Bring your voice and experience to a Board where it can shape real change. Join a national children’s health and wellbeing charity, challenge our thinking, influence our future and help us make stronger decisions for the children, young people and families at the heart of everything we do.
Compass exists for children, young people and families who need someone in their corner. For 40 years, we have delivered health and wellbeing services that give people access to the right support, at the right time and in ways that reflect their needs and communities.
We are looking for a voluntary Non Executive Director and Trustee to join our Board and help shape what comes next. This is an opportunity to use your knowledge, experience and perspective somewhere they can influence real decisions and help Compass remain ambitious, accountable and focused on the people our services exist for.
As a member of the Board, you will provide independent oversight, constructive challenge and fresh thinking. You will work alongside fellow Trustees and our senior leaders to help shape strategy, review organisational performance and ensure decisions are thoughtful, evidence informed and consistent with our charitable purpose and values.
Your role will reach across the organisation. You will contribute to discussions about service quality, safeguarding, workforce, finance, risk, performance and long term sustainability. You will ask the questions that help us think differently, test assumptions and understand the likely impact of our decisions. You will also share responsibility for ensuring Compass is well governed, uses its resources responsibly and meets its legal and regulatory duties as a charity.
This role is about more than attending Board meetings. You will have opportunities to deepen your understanding of Compass, connect with the people who deliver our services and see how Board decisions translate into practice. You will act as an ambassador for our work and help us build trust with the communities, partners and organisations around us. You will also contribute to at least one Board advisory group, bringing closer attention to an area where your knowledge, experience or curiosity can add value.
We want our Board to benefit from a range of voices and experiences. We welcome applications from people of all cultures, ethnicities, backgrounds and walks of life, including those underrepresented at Board level. This is not about asking anyone to speak for an entire community. It is about building a stronger, more representative Board that makes better decisions, challenges established thinking and understands the people it serves.
Previous experience as a Trustee or Non Executive Director would be valuable, but it is not essential. We are interested in what you can bring, whether that comes from your professional career, your community, your lived experience or a combination of these. You will need the confidence to contribute your views, the openness to listen to others and the integrity to put the interests of Compass and the people we support first.
You will be joining a Board where your contribution will be heard and valued. If you are curious about how your experience could help shape a national children’s health and wellbeing charity, we would encourage you to take a closer look.
This is a voluntary appointment. Expenses directly connected with carrying out the role, such as travel, will be reimbursed.
Registered Charity
501 - 1000
A charity providing health and wellbeing services, helping people unleash their unique potential and live healthier, safer and more fulfilling lives.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Position Description
This is an exciting time to join the Heart of the City trustee board. You will join a small but ambitious Charity with strong foundations and networks across the public and private sector. This is an opportunity to shape the next chapter for the Heart of the City, with a strong focus on developing a robust, sustainable three-year Strategy. The Strategy will be supported by work to further diversify funding streams, that provide greater financial resilience without compromising our mission to support SMEs to become responsible businesses and play a full role in responding to the Climate Emergency.
The incoming Chair will support the team to develop a three-year Strategy to support the growth of the Charity.
The plan will explore:
- The Mission of the Charity and how it should grow
- Diversifying and securing new sources of funding
- Broadening our programmatic offer to SMEs
- Defining the strategic relationship between Heart of the City and the City of London Corporation
Unlike most small charities, Heart of the City has an extensive network and governance structures with prestigious organisations. The Chair will help manage key relationships with the Bank of England and Corporation of London, as well as key Council Members. The Chair will be instrumental in managing an effective and focussed set of Trustees to help shape, scrutinise and deliver the Charity’s mission.
By the end of the three-year period as Chair, you will have supported the development and implementation of a Strategy, which meets the vision of the Charity, helped develop a sustainable and resilient funding model, ensured that the Charity is making an impact and reporting on its achievements and maintains effective relationships with key strategic partners.
Typically, the Chair will:
- Hold regular fortnightly meetings with the Managing Director.
- Attend quarterly Trustee Board meetings (usually lasting around two hours and held during the working day).
- Participate in a strategy half-day with Trustees and staff.
- Attend Council meetings (up to two per year).
- Support introductions to potential members, partners and stakeholders.
- Attend and occasionally speak at Heart of the City events on an ad hoc basis.
The Chair will contribute to ad-hoc requests including:
- Sharing their views on responsible business in interviews for our newsletter, social media or webinars
- Championing our work at other external events and meetings, on social media and on their own biographical profiles
About you
We do not expect one person to fulfil all specifications but would welcome applications from individuals who are able to demonstrate most of the following:
Experience & Knowledge
- Senior Executive experience in the Corporate, Charity or Public sector.
- Strong understanding of SMEs, their motivations and challenges.
- Strong commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices.
- Proven track record of setting strategic direction and leading senior teams.
- Well-connected senior network across businesses.
Skills & Attributes
- Excellent chairing, facilitation and sound judgement in complex situations.
- Strong strategic thinking with the ability to align resources to long-term mission and impact.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, able to engage audiences from SME leaders to senior stakeholders.
- Strong ambassadorial and relationship-building skills.
- Excellent listening, questioning and consensus-building abilities.
Commitment
Commitment to Heart of the City’s mission, values and responsible business agenda. Willingness to devote the time and energy required to fulfil the role effectively.
Closing application date
Midnight on 27 September 2026
Interviews
Trustees aim to meet with the candidates in the week commencing 12 October 2026.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.