Alumni programme officer volunteer roles
The Sutton Trust is at a pivotal moment in its development. For nearly three decades, we have been the UK’s leading voice on social mobility, working tirelessly to break the link between socio-economic background and life chances. Today, that mission is as urgent as it has ever been. Despite pockets of progress, social mobility in the UK remains low by international standards, with deep inequalities in education, access to professions, and regional opportunity continuing to limit life chances and economic potential.
We are seeking a Trustee with policy expertise who shares our commitment to fairness, evidence, and long-term change. We value diversity of thought and experience, and we are keen to hear from those who can help us navigate an evolving political landscape and leverage our research to challenge systemic barriers, ensuring our voice remains the most influential in the national drive to transform social mobility.
Duties and Responsibilities of a Trustee
Policy Responsibilities
- Providing oversight for the charity’s research and advocacy, ensuring the Trust’s work is mission-aligned, evidence-based, and intellectually rigorous
- Supporting the Board in discharging their collective duties around planning, risk and compliance, particularly in areas such as horizon scanning for upcoming legislative changes, political shifts and shifts in social trends affecting the Trust as well as specific regulations around political neutrality
- Leveraging their professional networks and expertise, enhancing the charity’s credibility and influence, ensuring our research translates into meaningful systemic change
General Responsibilities
- Inputting into and agreeing the Trust’s vision, mission and values and providing advice on the Trust’s wider purpose, goals and activities
- Inputting into and agreeing the Trust’s aims and long-term strategy in furtherance of its charitable purpose
- Ensuring key risks are identified, monitored and controlled effectively as well as keeping abreast of changes in the Trust’s operating environment
- Monitoring the Trust’s performance against its strategic aims, operational plans and budgets
- Safeguarding and promoting the Trust’s reputation, and acting in the best interest of the Trust at all times
- Ensuring the financial stability and sustainability of the Trust
- Ensuring the effective and efficient administration of the organisation, including having appropriate policies and procedures in place
- Ensuring proper arrangements are in place for the appointment, supervision, support, appraisal and renumeration of the CEO and they are held to account
- Contributing to regular reviews of the Trust’s own governance
- Ensuring the Trust complies with its governing documents, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations
In addition to the above statutory duties, each Trustee should use their specific skills, knowledge and experience to contribute to the Board’s decision-making, and dedicate sufficient time to carry out their responsibilities effectively. This may involve sitting on Board Committees, scrutinising board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, or other issues in which the Trustee has special expertise.
Trustees aim to support a specific member of the SLT based on their skills and experience or may participate in appropriate subgroups, e.g., Alumni Leadership Board, Education Advisory Group, (Development) Board meetings, etc.
Person Specification
Mission and Values
- Sympathetic to the aims of the Trust and its mission to address educational disadvantage
- High level of personal and professional ethics, integrity, and accountability
- Willingness to safeguard and promote the Trust’s reputation within the wider sector
Strategy and Interpersonal Skills
- Ability to think strategically in order to provide appropriate oversight and scrutiny for the Trust’s overall activity and direction
- Ability to confidently and fairly make evidence-based decisions and constructively challenge the decisions of others if required
- Ability to collaborate and work as part of a team to provide advice, make decisions, and/or solve problems
- A commitment to personal development and a willingness to participate in regular reviews of the Board’s own performance and governance
Governance, Risk and Finance
- Understanding of the legal duties of a Trustee (or willingness to learn), including compliance with Charity Commission and Companies House regulations and commitment to the roles and responsibilities of a Trustee
- Awareness of (or willingness to learn about) financial health indicators and organisational risk management
Specialist Expertise and Experience
- A background in public affairs, civil service, think tanks, education sector organisations or senior policy or research roles in (education) charities
- Strong understanding of how UK government (at local, regional or national level) and/ or the UK education sector works
- Strong influencing and communications skills with the ability to lead discussions, provide expert advice, and influence stakeholders in a professional manner
- Good understanding of how to translate policy jargon into clear, strategic advice for the wider Trustee Board
Interviews
Applications should reach us by 10am, Monday 30th March. First round interviews will take place on Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th April, and second round interviews will take place w/c 27th April or w/c 4th May. All interviews will be held at our London offices in Millbank Tower.
Registered Charity 
51 - 100
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank 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!
As we approach our 30th anniversary in 2028, we are looking for committed new trustees with energy, passion and time who will continue to drive us forward.
Musical talent is everywhere but opportunity isn't: family finances and other obstacles too often get in the way. Young Sounds is here to change this.
For nearly 30 years we've supported talented young people from low-income families, helping them to overcome financial and social barriers. Whether they're making or creating music our programmes help young musicians from across the UK to fulfil their musical potential.
Trustees are expected to engage with and support all aspects of the charity, helping to foster stakeholder relationships, representing the organisation regionally and nationally and ensuring compliance and safeguarding.
Principal responsibilities are:
- Strategy - contributing actively to the formation of strategy, the Young Sounds business plan, and evaluating the performance of the organisation against the plan.
- Oversight - ensuring that the charity is well run, efficient and compliant with the charity's Articles of Association, its policies, including safeguarding and EDI, governance codes of practice, legal responsibilities and upholding the organisation's reputation and values.
- Advocacy - advocating for the charity at all times, supporting fundraising efforts and promoting the work of the charity in the trustee's daily life.
Requirements:
Previous trustee experience is not necessary, and we welcome trustees who can bring a diversity of life experiences, cultural knowledge and expertise.
As a national charity we are keen to attract trustees from all parts of the UK, and particularly those who are based outside London and the South East.
For this round, we particularly welcome expertise in the following areas:
- EDI and CSR programmes in the creative industries
- Youth culture and content creation
- Music Hub and/or National Curriculum expertise
- Fundraising
- Contemporary music performance and production
Above all we are looking for trustees who are passionate about, and willing to advocate strongly for, giving all young people the opportunity to have a musical life, particularly those facing the most barriers. We also expect trustees to have an overarching commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
Please see the Role Information Pack for full details including how to apply.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank 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!
Our Second Home is a youth movement that empowers migrants and refugees to flourish in the place that they call home. Our overnight activity camp for young people aged 14-18 is a chance for young people to come together and have five days of fun and excitement, supported by a dynamic and dedicated team of leaders and staff.
An OSH Leader is a supportive adult, a role model, and someone young people can feel safe being themselves around. It’s about creating a warm, fun, and consistent presence during residentials — helping young people with refugee and migrant backgrounds feel welcomed, included, and at home.
Youth Leaders for this project will be responsible for facilitating the camp, and will be directly in contact with, and responsible for, the participants. During the camp they will be ‘on duty’ full-time, meaning that they will spend the whole time with the participants, including at meals.
THIS ROLE IS ONLY FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN THE UK. We will arrange Zoom interviews with applicants separately.
Responsibilities:
- Interacting and forming a bond with the participants
- Creating and running fun and engaging activities for the participants
- Looking after the participants’ welfare, and ensuring that they feel cared for and secure
- Managing the participants’ behaviour and setting clear boundaries
Expectations and requirements:
- All applicants must be interviewed and be willing to provide references on request.
- Youth Leaders must set a positive example of behaviour and involvement for all participants, and adhere to the volunteer guidelines.
- Youth Leaders may be required to prepare activities for participants at the camp. If asked, this must be completed in plenty of time to allow any materials or equipment to be sourced.
- Applicants should be aged 20 or above.
- Applicants must be eligible for DBS clearance (no criminal record that prevents applicants from working with children)
- Youth Leaders must raise any safeguarding concerns swiftly and follow safeguarding procedures
- Youth Leaders must follow all Our Second Home policies and procedures of (which will be explained at the Camp training days).
- Anyone attending an OSH residential must test negative for COVID-19 prior to attending the programme, regardless of whether they have received a vaccine or not.
Essential skills:
- Flexibility, adaptability and ability to improvise
- Ability to build connection quickly with peers and young people
- Ability to work in a team and communicate effectively
- High level of organisation
- High levels of empathy and patience
- Awareness and sensitivity that some participants might be suffering from trauma
Additional desired skills:
- Experience working with and/or caring for young people aged 14-18
- Experience working with refugees and/or asylum seekers
- Experience working with young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities
- Language skills: Arabic, Dari, Pashto, Tigrinya, Somali
- First Aid training
- Creative or artistic abilities
- Sports leadership
- Ability to prepare fun and engaging activities for young people
We particularly encourage applications from those who have lived experience of being a refugee.
Please ensure you are available to come to all the following events - specific dates can be found on the application form:
- Training
- Pre-Residential Prep Day (on site)
- Residential, in full
- Feedback & thank you afternoon
QUOTES:
- “Having the professional [welfare] support made me feel very support and more comfortable with the work” – BT
- “The atmosphere of fun, respect, care, and community is what made the young people so comfortable and connected” – BT
- “The leaders were all awesome – it was incredible to work in a team so full of hard working, intelligent, experienced people” – BT
- “Seeing the kids bursting out of their shells and that being the norm rather than just exceptions was just incredible.” – CA
- “It honestly surpassed anything I could have hoped for” – LK
Structure:
Youth Leaders will be supported by the Welfare Support Lead(s), who will be their main contact in the build to and throughout the camp. The Welfare Support Lead(s) will run team meetings at the end of each day and be on hand to advise and manage the Youth Leaders.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.