere to the charity's values of ambition, collaboration, integrity, respect and sustainability

* Have personal integrity and be able to demonstrate a passion and commitment to National Star

* Prepare and participate actively in meetings

* Work collaboratively with fellow Trustees and Governors, demonstrating empathy and awareness of the needs of others

* Have good communication skills, tact and diplomacy

* Have experience, or a willingness to learn, about strategic thinking and risk

* Have knowledge, or a willingness to learn, about issues affecting people with disabilities and the specialist education sector

* Be prepared to commit time to conduct the role well, including travel and attending events out of office hours.

We are recruiting several trustees with a range of skills.

What difference will you make?

By joining National Star's Trustee Board, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you are playing a part in the future development of one of the leading disability charities in England and Wales as well as being able to develop your own skills in board level discussions, executive decision making and strategic planning. Your fresh perspective could help the charity to see things in a different light and your professional expertise could be utilised to support our staff team in delivering our vision and values.

You will gain a broad understanding of the challenges faced by young people with complex disabilities and be able to build your professional network.

Before you apply

Please apply through Reach in the first instance providing a cover letter detailing why you are interested in this role and a CV. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete our additional application form

Join Us as a Trustee – Shape the Next 20 Years of Impact

Next year, Dorset Reading Partners proudly celebrates 20 years of transforming lives and making a real difference to the young people that we support on an on-going basis. Over two decades, we’ve achieved considerable success in helping young people develop their love of reading and schools see tangible improvement in their literacy results. Now, as we mark this milestone, we’re embarking on an exciting new chapter. With ambitious plans for growth, innovation, and deeper impact, we are looking for inspiring new Trustees to join our Board.

As a Trustee, you will:

• Play a vital role in guiding our strategy and vision for the future.
• Bring fresh perspectives and skills to help us evolve and thrive.
• Champion our mission and ensure we continue to deliver lasting change.

We’re seeking people who are passionate about our cause, committed to good governance, and excited to help shape what the next 20 years will look like. Whether you bring expertise in finance, marketing, fundraising, or digital innovation, or, simply a deep belief in our mission, your contribution will matter. If you want to be part of a charity at a pivotal moment—honouring our past while shaping a bold future - we’d love to hear from you.

This is a voluntary role - but the rewards of making a difference are priceless.

Ideally, we would like to receive expressions of interest by 30th September 2025, but we will always welcome future contact. 

We are looking for a dedicated Volunteer Treasurer to join our Board of Trustees and help guide the financial well-being of the charity as we grow and respond to increasing need. Becoming a Treasurer at Shiloh means more than just numbers. You’ll be helping us build stronger futures for some of the most vulnerable people in our community. It’s a chance to use your skills for good and to be part of a dedicated, friendly team.

As Treasurer, you will:

• Work closely with the Board, Chief Executive, and Finance Manager

• Ensure our finances remain sustainable, compliant, and transparent

• Be part of a passionate team committed to lasting change for people affected by homelessness

General Responsibilities of a Trustee

• Ensure the charity focuses on its purpose and all activities align with its aims and objectives

• Comply with the governing document and meet all legal requirements

• Act in the charity’s best interests

• Prepare for meetings, seek advice when needed, and make informed decisions

• Contribute to Shiloh’s strategy and policies, and support and guide the Chief Executive and staff team

Specific Responsibilities of the Treasurer

• Ensure the charity’s financial affairs are legal, constitutional, and in line with accepted accounting practice and Charity Commission guidelines

• Oversee accurate record-keeping and effective financial procedures and controls

• Lead the Finance Sub-Group (with the CEO and Finance Manager) to monitor financial health and report key updates at Board meetings (e.g. income/expenditure, balance sheet, cash flow, reserves)

• Oversee the timely preparation of the annual budget and recommend its adoption to the Board

• Guide trustees in assessing the financial viability of plans, proposals, and feasibility studies

• Ensure financial resources meet both present and future needs

• Maintain a robust overview of financial risks facing the charity

• Oversee the production of financial reports, returns, accounts, and independent examinations

What We’re Looking For

Knowledge and Understanding

• Experience in charity finance and fundraising

• Financial qualifications (desirable)

• Previous Treasurer experience (desirable)

• Trustee board or committee experience

• Knowledge of restricted, unrestricted, and designated funds

• Knowledge of Gift Aid

• Understanding of governance and the voluntary sector

• Awareness of the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of trusteeship

Key Skills and Abilities

• Strong analytical skills to assess proposals and financial implications

• Ability to lead Finance Sub-Group meetings ahead of Board meetings

• Availability to provide occasional ad hoc support to staff on finance-related queries

• Able to build strong relationships and act as an ambassador for Shiloh

• Collaborative team player who values diverse perspectives

Personal Attributes

• Commitment to Shiloh’s vision and values

• Good listener, open to feedback and other perspectives

• Positive, problem-solving attitude

• High integrity and commitment to the Seven Principles of Public Life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, leadership

Chair of Trustees

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic leader to take on the role of Chair of Trustees and guide a charity supporting women and children.

Position: Chair of Trustees
Location: Remote / Luton / Bedfordshire
Hours: Approx. 4 Board meetings per year plus AGM, quarterly subcommittees, strategy sessions and additional meetings with the CEO and stakeholders
Salary: Voluntary (reasonable expenses reimbursed)
Closing date:  20th October 2025

About the role

As Chair of Trustees, you will provide inclusive leadership to the Board, ensuring effective governance and long-term impact for beneficiaries. You will work closely with the Chief Executive and Executive Team, offering support and challenge in equal measure, while acting as a credible ambassador for the charity.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing strategic leadership and ensuring the Board operates within the organisation’s objectives.
• Leading governance, trustee development, recruitment and succession planning.
• Acting as an ambassador and spokesperson, building strong stakeholder relationships.
• Chairing Board meetings with impartiality and ensuring sound decision-making.
• Supporting and appraising the Chief Executive, maintaining a strong and collaborative partnerships

About you

You will bring significant leadership experience at Board or senior strategic level, ideally within the charity or public sector. You will have a strong understanding of UK charity governance, with the ability to lead diverse groups effectively and exercise sound judgement.

Key qualities include:

• A commitment to addressing violence against women and girls.
• Proven experience of chairing meetings and driving organisational strategy.
• Strong financial acumen and understanding of charity finance.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• A collaborative leadership style with a focus on equity, diversity and inclusion.

This is a voluntary position requiring time, energy and commitment. In return, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the organisation’s future and making a real difference to the lives of women and children.

About the organisation

This charity is dedicated to supporting women and children affected by domestic abuse. Through safe spaces, advocacy and specialist services, it empowers survivors to rebuild their lives and achieve independence. The organisation is values-led, inclusive and committed to making lasting social impact.

Please note: 

This position is restricted to women only as a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9 paragraph 1, Equality Act 2010

Other roles you may have experience of could include Trustee, Non-Executive Director, Board Chair, Charity Chair, Voluntary Chair, Governance Lead, Advisory Board Member.

Who They Are
YMCA Henley, founded in 1857, is a well-established charity and a Registered Provider of Social Housing. The organisation provides affordable housing for young people through 31 self-contained studio apartments and flats. In addition, the “Y-Centre” offers community activities via a purpose-built pavilion, with sporting activities centred mainly on football—at junior level on grass pitches in partnership with local organisations, and at adult level on a floodlit, all-weather playing surface.

The Role
The Honorary Treasurer applies their financial knowledge and experience to work alongside the Finance Manager in overseeing the organisation’s financial affairs. They ensure that all practices are legal, constitutional, and in line with accepted accounting standards.

The role includes ensuring compliance with the requirements of the Charity Commission and the Regulator of Social Housing. This involves reviewing financial reports, returns, and draft statutory accounts prepared by staff.

The Honorary Treasurer chairs meetings of the Finance and Development Committee, which monitors and reports to the Trustee Board on a quarterly basis. They also liaise, where necessary, with the Independent External Financial Examiner to finalise statutory accounts for presentation and approval by the Trustee Board.

A full role description is available, along with a comprehensive induction programme and potential handover.

Our Vision is for a society in which neurodivergent people are understood, accepted, treated fairly and valued. 

We are looking for new Trustees who share our Vision and Purpose: to amplify neurodivergent voices and deliver exceptional services to support children and adults.

We welcome applications from candidates who are passionate about neurodiversity, including those who can add value through lived experience.  

We are particularly keen to hear from candidates with senior-level strategic experience and knowledge in: 

• The Scottish Education Sector or Health Sector, preferably with understanding and a track record in commissioning services 

• Finance, Investment and Assurance 

Previous or current experience of working as a non-executive director is also preferred. 

Becoming a Trustee at the Donaldson Trust offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact, contribute to strategy development, further develop your governance and strategic leadership skills, being part of bringing different perspectives together to enhance our work, help influence systemic change and improve lives.

The commitment is to attend four Board meetings per year in person and four Committee meetings per year which take place remotely. All meetings are in the evenings, and there is one annual Strategy Day. The positions are non-remunerated. 

Closing date: Monday 22nd September 2025 

Informal interviews: Friday 3rd October 2025 

TREASURER (TRUSTEE)

Every 6 minutes someone learns that they are losing their sight. Every five hours, a baby is born with sight problems. In these moments, two profound questions emerge:

• Can this be stopped?

• How do I (or my child) live this life?

Our charity exists to address both questions. We are the only significant national funder with the efficiency, capability, and capacity to increase investment in medical research and social improvement. Together we can mitigate both the prevalence and impact of sight loss. We have a clear ambition – to save sight and to change lives.

We are now seeking a new Treasurer. This is an exciting point for us, and our new Treasurer will be central in enabling us to achieve our ambition.

We have a clear focus and vision, as well as a strong Board and senior leadership team, all of whom are ambitious for the potential impact we can make. We do not want this opportunity to pass us by and that’s what makes this such an important and exciting role for the right person.

As a trustee, you will have the opportunity to steer the course of our charity and our sector, shaping our strategies, and advocating for meaningful change. You will be help us be a driving force behind world leading research into sight loss prevention, and transformative initiatives that enhance the quality of life for countless individuals.

If you want to be part of something that will really make a difference, we’d love to hear from you.

“I extend a heartfelt invitation to those who share our commitment to making a profound difference in the lives of individuals affected by sight loss. Our journey towards a future where eye diseases are prevented and the challenges faced by the visually impaired are overcome requires the collective effort of dedicated individuals. We are seeking trustees who are not only passionate advocates for our cause but also possess the vision, expertise, and dedication to guide and govern our organisation. Your unique perspectives and skills will play a pivotal role in shaping and defining our impact for years to come.”

Dr Heather Giles, Chair

ABOUT US

Our single, unifying mission is to save sight and change lives.

It is a mission that reflects two urgent questions everyone faces when they receive a diagnosis of sight loss: ‘How do I stop this?’ and ‘How do I live my life?’

Answering these questions guides our strategy as we progress a five-year plan with solid and lofty aspirations.

Our principal role is as a grant-maker. We award grants to the scientific community that could lead to scientific breakthroughs and treatments to stop eye diseases from progressing. In the future, we believe research can prevent people from losing sight and reverse sight loss. We invest to advance treatments that will cure eye disease and protect and grow the community of world-class scientists, technologists, and data scientists who can deliver tomorrow’s breakthroughs.

We have funded innovations that directly impact people who are blind or partially sighted, from music classes for children to projects that take eye tests into at-risk communities. We invest in programmes, organisations and activities that deliver equity for and with blind and visually impaired people.

OUR FINANCES

The charity is in a strong position financially, with a high level of reserves that we intend to draw down over the coming years as we focus on investing in sustainable growth and increasing our impact. Compared to many charities, we have well diversified income streams, predictable costs, and are in the fortunate position to hold a sizable portfolio of investments. Our plans for the short and medium term are to invest in our income generation infrastructure, and to significantly increase the amounts of funding we can put to our charitable purpose.

ROLE DESCRIPTION

As the most senior leaders in our charity, trustees play a pivotal role in guiding our strategic direction, amplifying our impact, and ensuring the fulfilment of our mission to save sight and change lives. You will serve on the main board and will also chair our Finance, Audit, Risk & Resources (FARR) committee.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership & Planning

- Provide leadership and strategic guidance to the charity, aligning efforts with the mission and values of the organisation.

- Collaborate with the board, executive team, and stakeholders to develop and implement long-term strategies that advance the charity’s impact and sustainability.

Governance

- Ensure effective governance, decision-making, and compliance with legal and ethical standards.

- Work closely with board members, fostering a culture of transparency, accountability, collaboration and open communication, harnessing different views and opinions.

Engagement

- Represent the charity at public events and networking opportunities to promote our mission and raise awareness about our cause.

Evaluation and Accountability

- Collaborate with the board to evaluate performance, ensuring alignment with the charity’s goals and objectives.

- Ensure the charity is accountable to donors and beneficiaries, that is financially robust and sustainable, and that is effective risk management in place.

Key Responsibilities of the Treasurer

- Chair the Finance, Audit, Risk & Resources Committee, ensuring effective scrutiny and oversight.

- Provide strategic financial leadership and ensure that appropriate financial controls and risk management frameworks are in place.

- Ensure compliance with statutory reporting and regulatory requirements in partnership with the executive.

- Act as a trusted advisor to the Chief Financial Officer and offer guidance to fellow trustees on financial matters.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Specialist experience

We are particularly interested in candidates who have:

- A recognised financial qualification (e.g. ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)

- Experience of senior financial leadership – ideally as a CFO, COO, FD, or equivalent

- A sound understanding of finance, audit, and investment management

General attributes

Knowledge & experience

- An understanding of governance, and experience on a committee or board.

Skills & abilities

- Strategic thinking and the ability to contribute to long-term planning and vision to deliver impact.

- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences.

- Entrepreneurial instincts and a healthy understanding of risk balanced with ambition using sound judgement.

Styles & behaviours

- High ethical standards and commitment to upholding the charity’s values, as well as a passion for advocating on behalf of individuals with, or at risk of, sight loss.

- Collaborative, highly inclusive, fostering trust and valuing difference perspectives.

- Solution-focused, with an ability to see the big picture and be pragmatic.

TERMS OF APPOINTMENT

Remuneration 

This role is not accompanied by any financial remuneration, although reasonable expenses may be claimed.

Time commitment

While the exact time commitment may vary based on the charity’s needs and priorities, we anticipate the following general expectations:

- A minimum of four Board meetings per year

- A minimum of four subcommittee meetings per year

- Preparation for meetings, review of materials, and other trustee engagement as appropriate.

- Annual strategy day with full Board and executive team.

- Meetings with members of the executive leadership team as appropriate.

- Representing the charity at high profile events, functions and public engagements to enhance its reputation and partnerships.

Location

At present Board meetings are held in central London. Subcommittee meetings are held remotely.

HOW TO APPLY

If you have questions about the role and would find it helpful to have an informal conversation, please contact us at our trustee recruitment inbox and we will be happy to arrange a call.

To make an application, please send your CV and a supporting statement (max two pages) to our trustee recruitment inbox outlining your motivation for applying and how you meet the attributes outlined in the personal specification.

We hope you will consider making an application. Together, we can achieve extraordinary things.