Dorset advocacy volunteer roles

Chair of Trustees

Activate Performing Arts

Dorset (Hybrid)

Unpaid role, expenses paid

Voluntary

Arts, Culture and Heritage

Actively Interviewing

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Job description

Chair of Trustees – arts leadership, strategic growth, inclusive governance, and cultural advocacy

Terms: 3-year term, renewable
Remuneration: Voluntary, with expenses reimbursed
Location: Hybrid, with some travel to Dorset for key meetings and events

Activate Performing Arts (Activate) is a 35-year-old arts charity that brings contemporary performance to communities and landscapes across Dorset, the UK and Europe. Activate is known for its free-to-access outdoor arts, festivals and touring work, driven by a belief in creativity as a public good, connecting people, place and artistic expression.

With a strong commitment to access, equity, environmental responsibility and artistic ambition, Activate is entering an important period of evolution. The organisation is looking ahead to its next phase of development, including shaping a new 3–5-year strategy and preparing for its next Arts Council England National Portfolio application.

Activate is now seeking a new Chair of Trustees to provide thoughtful, inclusive leadership to the Board and support the Artistic & Executive Director as the organisation builds on its achievements and strengthens its future direction. Working closely with the Artistic & Executive Director, trustees and wider stakeholders, the Chair will help ensure Activate remains creative, resilient, well-governed and ambitious in its impact.

As Chair, you will play a key role in guiding strategic discussion, supporting good governance, encouraging meaningful contribution from trustees and acting as an ambassador for Activate. You will champion the organisation’s work and support Activate to enhance its visibility, partnerships and long-term sustainability.

To succeed in this role, you’ll bring:

Prior experience as a trustee, with a strong understanding of good governance and effective Boards
Strong alignment with Activate’s values around free and low-cost access, equity, diversity and inclusion, landscape and nature, and environmental responsibility
A strategic outlook and the ability to support values-led organisational development, growth and innovation
A fundraising mindset and an understanding of the wider funding landscape
A passion for the arts, ideally the performing arts, festivals, outdoor arts, landscape-based practice or nature-based creativity

Please see the candidate pack for full details.

For an informal and confidential discussion about the role, please contact: Katherine Anderson-Scott, Executive Director of Charisma Charity Recruitment.

Closing date: 25 August 2026

Charisma vetting interviews will be completed on an ongoing basis.

Interviews with Activate: September 2026

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, or any other category protected by law.

Charisma is committed to inclusive and accessible recruitment processes. If you have any reasonable adjustments, please confirm in your application.

Organisation

Activate Performing Arts View profile

Registered Charity

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Posted on: 30 June 2026

Closing date: 25 August 2026 at 11:57

Job ref: 7671

Tags: Fundraising, Strategy, Governance / Management

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Charity Trustee

South West Advocacy Network

Taunton, Somerset (Hybrid)

Unpaid role, expenses paid

Voluntary

Disability ∙ Diversity and Inclusion ∙ Elderly ∙ Human Rights

Actively Interviewing

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Job description

South West Advocacy Network (SWAN) want to strengthen their Board of Trustees with up to 4 new Trustee appointments. These are voluntary positions and provide opportunity to help SWAN to develop its strategic direction and sustain innovative services to some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.

SWAN began life in Wiltshire and over the past 25 years has expanded into Somerset, Bristol, Dorset, Isle of Wight, West Berkshire, Portsmouth, East Sussex and Worcestershire. We deliver high quality, independent advocacy services supporting a diverse range of vulnerable people. We have developed a model of advocacy which ensures everyone, including the most marginalised, have the same rights and opportunities as their fellow citizens. Our services are free at the point of delivery, confidential and non-judgemental.

We work with people from all walks of life and have supported thousands of the most disadvantaged people to have their voice heard and their choices respected by those that are making decisions about their future.

We are looking for dynamic and empathetic people to become Trustees within our organisation, people who have the passion and drive to support SWAN and help us to ensure that the voices around our Board table reflect and understand the communities we work in. We would encourage people from all sections of our communities to apply , but particularly Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, disabled, and LGBTQ+ applicants because these groups are currently under-represented on our Board. We are happy to accept applications from people without prior Board experience but who can evidence their commitment to our purpose, values and ambitions and show a willingness to learn in the role.

The organisation is led and managed by the Chief Executive and the Executive Team who oversee the delivery of our services and the infrastructure that underpins them, and we believe that this, coupled with sound governance, will help us to achieve our vision and maximise our reach and impact.

We are looking for individuals who can demonstrate some of the following:
• Experiences that will bring different perspectives to our organisation i.e. being a member of, or working in, diverse or minority communities.
• Having direct experience of using advocacy or support services
• An understanding of, or interest in, the lives of vulnerable adults including those who have been victims of hate crime
• An understanding of, or interest in, the wider voluntary sector
• A commitment and willingness to improving the lives of vulnerable people
• Integrity, strategic vision and relationship building skills
• Governance, finance, and/or entrepreneurial experience
• Good communication skills and knowing how to work as part of a team
• For the treasurer role some experience of managing and understanding budgets and financial reports would also be required.

Time commitment averages 1 day a month, meeting locations are flexible and either face to face or virtual. Trustee expenses, including travel are paid.

Please note that for legal and safeguarding purposes, all our roles require a current DBS check and a registered Director Verification Digital ID Code.

If you believe you would add value to our Board we would love to hear from you. Application and further details will be sent to candidates.

Organisation