Trustee Opportunities at Suffolk County Football Association
Do you want to help create positive change through football? By joining Suffolk FA as a Trustee, you can play an important role in shaping the future of grassroots football in the county and supporting an organisation that makes a real and lasting difference to people’s lives.
We are looking for people who share our values and are motivated by our mission. You do not need to have been a trustee before. We are particularly interested in hearing from individuals who can bring skills or experience in Digital Engagement and Communications and/or Risk Management, but above all we value curiosity, commitment, and a willingness to learn.
This is an opportunity to join a forward‑thinking, community‑focused charity and contribute your perspective, skills, and lived experience to help football be more accessible, inclusive, and welcoming for everyone.
If you are enthusiastic about making a positive impact, bringing fresh ideas, and helping shape a more inclusive game, we would love to hear from you.
Who is the Suffolk County Football Association?
Suffolk FA is the governing body for football in Suffolk and is part of the affiliated County network for the Football Association. Suffolk FA is also a registered charity with a role and remit to promote, develop and support participation, promote the game and support the health and wellbeing of the people of Suffolk.
Our purpose is to inspire positive change through football by driving the local game to unite communities. We tackle inequalities and improve the health and wellbeing of people across Suffolk. We work with 330 clubs representing players of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
What matters to Suffolk County Football Association?
Our vision? ‘A Thriving Local Game’, and we work across our whole football community and other partners to make this happen. Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the heart of what we do and this is underpinned by strong safeguarding.
Our values guide everything we do. We are Inclusive, Team-focused, Respectful, Open, Empowering, and Innovative. We expect all Trustees to model these behaviours and to act with integrity, fairness, and accountability in their role.
If you join us at Suffolk County Football Association…
You’ll be joining a committed and welcoming community of staff and volunteers who care deeply about the impact of their work.
Being a Trustee is a rewarding way to give back using your skills and experience, while also learning from others around the Board table. It’s an opportunity to contribute with purpose, build new knowledge, and grow your confidence in a supportive and collaborative environment.
Please make sure you read our Candidate Information Pack before applying. It contains important details about the role and our organisation.
Don’t think you quite meet all the specifications? Please don’t count yourself out. We’d still love to learn more about your interest in joining Suffolk FA!
We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential. If you have a disability or require reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process, please contact us so we can support you appropriately.
What’s next – how do I apply for the Trustee roles?
Eastside People is supporting the Suffolk County Football Association in the recruitment of these roles.
Please apply by submitting your CV and a cover letter both in Word doc format.
Please use the cover letter (max 2 pages) as an opportunity to add to the information you have shared in your CV and ensure that you cover the following:
- Why are you interested in a Trustee role at Suffolk FA?
- Having read the information pack, what relevant experience and skills would you bring to the role? This might come from paid work, study, community or voluntary work or other experience.
You are welcome to send your cover letter in writing, or as a video or audio clip, alongside your CV.
The closing date for applications is Wednesday 20th May. Online shortlisting interviews with Eastside People will take place shortly after. Face-to-face interviews with Suffolk FA will take place in the week commencing the 1st of June.
We acknowledge every application. You’ll always hear from us after taking the time to apply - we look forward to hearing from you!
Registered Charity 
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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!
You will welcome clients and visitors, and support the smooth running of our local office at our drop in sessions on Mondays or Thursdays (or both)
Commitment: 6 hours/week (flexible)
Receptionists are the first point of contact for clients, welcoming visitors. You’ll record client details on our computer system, explain waiting times, and help ensure the service runs smoothly. The role builds communication, IT, and teamwork skills while making a real difference in the community. Full training and expense reimbursement are provided.
What you gain: Communication skills, admin experience, confidence using IT, and full training.
You'll gain valuable transferable skills in communication, problem solving, teamwork.
Whether you are starting out, changing career, retired, or returning to work, volunteering strengthens your CV and provides practical experience.
21 - 50
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!
The Brigantia Learning Trust Governance Model is different to the way a governing body in a non-academy or traditional school undertakes governance.
Essentially, there are four elements to the governance of the Brigantia Learning Trust academies – local councils that are delivered via the Academy Advisory Councils (AAC), Trust governance, delivered via the Full Board of Trustees (Non-Executive Directors), the Trust Leadership Team (Executive Directors) and the Trust Members.
The Board of Trustees has 4 sub-committees, concerned with Finance, Risk & Audit, HR, Education & Standards and Remuneration along with the four Academy Advisory Councils: Brigantia Hill Fort, Hinde House (2-16), Yewlands and Longley Park Sixth Form. As the trust continues to grow, and the Academy Advisory Councils become more experienced and confident, greater delegated powers will be identified and approved by the Board of Trustees.
Local Councils - The Academy Advisory Council
Each AAC consists of a group of people who could be parents, community nominees, academy staff. They will meet with the academy (Executive) Principal, Associate Principal and other senior leaders where appropriate. In attendance at these meetings will be Link Trustees and members of the Trust Executive Team may be in attendance. This is to ensure that the voice of the local stake holders is heard first-hand by the Board of Trustees.
The Brigantia Learning Trust Board has established six key roles for Academy Advisory Councils:
• To advise/act as a critical friend to the (Executive) Principal of the academy
• To advise the Trustees about local issues they need to consider that affect the academy
• To support the Safeguarding Trustee with localised academy information
• Represent the interest of the academy community in the running of the academy
• Represent the academy in its community
• Provide support to the (Executive) Principal in undertaking appropriate day to day procedures that are essential to the life of the academy
The six roles translate specifically into the following tasks that the AAC undertakes:
• To act as a key link between the academy, parents and local community
• To support the work of the academy in the community
• To help on the ground with the implementation of certain academy policies
• To offer challenging but positive and proactive support to the (Executive) Principal
• To regularly discuss the academy’s performance in relation to the KPIs (Key
• Performance Indicators)
The difference between Brigantia Learning Trust Governance and a traditional Governing Body
By comparison to a traditional school Governing Body:
• The AAC’s role is not to “manage” the Academy as such. This is done through the Trust Leadership Team and the Board of Trustees. Therefore, the AAC is not required to take decisions on staff or financial matters affecting the Academy. As an Academy Advisor you should have an understanding of strategic issues that impact on the Academy, and be updated on them regularly by the Principal, but you are not required to have direct responsibility for them.
• As the Trust Leadership Team and Board of Trustees takes responsibility for educational standards, legal compliance and financial viability, the AAC then has the time to investigate the impact of policy on the ground, to see how they are working, and explore how the Brigantia Learning Trust ethos is being understood and expressed in the way the Academy operates. As an Academy Advisor, your view as a parent or as part of the community is vital in this discussion.
3. HOW THE AAC OPERATES
Expectations
Brigantia Learning Trust understands that the role of an Academy Advisor is voluntary, however, in order for the Academy Advisory Council to function efficiently and effectively, there are certain expectations of Academy Advisors in order to achieve this.
i) Meetings
Meetings of the AAC take place 3 times over the academic year. The meeting is prepared by the Principal and the Chair of the AAC, and the process is supported by the clerk to the AAC. You will receive a link to the agenda and papers in advance of the meeting from the clerk electronically.
Meetings are usually held after school or at other times as agreed locally by all Academy Advisors.
ii) Contribution at meetings and outside of meetings
Academy Advisors are expected to come to meetings prepared; having read and familiarised themselves with the agenda and accompanying papers as well as being prepared to ask relevant questions (Please see section 3.2 for further detail and examples).
iii) Business Interest and code of conduct
Academy Advisors are required to declare any business or other interests in any item being discussed at the AAC meeting. The Academy Advisers are asked to abide by the AAC Code of Conduct. The AAC clerk will provide the appropriate forms for AAC members to sign.
iv) AAC Responsibilities
Academy Advisors should make every effort to visit the Academy during the Academy day; all visits must be planned and focused on areas as agreed by the full Academy Advisory Council. Visits inform the work of the AAC and provide valuable information for support and challenge to the Academy’s Leadership Team. AAC members are asked to report on their visit using the appropriate form. This report will be presented at the AAC meetings, and a central record of all visits will be held by the Clerk to the Board of Trustees.
v) Skills Audit
All Academy Advisors are expected to complete a skills audit at the beginning of every academic year, this assists the Trust Executive and Trustees to identify gaps in skills and arrange appropriate training.
vi) Safeguarding
All Academy Advisors are required to have an up-to-date enhanced DBS check, as well as undertake annual safeguarding training as required, this will be delivered at the first AAC meeting of the academic year.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.