Recruitment support volunteer volunteer roles in sheldon, west midlands

Teach First is a charity that believes education is the most powerful tool to help a child fulfil their potential. We find and train change-makers to teach in the schools that need them most; we equip school leaders with evidence-led training; we support local teacher training providers; and we plug education leaders into supportive professional networks. We are a movement, working within the classroom and beyond, to bring an end to educational inequality. Because a child’s future shouldn’t depend on their postcode. 

Teach First Board of Trustees 

Chaired by Dame Vivian Hunt, our Board of Trustees is responsible for the governance of Teach First, ensuring it is run in accordance with our Charity Articles and the law. Our Trustees are all non-executives, who volunteer their time to support our work. 

Trustees meet regularly as the Board of Trustees to focus on strategy, performance and assurance and to make decisions in relation to: 

• the long-term strategic direction of the Charity, ensuring delivery of its objectives and ongoing public benefit 

• the Charity’s financial and other resources, ensuring these are adequate, managed appropriately and that the Charity remains solvent 

• implementing policies, controls and activities which will support the Charity’s objectives; and 

• compliance with relevant laws and regulation. 

Trustee role description 

The Board of Trustees is looking to appoint a Trustee with: 

• Strategic understanding of the education policy landscape and the research and evidence base needed to drive education system change, with the ability to influence and activate decision-makers. 

• Influence and experience in building networks to deliver and scale impact across the sector. 

• A commitment to, and experience working towards, Teach First’s charitable mission to end educational inequality. 

This Trustee would be expected to: 

• attend and participate in regular Board of Trustees meetings (usually four per year, plus an extended meeting to focus on strategy at the beginning of each academic year)

• attend and participate in meetings of the Education Committee (usually four per year), a formal sub-committee of the Board of Trustees, which advises the Board on Teach First’s education strategy and provides assurance to the Board on the quality and impact of the Charity’s educational activities 

• provide strategic advice and support to members of the senior management team in a non-Executive capacity 

• participate in the recruitment of Executive roles, when necessary, and provide support in hearing appeals from trainees 

• declare any interests (financial or otherwise) which give rise to an actual or perceived conflict with the business of the Board. 

Board meetings are held in person, either at Teach First’s London office or in a school setting. Sub-committee meetings usually take place online. 

The time commitment for this non-remunerated role is approximately one day per month, including preparation for meetings. 

In addition to attendance at formal Board and sub-committee meetings, there are opportunities for Trustees to be involved in the day-to-day work of the Charity in support of its objectives e.g. fundraising activity, meeting with supporters, attending events, joining working groups looking at new areas of strategic activity or acting as mentors to senior employees. 

Appointments to the Board of Trustees shall be for a period of three years, renewable up to a maximum of nine years served. Most Trustees will serve two three-year terms. 

Our governance structure 

The Board has three permanent sub-committees, each providing oversight of, and advice on, a defined area of the Charity’s work. Sub-committee membership comprises Trustees, Teach First Ambassadors (alumni of its programmes), and, in some cases, external members, who are co-opted on the basis of their expertise in a particular field. 

The Board has an Education Committee, a Finance, Risk and Audit Committee (FRAC), and a Nominations Committee. Nominations Committee is responsible for the composition of the Board and its sub-committees. 

If you would like to be considered for this important role at Teach First, please submit a CV and Cover Letter detailing your experience and suitability.

We expect to hold Formal interviews and informal conversations from 30th June – 11th July 2025, with induction beginning in July and August 2025.

We are seeking a trustee with a finance and/or accounting background who will work with the Board of Trustees and Management to ensure the charity's financial viability.  There is also a more ‘hands-on’ function managing the charity’s investments and cash deposits. 

The Treasurer will maintain an overview of the organisation’s finances, ensuring financial viability, advising and guiding on financial requirements and best practice and providing advice, assistance and information to Trustees (Committee Members) on their financial stewardship responsibilities. 

This is an exciting time to be joining UoGSU as we are implementing our new strategy. As an organisation we have been focused on communities, change and the education of our members.

We are looking for a trustee with experience and expertise in finance – this trustee will sit on our Audit and Risk committee. You will be a qualified accountant with experience of financial management, governance and oversight and an understanding of financial audit best practice. Previous experience of Audit and Risk committee work is of interest but not essential.

The individual appointed as trustee will need to be sympathetic to the aims of the SU and more generally share a commitment to the broader values of the student movement; student representation, student rights and the student experience – and the importance of students having a platform to organize together to help make these values a reality.

The role requires a careful balance; trustees need to respect the democratic will of the membership where possible but also be willing to think creatively, challenge constructively and point out potential risk. The Board is comprised of External Trustees, Officer Trustees and Student Trustees and oversees the work of a team of permanent staff a led by the Chief Executive.

An eye for detail to ensure the SU is being well governed and the ability to see future opportunities are also important.

The role is to serve on the board of trustees. Each term lasts 3 years and trustees can serve a maximum of 2 consecutive terms. Extensions are dependent on re-election to the board.

General candidate requirements:

All candidates will need to be comfortable reading and understanding financial information (or be willing to learn more about this aspect of the role). They should also have the following:

- An understanding of business management.
- A willingness and ability to devote the necessary time and effort to attend board andother meetings, including preparing and reading for those meetings.
- A willingness to speak their mind and contribute.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Analytical ability and good independent judgement.
- An understanding and acceptance of the role of a Charity’s Board of Trustees (including the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of Trusteeship).
- A commitment to act in accordance with the Nolan principles for ethical conduct in public service and the SU own values.

Desirable but not essential:

-Recent experience of the higher education sector or of Students’ Unions.
-Experience or knowledge of board governance.

Commitment required

Board Meetings: There are 5 scheduled hybrid meetings each year, usually held early evening and lasting 2 to 2.5 hours, with extra meetings added if required (although this is rare). Each meeting will have associated reading and preparation work. Meetings are usually conducted face-to-face, but trustees may participate remotely depending on their schedule and other commitments.

Sub-committees: All trustees sit on a remote board sub-committee – the Audit & Risk or People Committee. These committees usually meet up to 4 times each year and are scheduled to fit trustee availability.

Board members will also need to be available to approve decisions electronically between meetings if required.
If feasible, Board members are also encouraged to visit the SU and observe major events such as Welcome.

What does a Trustee look like? 

Look in the mirror!  

Right now, less than 3% of charity Trustees are under 30, 8% are people of colour and 36% are women. We are looking for people from across the UK and are keen to recruit trustees from all nations in the UK.

We value the many skills and experiences that you can bring to the Marine Conservation Society. We are committed to a Board culture that enables everyone to be their authentic selves and to enjoy the Trustee experience.

It’s a critical time for our ocean. There is not a moment to waste. Our goal is to recover the health of our ocean so it can help with healing our climate; to make seas protected in law to be protected in practice; and to stop the tide of plastic that’s getting into our waters. By joining as a Trustee, you will help navigate us through the risks and opportunities that we meet.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion are essential to achieving ocean recovery so everyone can expect to be treated with consideration and respect in an atmosphere without prejudice, discrimination, harassment or violence. 

What we’re looking for 

We’re looking for people to join our Board with expertise in one or more of the following areas – click on the links for a fuller description:

• Governance/Legal – expected to be a legal professional with experience in charity, company or regulatory law. 

• Marine Conservation – knowledge of the marine environment, with policy and/or practical experience of conservation. A network of contacts across the marine sector, particularly with business or government, would be an advantage.

What you can bring to our Board can be just as interesting as where you’ve been working. Ideally, you will have the relevant skills and experience set out in the profile but you should not feel prevented from applying if you do not have experience across all criteria. You do not need to have previous charity trustee experience, but you will need to be comfortable participating at a senior level with complex discussions and the need to be comfortable making pragmatic but key decisions.