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We are seeking an inspiring and strategic individual to lead our Board of Trustees as Chair. This is an exciting opportunity to join an organisation committed to ensure the voices of long term prisoners are heard, and to enable them to realise their potential.
The Chair is responsible for leading the Board of Trustees, ensuring that it fulfils its responsibilities for the governance of the organisation. The Chair’s role is also to work in partnership with the CEO, helping them achieve the aims of the organisation and to optimise the relationship between the Board and staff. (See also the Charity Commission’s Essential Trustee Guidance)
Key responsibilities
Strategy, Governance, and Financial Management
- Lead the Board in providing strategic direction to the Hardman Trust.
- Ensure, with Trustees, that the organisation operates efficiently and effectively to fulfil its objectives in compliance with relevant charitable and company legislation.
- Maintain careful oversight of any risk to reputation and/or financial standing of the charity and ensure that the Board regularly monitors that systems are in place to take advantage of opportunities and manage and mitigate the risks.
- Ensure that the Board fulfils its duties to ensure sound financial health of the charity, with systems in place to ensure financial accountability.
Board Leadership
- Ensure a high performing and effective Board through review of Board structure, Trustees and Board performance.
- Enhance the overall contribution of the Board, through mentoring of other Board members and encouraging participation in training/coaching/development.
- Review and ensure Trustees have the right skillsets, training and development to support effective governance of the organisation.
- Chair Board meetings inclusively, bringing impartiality and objectivity in the decision making process.
Support to Hardman Trust CEO
- Line manage The Hardman Trust CEO including annual performance reviews and regular check-ins.
- Maintain appropriate distance between the Board and the leadership team, but where necessary, provide support and guidance on operations.
- Work with The Hardman Trust CEO to support them to achieve the aims of the charity.
General Chair responsibilities
- Where appropriate, represent the Hardman Trust at meetings and events and act as spokesperson.
- Lead the Board in fostering relationships with external partners and potential funders/donors.
Person Specification
We want our Board to look like the world we serve and to have different voices within it. We know that diverse groups of people make better decisions. We are keen to hear from people who can bring perspectives or experiences often underrepresented in charity governance and how can help us progress our vision.
Essential
- Commitment to the Hardman Trust’s aims and values.
- Prior experience as a charity trustee and solid understanding of good governance practices.
- Experience (voluntary or paid) within the criminal or social justice sector at leadership level.
- Experience of chairing meetings, committees or boards.
- Robust planning and organisational skills.
- Willingness to devote time to carry out responsibilities.
- Sound independent judgment and strategic vision; ability to think creatively and challenge constructively.
- A collegiate attitude and willingness to work with others.
- Honesty, integrity and commitment to act in the best interest of the charity at all times.
Desirable
- Previous experience as a Chair in the charity sector.
- Expertise of lived experience of the justice system.
- Experience of charity fundraising and/or grant making.
- Understanding of the needs of people serving long sentences and of the systemic issues within our justice system .
- Experience of building partnerships and networks.
- Experience of public speaking and willing to represent the Hardman Trust externally.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
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.
Join Richmond Foundation as a Non-Trustee Grants Committee Member and help shape a fairer, healthier future for our community.
Richmond Foundation is a long-established local charity with a proud history of supporting residents through grant-making, property management, and community initiatives. We are seeking new Non-Trustee (volunteer) members to join our Grants Committee and contribute to our vision: Everyone in Richmond has opportunities to build healthy and fulfilling lives.
Who We’re Looking For
We want to add Non-Trustee members to our Grants Committee to increase the breadth of knowledge and to provide different fresh perspectives into our grant making. We welcome applications from individuals who share our values of integrity, excellence, collaboration, agility, and ambition.
We are aiming to have six members of the Grants Committee with at least one being a non-trustee member, who will participate alongside our Trustees.
Our goal is to recruit people from a wide range of backgrounds, with different expertise, experience and knowledge. We want to make our committees more diverse and representative of the groups and people we support. You can read more about our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion here.
We are keen to receive applications from people who:
- Are aged between 16 and 35
- Are from lower-income socio-economic backgrounds
- Have lived experience relevant to our work
- Are disabled or have a long-term health condition
- Are from communities experiencing racial inequity
We are committed to creating an inclusive recruitment process and are happy to provide reasonable adjustments to support applicants at any stage.
The role of a Non-Trustee Grants Committee Member
This is an exciting opportunity to work closely with the Richmond Foundation team to participate in important decisions around awarding funding and to influence policy and strategic direction.
Terms of appointment
Appointments will be for a two-year term, with the possibility of renewing for an additional two-year term.
You will need to:
- Uphold Richmond Foundation’s vision, mission, objectives, and values
- Attend at least four Grants Committee meetings per year at our central Richmond location (1.5 hours from 5:00pm to 6:30pm)
- Prepare for meetings by reading all relevant documentation and reviewing minutes
- Attend relevant training and at least one event/visit hosted by a grant-funded organisation each year
- Attend our annual AGM meeting in November
Responsibilities include:
- Provide strategic direction and expert guidance on our developing grants portfolio
- Maintain oversight of grant giving activities to ensure: it is in line with our strategic objectives and within agreed budget; grant giving practices are in line with agreed policy, legislation and good practice
- Receive and feedback on impact and other reporting
- Provide support and challenge to the Grants Director and team
- Occasionally attending internal briefings and training and other relevant external events on behalf of Richmond Foundation
- Contribute relevant specialist experience
General experience:
- Contribute to the discussions and decision-making that take place during meetings from a general point of view, as someone who has knowledge and experience relevant to the work of the committee
- A keen interest and understanding of the charitable sector
- An understanding of, and commitment to, safeguarding and diversity, equity and inclusion in the charitable sector and how this relates to grant-making
- Ability to take an independent view which varies from that of other committee members
- Relevant knowledge, perspective, insight, and understanding gathered through lived experience
To support you, we will:
- Provide background information to be discussed in an introductory session and supported by the Trustee and Committee Member Handbook
- Give initial training about Richmond Foundation and our grantmaking, with further training and support to enable you to fully take part in committee meetings
- Ongoing annual training and access to document library
- Link you with a Richmond Foundation Trustee who will act as a buddy. Before each committee meeting, they will offer support with preparing for the meeting and discuss any key issues with you
- Cover reasonable childcare, carer and travel costs if these are required to enable you to attend committee meetings
How to Apply
If you are interested in making a difference in Richmond and can contribute your time and expertise to help us deliver our charitable objectives, we would love to hear from you.
Full details, person specification and requirements, and application instructions are available in the Non-Trustee Grants Committee Member Recruitment pack.
Richmond Foundation are hosting a Webinar and Q+A for interested applicants on 18 March 2026. This will be an opportunity to learn more from our CEO, Chair and Trustees and ask questions. Details will be posted on our website.
The application deadline is 10:00am on Monday 13 April 2026
Interviews: Scheduled in May/June 2026
Term Commences: 23 September 2026 (with a short induction period beforehand)
Registered Charity
6 - 10
Our vision is that everyone in Richmond has opportunities to build healthy and fulfilling lives.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Inclusive Boards is delighted to be supporting The Girls’ Network in the search to appoint their next Chair and two Trustees.
About The Girls’ Network
At The Girls’ Network, we believe that no girl should have her future limited by her gender, ethnicity, background or parental income.
Young people from lower-income families are significantly less likely to go on to higher education than their wealthier peers, which can have a lifelong impact on opportunity and earning potential. Recent years have also seen inequalities deepen and young people’s wellbeing adversely affected, particularly following the Covid-19 pandemic. These structural and social barriers disproportionately affect girls and young women from communities of least advantage.
We exist to challenge this inequality. Our mission is to inspire and empower girls and young women from underrepresented backgrounds to realise their ambitions, discover their self-worth, and develop the confidence and capacity to shape their own futures.
We work in communities of least advantage across England to deliver programmes that provide long-term, meaningful support.
About the Opportunities
The Girls’ Network is seeking a new Chair of Trustees to lead and support The Girls’ Network through their exciting next phase of growth, supporting an exceptional, values-driven team and ensuring they remain ambitious, accountable and true to their founding mission.
We are particularly interested to hear from candidates with:
- Experience of strategic leadership and governance within a complex organisation.
- Experience or understanding of the education / schools landscape.
- Good understanding of voluntary sector governance, funding and finance management.
- Thorough understanding of the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of trusteeship.
- Demonstrable financial and commercial acumen, including experience in financial planning, oversight, risk management, and the establishment and monitoring of systems of control and accountability.
- A track record of driving innovation and organisational change, with the ability to apply insight to support the charity’s achievement of its strategic objectives.
- Experience of working across sectoral boundaries, leveraging partnerships and opportunities.
The Girls’ Networks is also seeking two talented and committed Trustees to join their Board. We are particularly interested in hearing from candidates with experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Fundraising
- IT and digital
We are also seeking Trustees from the North East, Merseyside, West Midlands who can bring their lived experience to add value to the Board. We also encourage applications from young Trustees and will support first-time Trustees to bring their valuable perspectives to the Board.
Thank you!
About Proteus
Proteus is an award-winning theatre company that believes the audience is as vital as the artist. The company holds that truly dynamic and relevant theatre emerges when audience and artist inspire each other’s imagination. Quality, integrity, and innovation lie at the heart of Proteus’ work and form the criteria by which its success is measured. Founded in 1981 and based in Basingstoke, Hampshire, Proteus has a long-standing history of creating and presenting high-quality work that serves both local and national audiences.
The Role
Proteus is actively seeking new members to join its Board of Trustees, offering the opportunity to make a meaningful impact. The company is committed to transforming society through radical acts of kindness and believes in the universal value of the performing arts. Trustees will support Proteus’ mission to make culture thrive within the local community while helping to deliver theatre that tours across the UK.
Trustees contribute to creating innovative theatre and support leading artists working in the performing arts today. They help bring diverse forms of art—including theatre, circus, music, spoken word, visual art, cabaret, and film—to Basingstoke communities at accessible prices.
Beyond producing touring theatre, Proteus operates as a non-profit organisation that runs an arts centre, artists’ studios, a gallery, a café, and a wide-ranging programme of support for artists. Trustees engage with a dynamic organisation whose activities span local and international stages.
Serving as a Trustee offers a fulfilling and enjoyable experience, providing opportunities to meet artists from across the industry, collaborate with Proteus staff and fellow board members, and help shape the future of one of the South’s most exciting arts organisations.
Who Proteus is Looking For
Proteus seeks individuals who are enthusiastic and passionate about the arts as a force for social change. Prospective trustees should share the company’s conviction in the transformative power of the arts and its commitment to inclusivity. Proteus actively encourages applications from people with diverse backgrounds, skills, and experiences.
Even those who feel they may not meet every criterion are encouraged to get in touch, as the organisation values the whole person and provides support for new trustees to develop their skills on the job.
Trustee Responsibilities
Trustees serve on a voluntary, unpaid basis. The primary purpose of the board is to ensure that Proteus achieves its objectives. Trustees are expected to:
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Attend four board meetings per year (usually via Zoom) for a minimum term of three years and participate in an annual one-day board retreat in Basingstoke.
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Attend Proteus performances and events when possible.
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Support fundraising activities where possible.
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Provide advice and guidance to staff as required.
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Commit to the mission and values of Proteus.
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Understand and accept the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of being a Trustee.
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Ensure Proteus is well-governed and complies with its constitutional and charitable objectives.
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Act as ambassadors for Proteus, opening doors and helping expand networks and contacts.
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Contribute actively to Proteus’ strategic direction and development, offering ideas, connections, and support in growing its network of partners, supporters, and donors.
