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Are you looking for a dynamic and rewarding role working for an organisation with the feminist agenda at the core of its ethos? Then Advance Charity could be the career choice for you!

Help to make a real difference to the lives of women and girls by joining the board of directors of Advance

Advance is committed to equality and diversity and aims to have a board of trustees that reflects the communities we work with. We strongly encourage applications from women including those with disabilities, from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds and those from LGBTQ+ communities.

We are looking for Trustee and Committee Chair for Fundraising, Business Development and Communications:

Role Type: Voluntary

Location: London

Renumeration: While the role of a Trustee is not remunerated, reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed.

Please note: Any offer of employment will be made subject to references, confirmation of the right to work in the UK, satisfactory DBS check and relevant legal and regulatory compliance checks.

About us

Our vision is a world where women and girls lead safe, just and equal lives.

Do you have expertise in any of these roles and a belief that your skills will contribute to the strong and effective governance of an innovative medium-sized charity?

We are looking to appoint a new Trustee to the Board with skills specifically focused on the following:

• Fundraising, Business Development and Communications

Advance is a women’s organisation, delivering systems change, and trauma and gender-informed community-based support for women and girls affected by domestic abuse, including those in contact with the criminal justice system. We work nationally through our innovative, best-practice approach and systems change initiatives. We deliver wraparound frontline services across the South and East of England, including Greater London.

Our expertise lies in decades of providing specialist support by women and for women and girls, to achieve safety, justice and equality at the intersection of domestic abuse and the criminal justice system.

Our whole-system approach is aligned with our values of collaboration and innovation, partnering with other statutory and non-statutory providers, to deliver a coordinated community and gendered response, improving access to services across the whole system, enabling consistency and continuity of support throughout a woman’s journey. Through our advocacy and awareness-raising work, we focus on systemic change and sustainable impact to meet women’s needs and improve their outcomes.

This is an exciting opportunity for you to join our experienced and committed Board.

You will join a dedicated and skilled group of Trustees and support the charity through a significant period of growth. Our staff team now includes over 150 skilled and passionate women across our programmes and our 10 womens’ centres in London and the South and East of England.

For more information and how to apply:

• Closing Date for Applications: Friday 24th October 2025

• Interviews: On a rolling basis

First-round interview, via Microsoft Teams.

Second-round interview will be in person at Advance Hammersmith

*Advance reserves the right to close the advert early, or on the appointment of a candidate.

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Under the Equality Act 2010, we are required to make any reasonable adjustments. If you have a disability as defined under this act and/or have special needs, please email the Talent Acquisition Team via the Advance website and will aim to make the necessary arrangements to accommodate your needs.

Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunities

We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and actively seek to recruit people from groups underrepresented in our current team. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay and benefits.
 

Safeguarding
Advance is committed to safeguarding and creating a culture of zero-tolerance of harm and expects all staff, including volunteers to share this commitment. We believe all individuals have the right to live their life free from violence and abuse and the right to feel and be safe. We have a suite of safeguarding policies, procedures and practice guidance, accessible to all staff, which promotes safeguarding and safer working practices across all our services and activities. When we recruit staff, we follow rigorous safer recruitment practices, this involves carrying out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, and identity checks. We ensure all staff undertake mandatory safeguarding training relevant to their role and responsibilities, to empower them to be competent and feel confident in recognising and responding appropriately to safeguarding issues and promote wellbeing.

YMCA Essex seeks two new Trustees to help shape brighter futures for young people across the county.

Location: Chelmsford

Time commitment: 1 day per month

Closing date: 9 a.m. Monday 3rd November

YMCA Essex is a much-loved local charity supporting thousands of children, young people and families every year through youth clubs, childcare, supported accommodation and family services. Their mission is simple but powerful: building lives, hope and futures.

YMCA Essex is part of the world’s oldest and largest youth movement: an inclusive Christian charity working with people of all faiths and people of none. For nearly 150 years, they have supported local communities across Essex, providing safe places, positive activities, role models and mentors for young people, and helping families through difficult times.

Guided by their values, Kindness, Fairness, Professionalism, Perseverance and Joy, they believe every person is unique and should have the chance to develop their full potential in mind, body and spirit.

They are now looking for two new Trustees to join their friendly, committed Board. This is an exciting moment to get involved as they expand their reach across Essex, develop new services, and embark on a transformational redevelopment of their Chelmsford base.

If you share their values and their passion for giving young people the best possible start in life, and you’re ready to bring your skills, ideas and energy to a collaborative Board, they would love to hear from you.

Who we are

YMCA Essex has been serving local communities since 1877. Today, they work with 2,000–3,000 young people each year through supported housing, youth groups, childcare, family support and wellbeing services.

They are part of the YMCA Federation, one of the largest youth-focused charities in the world, reaching 64 million people in 122 countries. YMCA Essex is a Christian charity, inspired by faith, hope and love, and welcoming people of all faiths and none.

At the heart of their work is the belief that every young person deserves the chance to belong, contribute and thrive. Whether it’s providing a safe home, running holiday clubs and youth sessions, supporting young carers, or offering counselling in schools, they are trusted partners helping young people unlock their potential.

About the role

As a Trustee, you’ll have the chance to shape YMCA Essex’s strategy and support its senior leadership team as they grow services, strengthen governance, and champion their mission in the community.

You might draw on your experience of:

• Leading teams or organisations, and offering strategic insight.
• Supporting and constructively challenging senior colleagues.
• Bringing sound judgement around governance, finance, or risk.
• Acting as an advocate or ambassador in your community or professional networks.

You will:

• Join quarterly Board meetings and sit on either the Finance or Governance Committee.
• Contribute around 4 hours a month, including occasional events.
• Support the CEO and leadership team as a trusted adviser and sounding board.
• Champion and celebrate the staff and volunteers who bring their mission to life.

As a Trustee, you will help YMCA Essex deliver on their mission, ensuring their services make the greatest possible difference.

Who we are looking for

YMCA Essex welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds who share its values and commitment to helping young people thrive.

The Board is particularly keen to hear from those with experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Fundraising, marketing, or communications
• Property, capital projects or stakeholder engagement
• Digital or operational leadership
• Finance or commercial management

Beyond technical skills, the Board is looking for Trustees who are:

• Collaborative, empathetic and confident in contributing to debate
• Essex-based and community-minded
• Comfortable representing YMCA Essex at events and in the community
• Willing to commit time outside meetings to support and advise the senior team

You might be a first-time trustee or bring leadership experience from another setting. What matters most is your enthusiasm for their mission and values, and your willingness to contribute your time, skills and perspective.

First-time trustees are very welcome, and full induction and ongoing support will be provided.

If you care deeply about building stronger, kinder, more hopeful communities, we would love to hear from you.

Please click 'Redirect to recruiter’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the job description and register your interest to apply.

Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Monday 3rd November.