Are you passionate about the natural world and inspiring others to engage with it?
Join us as a Trustee at the Field Studies Council and help shape the future of environmental education.
- You can be based anywhere in the UK
- You’ll need to commit approx. 10 days a year
- It’s a voluntary position but reasonable expenses are reimbursed
About Us
Field Studies Council is an environmental education charity. For over 80 years, we've been inspiring people to understand and care for the natural world. Through our network of centres across the UK, we provide fieldwork and outdoor learning experiences for all ages — from school groups and university students to families and lifelong learners.
We are a leader in biodiversity training, the publisher of best-selling wildlife ID guides, and a champion for accessible outdoor education, particularly for disadvantaged young people. Our mission is simple but vital: to create outstanding opportunities that inspire everyone to engage with and care for the environment.
Your Opportunity to Make a Difference
We’re currently looking to appoint four new Trustees to bring fresh perspectives and help us grow in diversity, representation and expertise. As a Trustee, you'll help guide and shape our charity’s future.
While the day-to-day running of our charity is handled by our staff and volunteers, the Board of Trustees plays a key role in making sure everything stays on track.
That includes overseeing our work, making big-picture decisions, and ensuring we meet our legal and regulatory responsibilities. It’s an important role, but you won’t be doing it alone. You will:
- Provide strategic oversight and guidance to support our mission and values
- Use your insight and experience to influence decisions that impact tens of thousands of learners annually
- Act as an ambassador for environmental education and social inclusion
- Contribute to Board and committee meetings, and participate in key annual activities including visiting one of our field centres each year to see our work in action
- Use your knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm to help us innovate, grow, and reach more people
Who We’re Looking For
You don’t need to be an academic, ecologist or environmentalist to join us or have charity trustee, company director or equivalent experience — we welcome applicants from all walks of life. We are especially interested in candidates with skills in:
- Charity governance
- Finance (qualified professionals – potential Honorary Treasurer role)
- Fundraising & stakeholder engagement
- Marketing & communications
Above all, we want individuals who are:
- Passionate about equal access to outdoor learning
- Ready to speak up and bring a new perspective
- Willing to give their time and energy to support the Field Studies Council
We’re committed to building a Trustee board that is inclusive, representative, and reflective of the diverse communities we serve.
We warmly encourage applications from individuals who are underrepresented in charity governance — including people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, LGBTQIA+ communities, young people, and those with lived experience of social or economic disadvantage.
If you're excited by our mission and ready to help others experience the power of nature, we’d love to hear from you.
What’s Involved
- Approx. 10 days per year commitment for an initial 3-year term (this includes board and committee meetings, and a centre visit)
- Most meetings are held virtually, with one in-person event annually
- All reasonable expenses are covered
- Appropriate training and support will be provided
Please download the Trustee Candidate Information Pack to learn more and take the next step in helping us connect people with the natural world
Registered Charity 
101 - 500
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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!
Become our Trustee Tresurer and chair our Finance Committee.We need a Trustees with energy, enthusiasm and commitment to help accelerate our influcence on wildlife and nature recovery issues in the country and beyond.
With a refreshed 3-year strategy (23-26), “A Wilder Herefordshire, More Nature Everywhere” we’re working hard to recover nature at scale through deeper collaborations, working with local community organisations and networks to develop a clear plan for nature’s recovery. We are also working with neighbouring Wildlife Trusts, river partnerships and national partners such as the Woodland Trust, National Trust, and Duchy of Cornwall.
So, with lots happening, it’s an exciting if challenging time for the Trust. Urgent action is needed to address the decline of wildlife in our beautiful county – and we need to muster all the resources and skills we can to succeed.
We are a welcoming board who support and challenge each other to do better for wildlife.
We look to recruit trustees from a range of backgrounds, life stages and skills to join us.
At this time, we wish to recruit someone to take on the role of Treasurer, and chair our Finance Committee. You would need the following skills and qualities:
· A strong commitment to wildlife conservation and the Vision of the Trust;
· Demonstrable experience of financial management;
· The skills to analyse proposals and examine their financial consequences;
· A good understanding of governance, gained either as a Trustee of another charity, a director of a company, or as a manager who has worked with Boards;
· The ability to apply clear logical thinking and creativity to developing our strategy
If you are successful, you will be welcomed and supported by a talented and committed board of trustees, a strong and experienced staff team and an active and expanding band of volunteers and by the wider Wildlife Trust movement. We hope you are inspired to apply, and we look forward to hearing from you.
Alison McLean OBE, Chair, March 2025
