Role description
The Open Spaces Society, Britain's oldest conservation body, needs additional trustees to broaden our reach.If you are keen to develop strategy and policy for creating, defending, and maintaining commons, greens, and paths, and to develop new approaches to make open spaces available to all, this role is for you.
Trustees may be co-opted by the present board, but are expected to offer themselves for election by the membership at the first available opportunity.
Working collectively, trustees have three main responsibilities. These are to:
1 set a direction for the society,
2 ensure the society’s plans are carried out appropriately,
3 ensure the society meets its legal responsibilities.
The duties of a trustee are to:
4 ensure the society complies with its articles of association, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations,
5 ensure that the society pursues its objects as defined in its articles of association,
6 ensure that the society directs its resources exclusively towards its objects,
7 in association with the general secretary, ensure that the organisation is adequately staffed, and that the staff and volunteers have appropriate support and resources to pursue organisational goals,
8 contribute actively to the board’s role of developing strategy, setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets,
9 safeguard the reputation and values of the society,
10 ensure effective and efficient administration and financial stability, 1
1 appoint the general secretary and monitor her performance,
12 act in the best interests of the society at all times.
Person specification
• Commitment to the society’s mission
• Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of trusteeship
• Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort
• Strategic vision
• Objective and insightful judgement
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team
• Adherence to Nolan’s seven principles of public life (selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership).
Registered Charity
6 - 10
The Open Spaces Society has been campaigning to protect rights to common land, village greens and public paths for more than 160 years
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Epilepsy Action is a national charity with a bold vision: to create a world without limits for people with epilepsy. In 2024 we launched an ambitious new strategy to grow our income and extend the support we offer. After a successful start, we are ready for the next stage in the strategy, and we are looking for new trustees to join our Board and help turn our ambition into lasting impact.
You will bring the skills, values and perspective to help our charity thrive, whether that’s a track record of leading growth and transformation, the ability to open doors through your networks, experience in health or the medical sector, or expertise in law, digital technology or fundraising.
We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and effective Board that reflects the communities we serve, and people affected by epilepsy. We welcome applications from everyone and are particularly keen to hear from people who are underrepresented on charity boards, including people from ethnically diverse backgrounds, disabled people, LGBTQ+ people, and people of different ages and socio-economic backgrounds. We believe greater diversity makes for better decisions.
If you want to help shape a world without limits for people affected by epilepsy, and use your voice and influence to raise understanding of the condition, then we would love to hear from you.
Purpose of the Role
The role of a trustee is to share the Board’s collective responsibility for the effective governance and leadership of the charity, setting our strategic direction and major policies in accordance with our objectives, vision, mission and values.
Epilepsy Action (registered as the British Epilepsy Association) is both a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. As such, trustees are both charity trustees and company directors and have the statutory and legal duties which these roles impose.
This is a voluntary (unpaid) role with a three-year term of office, renewable for up to two consecutive terms.
You need to be able to commit approximately 6–12 days per year, including:
- Four Board meetings per annum, plus meeting preparation
- Subcommittee meetings (if applicable)
- Strategy days, training, and occasional events
Meetings are a combination of hybrid and fully remote, with an annual in-person meeting in September in Leeds. Overnight accommodation will be booked for trustees and travelling expenses reimbursed for in–person meetings.
To Apply
For any questions in advance of your application please contact us via our recruitment email.
To make an application please send your CV and a supporting statement to our recruitment email.
Your supporting statement should answer the following questions:
· What has drawn you to apply to be a trustee for Epilepsy Action?
· What are the main skills and experience that you bring that could benefit the charity?
· How do you think your values align with Epilepsy Action’s values of being supportive, empowering, inclusive and ambitious?
We also ask candidates to fill in the Trustee Application Questionnaire as part of the recruitment process. This form includes sections for diversity monitoring, as well as skills and experience.
If you need any adjustments to support you to apply or take part in the recruitment process, please let us know.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an informal meeting where they will have a chance to find out more about our work.
Formal interviews will be with the Chair, the CEO and relevant members of the Board and / or Advisory Panels will take place at the end of May and beginning of June.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Do you believe that every person has a right to a full life, with friendship, belonging and chances to contribute their gifts? Do you want to support a global movement that shares the struggle of people with learning disabilities for voice, rights and community? If so, you could make a profound contribution to L’Arche through joining our Board of Trustees.
This is a pivotal time for L’Arche as, after 50 years in the UK, we work to deliver our 2030 Strategy for Beautiful Community, Brilliant Care and Effective Organisation. We are now looking for three to four new Trustees who can bring a depth of professional and personal experience to diversify the voices and expertise on our Board, in support of our vision to show that everyone belongs.
In particular, we would welcome people who can bring expertise in Fundraising, PR and Marketing, in Learning Disability Services and Commissioning, in Housing and Health & Safety, or Legal Expertise. We also want to strengthen the representation on the Board of people, for example in terms of age, ethnicity, lived experience of disability, gender and LGBTQ representation.
L’Arche in the UK is part of a worldwide movement of people with and without learning disabilities building community together. We aim to be a beacon for our society - of what social care can be, what life with learning disabilities can be, and what a more human society can be.
Our 11 Communities in England, Scotland and Wales offer a varied mix of adult supported living, registered care, and day services. We focus on building mutual relationships and going beyond traditional care models to celebrate the value of every individual.
L’Arche was first founded on Christian principles. These principles mean we stand for radical inclusion, and for the right of every person to flourish in their spirituality, whatever their background. To find out more about spirituality in L’Arche, have a look at our website to see what people said in our Big Conversation on Spirituality.
For further information about the role and context, including full details of how to apply, please see our Appointment Details Pack which can be downloaded from the 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 Monday 11th May 2026.
Registered Charity
501 - 1000
Our inclusive communities challenge people to think differently about disability
