Volunteer chair of trustees volunteer volunteer roles
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!
Youth engagement is a core part of our how we function. We have a network of paid Young Associates as well as 2 Young Trustees (under 25 years old). We are now looking to strengthen our Governance with the appointment of another Young Trustee, ideally someone with relevant lived experience and/or has participated in Youth Careers Collective programmes.
Essential criteria
- A commitment to realising Youth Careers Collective’s mission
- Experience of effective, fair and impartial decision-making
- A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to the duties of effective Trusteeship
Desirable criteria
- Experience of operating at Board or Committee level, either executive or non-executive
- Experience of strategic development and implementation
- Some experience, knowledge and understanding of the charity sector
- Some experience, knowledge and understanding of state schools and colleges
- Experience of income generation, policy, marketing and communication, or digital
We do not expect applicants to have all the above experience, and welcome first-time Trustees and will provide training and support on the role. We also welcome candidates with links to our priority area of west London, those from ethnic minority and black backgrounds, reflecting the diversity of the communities we serve, and from candidates with disabilities.
For more information please read the full recruitment pack.
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.



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.
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!
Looking for a role where you can drive forward cancer prevention and earlier diagnosis within an innovative, impact focused research charity?
The Eve Appeal is recruiting up to 3 new Trustees to the Board with additional opportunities to join other Committees of the Board such as our Finance and Audit Committee or Research Committee.
The Eve Appeal is the leading gynaecological cancer charity. There are five gynae cancers, which are womb, ovarian, cervical, vulval and vaginal cancer. Our aim is to prevent gynae cancers from developing in the first place, but if they do develop, we want to make sure they’re detected early so more people survive their diagnosis.
To make our goals a reality, we fund research in four key areas: uncovering the causes of gynae cancers, predicting a person’s risk of developing them, identifying how people can reduce their risk, and improving their detection and diagnosis.
We educate; we increase awareness and we provide free confidential and expert information through our Ask Eve nurse service.
We are now looking to strengthen our Board and are seeking candidates who share our commitment to driving forward medical research, raising awareness and promoting education around how these diseases can be diagnosed at the earliest stage or prevented.
We are committed to broadening the range of backgrounds and perspectives represented on our Board. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian, Disabled, Working Class and younger candidates, as well as individuals based outside London.
We also strongly encourage applications from people with lived experience—including patients, survivors, carers and family members. Bringing in Trustees who are expert by experience adds valuable insight and perspectives into the emotional, practical and systemic challenges faced by those affected, enriching the Board’s understanding and improving decision‑making.
We have a highly skilled Board of Trustees and are looking to broaden and strengthen skills in the following areas:
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Fundraising and philanthropic giving. We have seen incredible success with our fundraising programme in recent years and are now particularly focused on building our major gifts programme
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Digital, AI tech solutions and strategy. We are ambitious to adopt solutions across all areas of our activity that embrace digital technology
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HR / People. Experience across culture, staff and volunteer wellbeing, effective recruitment skills and organisational culture experience
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Research / medical / NHS strategy and delivery experience. Experience in the UK / and or international health sector (private, public, academic).
Becoming a Trustee
You will help lead the Board’s responsibilities across all areas of governance including strategy development and staff mentoring, evaluation and impact, ensuring donor and beneficiary aspirations, commitments and needs are met and the charity is fulfilling all of its charitable objects and agreed strategic objectives.
You will work within the legal and regulatory framework set out by the Charity Commission and will be supported by the CEO and senior staff team at Eve to enable you to do this effectively. You will have exceptional communication, interpersonal and analytical skills with the confidence and ability to ensure decisions are actioned in a timely manner.
This is a voluntary role, with reasonable expenses reimbursed. In return you’ll gain valuable experience and satisfaction, and the opportunity to develop your skills and utilise your expertise and knowledge.
People from all backgrounds are welcomed, as The Eve Appeal aspires to build a committed and diverse board that reflects our beneficiaries and communities.
To apply please submit a CV and covering letter.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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!
Our Second Home (OSH) is the UK’s youth movement of people with refugee backgrounds. We have welcomed over 600 young people from 50 countries to our activities in London, Essex and Bristol.
Mission
For young people with refugee experience to build community, become leaders and flourish into adulthood in the place they call home. Through transformative activities, our members take control of their lives and create meaningful change for themselves and their wider community.
About This Role
OSH is at a pivotal point in its development.
Over the past few years, OSH has grown from a small, founder-led organisation into a national movement with increasing reach, complexity, and ambition. Our income has risen from £250,000 to £500,000, our staff and volunteer base is expanding, and our programmes are reaching more young people than ever before.
OSH now needs confident, experienced, and future-focused governance that can support scaling while protecting the culture, values, and relational way of working that make the organisation distinctive.
Your role will involve 4 main areas:
- Board Leadership and Governance
- Strategy and Organisational Leadership
- CEO Support, Appraisal, and Accountability
- External Representation and Engagement
More information is in the recruitment pack attached.
About You
Essential
- Significant experience in organisational and strategic leadership, ideally including guiding a charity or mission-driven organisation from small to medium scale
- A proactive and forward-thinking mindset, demonstrating the ability to anticipate potential issues and risks while identifying opportunities.
- Strong understanding of good governance, with the confidence to lead a board and hold senior executives to account
- Experience of or exposure to fundraising, financial sustainability, and organisational development
- The ability to balance support and challenge, particularly in a Chair - CEO relationship
- Commitment to OSH’s mission and values, including a genuine willingness to engage with and be guided by those with lived experience of the asylum system
- Highly organised and dynamic, with the ability to prioritise the effective use of Board time, facilitate the timely and focused distribution of information, and ensure appropriate follow-up to Board decisions.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, with the emotional intelligence to lead inclusively, collaboratively, and sensitively
Desirable
- Lived experience of asylum or forced migration
- Previous experience as a Chair or Vice-Chair of a charity or similar organisation
- Experience working with youth-led or lived-experience-led organisations
- Familiarity with safeguarding in youth or community settings
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
SLOW, an award-winning charity supporting bereaved families, is excited to welcome an experienced Chair to lead our Board of Trustees, when our current Chair retires in June 2026. The appointee will be tasked with moving the organisation to the next level in delivering the sustainable growth of its bereavement services.
We’re seeking committed new trustees to help guide a small but ambitious charity supporting children and young people with cerebral palsy, ensuring our funds deliver meaningful, life-changing impact.
Our Board is made up of a small, committed group of trustees who bring a mix of professional expertise and personal connection to our cause. Together, we oversee a grant-making charity that has a long heritage and a clear ambition: to increase our income and ensure we can support more children and young people with cerebral palsy in meaningful, practical ways.
Like many small charities, our challenge is balancing strong governance with growth. We are financially stable and well run, but we want to think more strategically about our future: how we prioritise funding, how we grow awareness and income, and how we ensure every grant we make delivers real, lasting benefit for families. The new trustee will play an active role in shaping these conversations and helping the Board move confidently from steady state to sustainable growth.
The role is hands-on and collaborative. Trustees are expected to attend four board meetings a year, contribute thoughtfully to discussion and decision-making, and engage between meetings when specific issues arise. Depending on interest and experience, the new trustee may also be invited to take a lead role in an area of work or join a small working group, for example around fundraising development, investment oversight, or grant assessment.
This is an opportunity to influence how limited charitable funds are used where they matter most. Trustees are directly involved in decisions that enable children to access therapy, specialist equipment, and support that may not otherwise be available. For someone who wants to make a tangible difference, this is a role where your contribution can be clearly seen in the lives of the children and families we support.
The Board values open discussion, shared responsibility, and a supportive culture, making this an especially rewarding role for someone who wants their time and judgement to have genuine impact.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Trustee Opportunity at Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice South Lincolnshire is seeking new trustees to help shape the future of our high-performing advice charity.
With offices in Grantham, Spalding and Stamford, plus outreach centres across the region, we support a population of 225,000 people. Last year, we helped 14,000 clients with 60,000 issues and secured over £7 million of additional income for them. We are here for everyone to help people move on with their lives.
As a trustee, you’d join a well-known, respected charity, influence strategy, strengthen governance and contribute to meaningful change. This is an opportunity to share your expertise with other professional, dedicated trustees, gain valuable experience, build on your leadership and strategy skills, and increase your employability. Prior Board experience is not required.
We welcome expertise in digital media, finance, fundraising, HR, IT, law, marketing, PR, risk management, senior management, local government, or strategy.
What do you need to become a trustee?
Trustees don’t need specific qualifications, but we expect all trustees to have six core skills:
● Insight into the organisation: considering CASL’s objects and its public benefit strategically
● Challenging constructively: clarifying facts; stimulating thought
● Analysing issues: being objective; evaluating risks; using evidence; planning ahead
● Weighing up opinions: using evidence; balancing long- and shortterm; prioritising value
● Interpersonal skills: communicating clearly; listening actively; supporting a healthy culture
● Confidence and self-awareness: collaborating with others; treating everyone with respect.
The Board also values specialist skills as assets among its members:
● experience or qualifications in:
‣ business or charity leadership
‣ equity, diversity and inclusion
‣ facilitation
‣ finance and accountancy
‣ human resources
‣ IT, AI or digital media
‣ law or governance
‣ local government
‣ marketing, PR or communications
‣ risk management, or
‣ strategy development
● past experience as a client or service user of this (or a similar) organisation
● a track record of charitable fundraising, or
● being an effective chair.
Finally, competent trustees should have these six personal qualities to some extent, and demonstrate them in their behaviours:
● Committed - motivated, dedicated, persevering; plays an active role.
● Responsible - accountable, independent, reliable; accepts collective responsibility.
● Trustworthy - ethical, principled; is a critical friend and focuses on continuous improvement.
● Collaborative - team-oriented, approachable; builds relationships and seeks consensus.
● Confident - independent; contributes constructively and expresses opinions courageously.
● Thoughtful - curious, adaptable, open-minded; appropriately challenges the status quo
Please see the attached Information Pack for the Trustee Role Description and how to apply.
Also attached is the Trustee Application Pack and Trustee Recruitment Advert
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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.
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!
This is a great opportunity to develop further governance skills and experience, and help steer an important charity in the right direction.
Chairing experience required + any combination of: financial management, advocacy, HR, charities, fundraising, social prescribing, NHS, local authorities, marketing, business development, governance, strategy or legal.
About Self Help UK
Self Help UK is a leading peer support organisation with over 40 years of experience in developing and delivering peer-led services. Our mission is to empower individuals and communities by embedding peer support principles into health and wellbeing initiatives. We have created a range of innovative programmes that help people living with cancer and other long-term health conditions to navigate challenges and take control of their health and wellbeing.
We work in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support on projects that make a real difference. These include national and local initiatives for the Deaf community, volunteer-led support for anyone affected by cancer, and prehabilitation services for those facing complex treatment. In 2026, we will collaborate with our Integrated Care System to improve health literacy and increase cancer screening uptake among underserved communities in Nottingham. Looking ahead, we are exploring a new direction to position Self Help UK as a holistic, person-centred support provider, embedding peer support and volunteer-led activity at the heart of everything we do. Our vision is to challenge health inequalities and enable people to feel confident, informed, and supported in shaping their own health journey.
A selection of causes covered by Self Help UK
·Peer support
·Long-term health conditions
·Cancer diagnoses and prevention
·Voluntary sector support
·Health inequalities
·Under-served communities
What will you be doing?
You will be chairing the Board of Trustees, ensuring that we have minimum representation required for decisions to be made, keeping the board aligned in decision-making, ensuring all minutes are recorded and that all decisions by trustees are made with the appropriate context provided.
Trustees meetings are usually held every six weeks, plus there is an AGM, away days, and any sub-committee meetings that trustees may be involved in. Most meetings will remain virtual but there will from time to time be a need to attend key meetings and events in Nottingham. The time commitment is approximately 4hours per month, but there may be occasions when more time is required for a short period.
Trustee positions are unremunerated, but reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.
Who are we looking for?
Previous chairing experience
·Relevant experience in any of the following financial management, HR, charities, fundraising, social prescribing, NHS, local authorities, marketing, business development, governance, strategy or legal.
·A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort
·Good, independent judgement
·The ability to challenge and ask questions
·An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship
·A commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership
Application process
To apply for this role please send the following information
1. CV
2. Covering Letter (not more than one page, outlining how you meet the criteria in this role description)
We will keep this advert open until we have filled the role.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Settled is recruiting new trustees to join its Board and support EU citizens and Ukrainian refugees to access their rights in the UK. This is a voluntary role, open to first-time trustees and those with board experience. We are particularly interested in skills relating to finance, fundraising, governance, or equity, diversity and inclusion, as well as lived experience. Meetings are mainly online, with one in-person away day per year. Closing date: 5pm, Monday 2 February 2026.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We’re looking for an Assembly chair who is motivated by playing a leading role in maximising the potential of the whole CPRE community to strengthen its voice and activities for the benefit of the countryside.
The Assembly meets quarterly, usually mid-week, for about three hours. The meetings are held online. There’ll be preparation and liaising to undertake ahead of meetings, so we expect this role will require a time commitment of half a day a week, two to three days a month.
The chair of the Assembly is elected annually, can serve for a maximum of three years, and attends the trustee board meetings of the national CPRE charity
The Assembly meets quarterly, usually mid-week, for about three hours. The meetings are held online. There’ll be preparation and liaising to undertake ahead of meetings, so we expect this role will require a time commitment of half a day a week, two to three days a month.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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!
Taunton Brewhouse is looking for trustees from all backgrounds. Key is sharing our vision for a bold, brilliant cultural venue in Taunton, adding to our existing skills and expedrience and prepared to to play an active role in meeting the challenges ahead.
If you have experience in general management and/or in HR, marketing or fundraising do get in touch. We also seek a lead trustee on finance - please see separate announcement.
As a trustee, you'll share responsibility for:
- agreeing strategy and goals for Taunton Brewhouse
- appointing and setting salaries for senior management
- giving oversight and support to management
- paying attention to financial management
- ensuring due diligence in all regulatory matters including safe-guarding
- ensuring a robust approach to management of risk.
You'll attend Board meeting although much work is carried out in projects or committees. You'll be an ambassador for Taunton Brewhouse and support our wider endeavours through attending press and community events.
There are 5 formal meetings pa held in evenings at Taunton Brewhouse. Other meetings are generally in the day and are organised around the diaries of those involved. We also aim for an annual 'away-day' to enable trustees time to reflect, plan and develop the organisation and themselves.
Please note that exceptional expenses are paid by prior agreement.
We aim to be in touch quickly both those who make a full application and those who prefer an informal initial discussion.
We believe creative and performing arts should be experienced by and accessible to all and our mission is to make this a reality for our community.
Applications close at 9.a.m. Monday 23rd February 2026
Location: Home-based but with regular travel, including to periodic board meetings in London or other locations within the UK
This is an opportunity to chair a charity transforming lives by helping more people experience the positive impact of learning. You can help shape the future of this remarkable charity and lead the Board of Shannon Trust to broaden, deepen and mature what we deliver.
Who we are
Picture this: a person in prison who struggles with literacy and numeracy reads their first sentence, they write their first letter home to their children or completes their first numeracy task. They begin to imagine a future beyond the prison walls.
This is what happens when someone learns with Shannon Trust, and it happens thousands of times each year across prisons in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Currently, 65% of people in prison can’t read, or struggle to. Even more struggle with numeracy.
These are not just statistics; they represent people who have been locked out of opportunity, who struggle with daily tasks, such as helping their children with homework or filling out a job application. At Shannon Trust, we believe everyone deserves the chance to learn, and that literacy and numeracy skills help build the foundations upon which people can rebuild their lives.
Where we are now
Shannon Trust has experienced remarkable growth over recent years. We have gone from a team of twelve people to one hundred staff today, supported by a volunteer base that brings us close to 250 people working to change lives through learning. The core of what we do is one-to-one peer mentoring in prisons. In 2025 alone, more than 11,000 learners used our reading and numeracy programmes, with 2,000 new volunteer peer-mentors trained to support them. We work in around one hundred prisons across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, delivering our Turning Pages reading programme and Count Me In numeracy programme. We are increasing our reach into the community, too. This growth is the result of sustained focus, strong relationships with funders who believe in our work, and the proven impact of our peer-led learning model.
What we are looking for
We are looking for a Chair who is strongly motivated by our cause, with a genuine empathy for the people we serve and a commitment to the person-centred language and inclusive thinking which are woven into everything we do. You will bring an engaged and engaging leadership style, have resilience and a personal gravitas.
You will be someone who is comfortable with complexity as we shape our organisation for the next chapter of our development. You will understand the importance of process, culture, and effective operations as the means of delivering a successful strategy and sustaining an organisation.
You will be someone who can help us be better advocates whether that is supporting our Chief Executive to build relationships with policymakers, helping us think through how we position ourselves in the education and criminal justice landscape, or using your own networks to create opportunities for Shannon Trust to influence and inform. We need a Chair who sees advocacy as part of the role.
Most importantly, our new Chair must be a strong partner for our CEO, a mentor, challenger and support.
Please click 'Redirect to recruiter’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the candidate profile and register your interest to apply.
Applications for this role close at 9.a.m. Monday 23rd February 2026
We’re an executive search firm working across third sector, education and membership sectors to transform leadership and inspire change.
Trustees with legal, financial or marketing expertise sought (voluntary roles)
The Association of Breastfeeding Mothers (ABM) has supported breastfeeding families across the UK for over 40 years. We provide high-quality, evidence-based information and support to help parents make informed feeding choices and reach their own breastfeeding goals.
ABM is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and is currently in an important period of transition. We are moving from a predominantly volunteer-led organisation to a more sustainable staff-led model, while continuing to value and invest in our volunteers. As part of this development, ABM has recently appointed its first Chief Executive Officer, strengthening our operational capacity and enabling the Board to focus more clearly on governance, strategy and long-term resilience.
We are now seeking three new trustees to join our Board. Legal and finance experience would be particularly welcome, but we also welcome applicants with a healthcare professional background, and from those with experience in marketing and communications.
About ABM
Our work includes:
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Co-running the National Breastfeeding Helpline, in partnership with the Breastfeeding Network, providing direct support to parents 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
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Producing accessible, evidence-based resources for parents and professionals
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Delivering education and training for volunteers and professionals involved in infant feeding support
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Advocating nationally for breastfeeding through participation in strategic and policy-focused groups
The trustee roles
We are particularly keen to hear from people who can bring legal or financial expertise to the Board. The examples below are intended to give a sense of the types of experience that may be helpful in these roles, however, they are not a list of essential criteria, and we welcome applications from people whose experience may sit outwith these specific examples.
Legal expertise
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Charity law, employment law, governance, compliance, contracts or regulatory frameworks
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Confidence in advising the Board on governance responsibilities, risk and sound decision-making
Financial / accounting expertise
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Financial management, accounting, audit, budgeting or financial oversight
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Ability to support trustees in understanding financial information and long-term sustainability
Previous trustee experience is welcome but not essential. What matters most is your willingness to contribute your skills thoughtfully, ask good questions, and support ABM’s mission and values.
What being a trustee involves
Trustees are expected to play an active and engaged role in ABM’s governance and strategic direction. This includes:
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Attending Board meetings every second month (six meetings per year), currently held remotely in the evening and lasting up to two hours
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Reading papers in advance and contributing thoughtfully to discussion and decision-making
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Engaging with Board communications between meetings, including email and Microsoft Teams discussions, to support timely and informed governance
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Taking part in occasional additional meetings or events during the year, including an annual planning and review session
We recognise that trustees are volunteers and aim to be realistic and respectful of people’s time. What matters most is consistent engagement, good judgement, and a collaborative approach.
Support and induction
We offer:
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A comprehensive induction
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Ongoing support from the Chair, fellow trustees and staff
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Training where needed to support you in the role
Our values and commitment to inclusion
You do not need personal breastfeeding experience to be a trustee. However, it is essential that you support ABM’s charitable purpose and recognise the importance of breastfeeding to the health and wellbeing of mothers and babies.
ABM is fully committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified people and are keen to ensure our Board reflects the diversity of the families we support. We warmly welcome applications from men, as well as from people who are currently under-represented on our Board, including disabled people and people from Black and minoritised ethnic communities.
Language note
We celebrate diversity in family structure and individual circumstance. We use the terms parent, mother, father, and infant, welcoming every parent’s preference for the terms they use to describe themselves. We use the term breastfeeding, recognising that parents may choose to use other terms, for instance body-feeding, chestfeeding or nursing.
As described in the Lancet Series 2023 “we use the terms women and breastfeeding throughout this [document] because most people who breastfeed identify as women; we recognise that not all people who breastfeed or chestfeed identify as women” (Baker et al, 2023).
The best quality support is culturally sensitive and tailored to meet each
individual’s needs (Gavine et al, 2022).
Closing date: Friday 22nd February 2026, 5pm
Interviews: Week commencing 3rd March 2026
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Trustee
We are seeking three committed Trustees to join a national fostering Board at a pivotal time, supporting strategic growth and championing foster care across the UK.
Position: Trustee (Volunteer)
Organisation: The Fostering Network
Location: UK wide. Particular interest in Wales and Northern Ireland
Hours: Approximately 10 to 15 days per year
Term: 3 years, renewable for up to two further terms
Remuneration: Voluntary role. Reasonable travel expenses reimbursed
Closing Date: Monday 23 February 2026
Interview Dates: W/C 16 and 23 March 2026
About the Role
This is an opportunity to join the Board of Trustees at a national fostering charity, following the launch of a new organisational strategy and the appointment of a new Chair in 2025. Trustees play a vital role in setting strategic direction, ensuring strong governance and supporting the organisation to deliver meaningful change for children and young people in foster care.
Key responsibilities include:
· Providing strategic oversight and constructive challenge at Board level
· Supporting delivery of the five year organisational strategy
· Acting as an ambassador for the charity and its values
· Contributing to effective governance, risk management and financial oversight
· Building strong relationships with fellow Trustees, senior leaders and stakeholders
· Attending Board and committee meetings, both in person and online
About You
You will bring personal experience of the foster care sector and a strong commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people.
We are particularly interested in candidates who:
· Are based in Wales or Northern Ireland
· Are qualified social workers working within fostering services
· Have skills in finance, particularly qualified accountants
· Have experience in commercial or business development
You will demonstrate sound judgement, strategic thinking, discretion and the ability to contribute confidently within a Board setting.
About the Organisation
The UK’s leading fostering charity and membership organisation. Founded 50 years ago by foster carers, it works across all four nations to influence policy, improve practice and strengthen the fostering community. At the heart of its work is a belief in the power of relationships to transform lives.
Other roles you may have experience of could include; Trustee, Non Executive Director, Board Member, Independent Board Member, Social Work Leader, Finance Director, Commercial Director, Strategic Advisor.
Pets As Therapy is a national charity with a simple but powerful mission: to share the joy of pets with people who need it most. Each week, more than 6,000 volunteers and their pets visit schools, hospitals, hospices, care homes and community settings across the UK.
What will you be doing?
Responsibilities of the Chair:
- Provide strategic leadership to the charity and the Board, ensuring that PAT achieves its mission.
- Work in partnership with the CEO and Executive team to achieve its mission.
- Lead the Board in ensuring that it fulfils its responsibilities for the governance of the organisation.
- Optimise the relationship between the Board and PAT’s staff and volunteers.
- Plan and chair the Board meetings and the AGM, with others as appropriate.
- Act as an ambassador and spokesperson for PAT.
The Chair provides oversight and guidance while also carrying out the general responsibilities of a Trustee.
Time Commitment:
- Estimated at one to two days per month.
- The Board meets formally at least four times a year for between a half day and a day, depending on business. Two meetings are in-person and are held in central London. Two are virtual.
- All trustees are asked to serve on one or more Board sub-committees and working groups. This adds 3-4 shorter meetings a year, for which preparation can be significant or relatively light. Trustees may be asked to chair sub committees on a rotating basis.
- Ad hoc and occasional support through working groups and / or support to the Executive team.
- Monthly scheduled conversation with the CEO with flexibility to respond to the occasional ad hoc issue.
What are we looking for?
Personal skills / experience / values
- Willingness and ability to understand and accept responsibilities and liabilities as trustees and to act in the best interests of the organisation.
- Ability to think creatively and strategically, exercise good, independent judgement and work effectively as a Board member.
- Effective communication skills and willingness to participate actively in discussion.
- A strong personal commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
- Commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
Essential skills / experience / values
- A strategic thinker.
- Proven leadership skills with the ability to inspire and engage trustees, staff, funders, partners and volunteers.
- A clear understanding of the charity landscape and the challenges faced by a charity of PAT’s size.
- Trustee experience with a clear understanding of charity governance.
- Willingness to act as an ambassador.
- An animal lover with a firm commitment to PAT’s mission and values.
Desirable skills / experience
- Familiarity with membership and/or volunteer-based organisations.
- Sector expertise - animal welfare, health or education.
- Experience of encouraging more inclusive processes to extend our charity’s impact across a more diverse range of communities.
What difference will you make?
As Chair of Trustees at PAT, you will provide leadership that enables the charity to grow, innovate, and reach more people with the joy of animal companionship. Your guidance will directly influence:
- Wellbeing of vulnerable people: PAT visits lift spirits in care homes, hospitals, hospices, and day centres.
- Children’s literacy and confidence: Read2Dogs helps over 2,000 schools support reluctant or anxious readers.
- Growth and sustainability: Guide a charity with 6,000+ volunteers, ensuring it thrives and meets demand.
- Expansion of PAT’s reach: Bring the joy and comfort of pets to more people, including underserved communities.
How to Apply
The Reach Volunteering TrusteeWorks Team are supporting Pets As Therapy with this recruitment and all applications and enquiries should be sent to TrusteeWorks via the Reach Volunteering Platform. Please see application instructions on the redirect link.