Early human life policy officer volunteer roles

Help Shape the Future of Amour Destiné

Amour Destiné CIC is seeking passionate and committed individuals to join our voluntary Board.

This is an exciting opportunity to use your professional expertise, lived experience and strategic thinking to help shape the future of an award-winning, survivor-led organisation supporting Black African, Carribean and Mixed Heritage women, girls and families affected by domestic abuse, sexual violence, harmful practices and other forms of gender-based violence.

As a Board Director, you will play a vital role in providing strategic leadership, strengthening good governance and helping Amour Destiné continue to grow sustainably while remaining true to our survivor-led values, mission and the communities we serve.

Why Join Our Board?

Joining the Board of Amour Destiné is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the lives of Black African, Carribean and Mixed Heritage women, girls and families.

You will work alongside passionate professionals, survivors and community leaders who are committed to creating lasting social change. As our organisation continues to grow, your expertise will help strengthen our governance, shape our strategic direction and ensure we continue delivering high-quality, culturally responsive services to those who need them most.

Whether your background is in governance, finance, safeguarding, fundraising, communications, legal services, health, human resources, lived experience or community leadership, we welcome individuals who share our values and want to make a meaningful contribution.

What You'll Do

As a Board Member, you will:

• Provide strategic leadership, direction and oversight.
• Support the Chief Executive Officer while maintaining appropriate governance and accountability.
• Ensure strong governance, sound decision-making and compliance with legal and regulatory responsibilities.
• Support the organisation's financial sustainability and long-term growth.
• Contribute your professional expertise to Board discussions and strategic planning.
• Act as an ambassador for Amour Destiné and champion our mission and values.
• Promote equality, diversity, inclusion and survivor-centred practice throughout the organisation.
• Build positive relationships with partners, funders and stakeholders where appropriate.
• Uphold the legal duties and responsibilities of a Company Director.

We're Looking For People Who Have

We welcome applications from individuals with a wide range of professional backgrounds and lived experiences.

We are particularly interested in hearing from people with expertise in:

• Fundraising and Income Generation
• Human Resources and Organisational Development
• Law or Governance
• Marketing, Communications or Digital Media
• Health and Social Care
• Domestic Abuse or Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)
• Public Policy or Research
• Community Leadership
• Business/Charity Development
• Charity Leadership
• Lived experience that will strengthen our Board and support our mission

Previous Board experience is welcomed but not essential. We are committed to supporting new Trustees and Board Directors through a comprehensive induction and ongoing development.

What We Offer

As a Board Member you will have the opportunity to:

• Help shape the future of an award-winning survivor-led organisation.
• Influence services that make a real difference to the lives of women, girls and families.
• Develop your governance and strategic leadership experience.
• Work alongside experienced professionals and passionate community leaders.
• Contribute to meaningful social change across London and beyond.
• Receive a comprehensive induction and ongoing support throughout your Board journey.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Amour Destiné is committed to building a diverse, inclusive and representative Board.

We particularly welcome applications from Black African, Carribean and Mixed Heritage women, individuals with lived experience, and people whose skills and perspectives reflect the communities we serve. We also welcome applications from allies who share our commitment to equity, social justice and ending violence against women and girls.

Appointments will be made on merit while recognising the importance of lived experience, diversity of thought and representation in strengthening our governance.

Expenses

This is a voluntary Board position.

Reasonable travel and out-of-pocket expenses incurred whilst undertaking Board duties will be reimbursed in accordance with Amour Destiné's Expenses Policy.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we encourage early applications. We reserve the right to close recruitment early should sufficient suitable applications be received.

Successful shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview with members of the Board and the CEO. References, eligibility checks and any other appropriate pre-appointment checks will be completed before an appointment is confirmed.

Join us in creating a future where every Black and Black Mixed Heritage woman, girl and family can live free from abuse, be heard, heal and thrive.

Together, we can create lasting change.

Chair of the Board of Trustees 

This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of a respected and impactful organisation, guiding our strategic direction and supporting our mission to empower and strengthen communities across Lincolnshire. We are looking for an inspiring and values-driven individual to lead a committed Board of Trustees and work closely with the Chief Executive to ensure YMCA Lincolnshire remains ambitious in its vision, financially sustainable, and firmly rooted in its purpose and values.

Hours per week: Quarterly Board meetings that are held on weekdays, starting at 4pm and typically finishing at 6pm. Occasional Saturdays for strategic planning when required 9am - 2pm.

As Chair, you will foster a culture of effective and collaborative governance by encouraging constructive challenge, inclusive discussion, thoughtful decision-making, and collective accountability. You will help create the conditions for the Board to operate at its very best, while ensuring the organisation remains focused on the people and communities it exists to serve.

YMCA Lincolnshire’s work is varied from tackling homelessness, delivering early year education and working alongside young people and communities across the county. In all of these fields we aspire to creating safe spaces, supporting wellbeing, building resilience, and helping people realise their potential. We are looking for someone who understands that lived experience strengthens governance, sharpens strategy, and helps organisations stay connected to the change they are seeking to create.

We are looking for someone who brings:

· Strategic thinking and sound judgement

· The ability to guide and influence with credibility and integrity

· A collaborative and inclusive approach

· Experience of governance, senior decision making or organisational oversight

· An understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing charities and communities today

· The confidence to support, challenge, and inspire others constructively

· A commitment to equity, inclusion and amplifying diverse voices

· Passion for the mission and values of YMCA Lincolnshire

The Chair will be expected to attend Board meetings, Committee meeting where appropriate and key organisational events while maintaining regular contact with the Chief Executive and Trustees.

As Chair you will have the opportunity to help shape the future of the organisation and contribute to meaningful, lasting change across Lincolnshire.

If you are interested in applying, please click on our attached Recruitment Pack for full details about the role and how to submit your application.

The closing date for applications is Friday 17th July 2026 at 5pm.

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by Wednesday 22 July 2026 with interviews taking place week commencing the 27th July 2026 at The Showroom with our panel.

We are looking for our next Chair of Trustees – someone who will work closely with our Executive Team and Board to guide the organisation through what is both a challenging and genuinely exciting time. The funding environment is tough. The political context is difficult. And yet the need for what we do has never been greater.

This is an unpaid voluntary role. Reasonable out-of-pocket expenses will be reimbursed in accordance with our Volunteer Expenses Policy.

The successful candidate will lead a vibrant, well-established, national charity as it navigates the next chapter of its story.

Main tasks

• Developing and setting our future strategy, alongside the Executive Team and other Trustees
• Helping shape and deliver our future, identifying opportunities in an evolving landscape
• Leading the Board of Trustees, including regular 1:1s and providing space for reflection
• Acting as a 'critical friend' to our Executive Team, as well as formal line management to the CEO (and COO in their absence)
• Acting as an ambassador for the charity – raising awareness of what we do and engaging potential supporters and other key stakeholders
• Responsibility, along with the other trustees, for the governance of the charity
• Contributing to the ongoing strategy of the charity, in line with our charitable objectives
• Participating in board meetings and sub-committees in an inclusive and thoughtful way

Please download our Chair Application Pack for more information.

Could your leadership skills help shape the future of a Hopian?  Hopian is a registered charity that provides advice and support for adults and children who have experienced Domestic Violence and Abuse through the provision of refuge accommodation and community support services.  We also provide support and access to counselling for people affected by Child Sexual Exploitation.

The Role of Trustee and executive Trustee roles are voluntary positions. A Trustee for the Board is expected to meet the requirements of the board in line with the charities governing documents, governing good practice and legal requirements.  We also have a vacancy for a Treasurer should you be interested please visit our Hopian website - recruiter link below for further details.

Trustee Responsibilities :

The Board as a whole is collectively responsible for the success of the charity. A Trustee is a Board Member and has a number of responsibilities in order to ensure robust management of the charity including:

• Make decisions objectively in the interests of the charity.
• Implement Hopian’s Vision, Mission, and Values.
• Lead on the aims and objectives of Hopian by raising awareness of domestic and sexual abuse, and child sexual exploitation and abuse and its impact on individuals and their families.

Trustee Duties :

• Ensuring that the organisation pursues its stated objects (purposes), as defined in its governing document, by developing and agreeing a long-term strategy.
• Ensuring that the organisation complies with its governing document (i.e. constitution or memorandum and articles of association), charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
• Ensuring that the organisation applies its resources in pursuance of its charitable objects (i.e., the charity must not spend money on activities that are not included in its own objects) .
• Ensuring that the organisation defines its goals and evaluates performance against agreed targets.
• Safeguarding the good name and values of the organisation.
• Ensuring the effective and efficient administration of the organisation, including having appropriate policies and procedures in place.
• Ensuring the financial stability of the organisation.
• Protecting and managing the property of the charity and ensuring the proper investment of the charity’s funds.
• To work in the interests of the charity and not for personal gain.
• To ensure that the Board Members takes proper professional advice on matters in which it does not have competence.
• Following proper and formal arrangements for the appointment, supervision, support, appraisal and remuneration of the chief executive.

In addition to the above statutory duties, each trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the board of trustees reach sound decisions. This may involve 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.

Tasks:

• To work with other Board Members to form an effective governing body for the charity.
• To attend meetings and to read papers in advance of meetings.
• Ensure that the charity’s focus places services users centrally.
• To understand and be committed to the mission of the charity.
• To maintain a long-term overview of the charity and its work.
• To make strategic and major decisions about the charity objectives, policies and procedures.
• To attend sub-group meetings as appropriate.
• To participate in other tasks that may arise from time to time such as interviewing for new staff, helping with appeals and fundraising.
• To keep informed about the activities of the charity and wider issues which affect its work.
• To monitor and evaluate the work of the charity on a regular basis. This includes receiving reports from staff, staff supervision, receiving feedback from service users and other agencies .
• To ensure that the charity is a good employer of its paid and voluntary staff .
• Provide opportunity for staff to meet with the board.

Person Specification

We are looking for a  Trustee who has an understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of trusteeship. It is expected that a Trustee takes ownership to develop and maintain this understanding and application of duties. In addition to having:

• A commitment to the organisation.
• A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort.
• Good, independent judgement.
• An ability to think creatively.
• An ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
• A commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership

Experience & Knowledge

• Understanding and evidence of commitment to equal opportunities and diversity statement 
• Be objective and unbiased 
• Be supportive and approachable 

Time Requirements

To be able to attend scheduled committee meetings each year and read papers for each board meeting. To be available to for consultation, support and guidance on an ad hoc basis. Much of this contact will be via online, telephone or email.

We are looking to grow our Board of Trustees to help to increase our reach, enhance our profile, spread our message and continue to develop sustainably.

We are seeking Trustees who will bring creative vision champion the role art plays in public cohesion and transforming people’s lives.We would like to recruit up to three new Trustees during 2026, ideally with experience of Finance, Fundraising or Artistic Programming.Arts at the Old Fire Station (AOFS) is known and respected for its values-led approach and passion for social change, and all Trustees are expected to share that commitment.