The Vacancy
Do you have a keen interest in current affairs and want to bring your wide experience of the Methodist Church to support its involvement in ecumenical social justice, policy and political work?
The Joint Public Issues Team is a partnership between the Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Churches. It help the Churches to work together for peace and justice through listening, learning, praying, speaking and acting on public policy issues.
We are now searching for a new Methodist member of the Strategy and Policy Group which oversees the team’s work, and facilitates the working together of the denominations to achieve JPIT’s purposes.
The SPG currently holds five meetings a year, comprising one 24-hour residential with the whole staff team, two half-day hybrid meetings (where members are on site together in London or online), and two shorter online-only meetings.
About You
As one of two Methodist members of SPG, you’ll contribute to the discussions and decision-making of the group, and collectively support JPIT in effectively enabling the Churches to speak and act prophetically and prayerfully on key issues of justice and peace. You’ll need to bring a deep and current understanding of the Methodist Church in Britain, through significant experience of involvement in the Church at district and/or Connexional levels.
This is a rewarding opportunity for a Methodist member to play a significant role in the public witness and justice work of the Methodist Church, working with ecumenical colleagues. You are encouraged to apply if you feel that overall your skills and experience meet the person specification requirements. We particularly welcome applications from people of Black, Asian and other Minority Ethnic groups (BAME), as they are currently under-represented within the SPG.
Closing date: 8 March 2026
Interview date: TBC (online)
The calling of the Methodist Church is to respond to the gospel of God's love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission.
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!
Location: UK - Wide (meetings mainly in person, some virtual)
Contract Type: Volunteer
Term: 3 years (with potential renewal)
Campaign Closes:19th February 2026
Interviews: W/C 9th March & 16th March 2026 – Trustee/SLT interviews
W/C 16th March or 23th March 2026 – STARboard interviews
31st March 2026 (approximately) – Recommendation expected
6th May 2026 – Final Board approval
Join Our Board as a Trustee – Make-A-Wish UK
At Make‑A‑Wish UK, we create joy, hope and life‑changing moments for children facing critical illness. We are seeking an inspiring Chair of the Board to provide strategic leadership, champion our mission and ensure strong governance as we work towards our vision: a wish for every eligible child.
Why join us?
- Shape the strategic direction of a national charity transforming the lives of children with critical illness.
- Lead a purpose‑driven, inclusive board, ensuring diverse voices including young people influence decision‑making.
- Use your experience where it matters most, providing governance, stewardship and support to an ambitious executive team.
- Be part of a deeply rewarding mission, helping ensure every eligible child can experience the power of a wish.
If you are ready to make a lasting impact and lead with purpose, we would love to hear from you.
For the full recruitment pack, and to apply for this role, please visit our website.
Requirments
Essential Criteria
- Leadership Experience: Demonstrable experience of chairing boards, committees, or senior leadership teams, ideally within the charity or non-profit sector.
- Governance Knowledge: Strong understanding of charity governance, legal responsibilities of Trustees, and regulatory environment in the UK.
- Strategic Thinking: Proven ability to drive organisational strategies and build commitment to a collective vision.
- Communication Skills: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to facilitate balanced discussions and consensus.
- Commitment to Diversity: Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of the charity’s work.
- Passion for Mission: a deep commitment to Make-A-Wish UK’s vision, values and behaviours.
- Integrity: Highest standards of integrity, probity, and professionalism
Desirable Criteria:
- Experience of leading transformational change to significantly increase reach and scale in operations
- Strong personal networks that can benefit the charity
- Understanding of the challenges facing children with critical illnesses and their families
Personal Attributes
- A child focused approach always
- A consultative, inclusive, and collaborative style of leadership with the ability to listen and engage effectively
- Strong inter-personal and relationship building abilities, including empathy and sensitivity, especially when interacting with wish families and children
- Sound judgement and decision-making ability.
- Ability to commit time to the role, including travel and attending events out of office hours
Eligibility
The successful candidate must be eligible to act as a Trustee under UK charity law and willing to undertake an Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check.
Responsibilities:
- Leadership and Governance: Provide strategic leadership to the Board, ensuring effective governance practices and compliance with statutory responsibilities.
- Board Meetings: Chair Board meetings, ensuring clear agendas, productive discussions, and timely decision-making.
- Strategic Direction: Work collaboratively with the Chief Executive and Trustees to set and review the charity’s strategic objectives and performance.
- Support and Supervision: Provide guidance and support to the Chief Executive, undertaking annual appraisals and ensuring their continued development as an effective leader.
- Board Development: Lead on Trustee recruitment, induction, and ongoing development, reviewing board effectiveness and taking actions for continuous improvement
- Promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in all the charity’s activities and ensuring that diverse voices, including those of young people and lived experience, are heard by the Board.
- Risk and Compliance: Oversee the charity’s risk management, ensuring that policies and procedures are robust and regularly reviewed.
- Financial Oversight: Ensure the Board fulfils its duties regarding financial stewardship, budgeting, and monitoring performance against objectives
- Advocacy: Champion the charity’s values and mission, advocating for Make-A-Wish UK within the sector and the wider community. Represent Make-A-Wish UK externally, fostering relationships with stakeholders, donors, and partners.
Together, we create joy, happiness and magical memories through life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Do you have a passion to make a difference in the lives of children and families? Spurgeons is seeking new trustees to join our current Board in bringing prayerful wisdom and strategic guidance over the coming years.
Spurgeons is one of the UK’s leading children’s charities, supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged children and their families for 150 years. Inspired by Christian faith and our founder Charles Spurgeon, we’re here for all families. Together, we create family hubs where we’re needed most, with counselling, early years and family support. We partner with local councils, churches and communities to care for every family, putting children and young people first in everything we do. Our services also include parenting support and resources, mental health support for children and young people, and working with families affected by domestic abuse and imprisonment.
These services are needed more than ever, and our current strategy focuses on growth, innovating in partnership with churches, developing online family hubs to expand our reach and ensuring fundraising is a strategic priority. We are ambitious and hopeful about how we can grow to make a significant impact on many more children’s lives in the future.
To support Board succession planning, we are seeking to appoint five new trustees with a range of skills and experience including:
· Fundraising and marketing
· Finance
· Children’s services e.g. senior leadership experience within social services, the care sector, local authorities, health, education, or charitable contexts
· Safeguarding
· Cultural change and transformation
Given an occupational requirement for these roles to be filled by Christians, we are seeking candidates with a personal and active Christian faith who are comfortable and aligned with the statement of faith outlined on our website.
In order to build on our Baptist heritage, we are also keen to ensure that at least one of our trustees is a member of, or has a connection with, the Baptist church.
Spurgeons values diversity, promotes inclusion, and encourages applications from a diverse range of candidates, including those with lived experience of children’s support services. We recognise the need to increase the diversity of the Board, for example in terms of age, ethnicity, disability, gender and LGBTQ+ representation.
In terms of location, at present, Board meetings take place in London and committee meetings take place virtually via Teams.
For further information, including full details of how to apply, please see our Appointment Details Pack which can be downloaded from the application resources/ supporting documents section below. Application is by submission of CV and cover letter via email to Laura Bagley at Macaulay Search (please see Appointment Details Pack for contact details).
The closing date for applications is 9am on Monday 2nd March 2026.
We create family hubs where we’re needed most, so, when a family member needs support, turn to us.


