Inclusive Boards is delighted to be supporting Oaklea Trust in their search for their next Chair of Trustees.
About Oaklea Trust
The Oaklea Trust is a charitable organisation whose purpose is to give vulnerable people the opportunity to live and work as independently as possible within their community. Established in 2002 and based in Cumbria, County Durham and Northumberland, we support disabled, disadvantaged and vulnerable children and adults. Our charitable work supports people of all ages who have Learning Disabilities, Physical Disabilities, Mental Health needs, and/or Dementia.
The Oaklea Group is made up of the charity, Oaklea Trust, and its commercial arm, Right2Work. Together, they support people and communities to learn, develop and thrive through person-centred care and support, learning opportunities, and pathways into employment.
This is a unique opportunity to help lead a values-driven organisation that supports people and communities across the North of England to learn, develop and thrive.
About the Chair opportunity
As Chair, you will energise and empower the Board and the Group as a whole. You will foster a culture of openness, collaboration, and constructive debate. You will inspire confidence and ensure the highest standards of governance, integrity and accountability.
You will also help shape the Group’s future impact, supporting our mission to reduce inequality and create opportunities for people and communities to thrive. Through your strategic insight and advocacy, you will help extend our reach, strengthen partnerships and ensure more people can access the care, support and opportunities they need and deserve.
The Chair of the Oaklea Board of Trustees will:
- Ensure the Board functions effectively
- Guide Oaklea Trust’s strategic direction
- Ensure governance oversight
- Represent Oaklea Trust internally and externally
- Evaluate and support the Chief Executive
- Champion the leadership of Committees
We are seeking a new Chair of Trustees who can bring the following experience and capabilities to the role. We recognise that lived experience can offer valuable insights that greatly enhance a role like this, especially when combined with professional expertise.
Experience/Background:
- Experience of strategic leadership and governance within an organisation of equivalent size and complexity to Oaklea Trust, ideally within a Group structure.
- A track record of driving growth and innovation, with the ability to apply insight to support the achievement of Oaklea Trust’s strategic objectives.
- Understanding of the challenges associated with leading and delivering regulated services and the management of the associated risks.
- Ability to constructively challenge and hold space for compassionate and constructive conversations.
- Financial and commercial acumen, including experience in financial planning, oversight, risk management, and the establishment and monitoring of systems of control and accountability.
- Ability to scrutinise and manage financial risk, ensuring long-term financial sustainability and safeguarding against fraud.
- Ability to open doors, build networks and maximise opportunities with a range of stakeholders, funders and partner organisations.
- Previous trustee and/or Chair/Vice Chair experience is desirable.
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!
We're recruiting on behalf of our partners at MINDSET.
BUILD SOMETHING THAT CHANGES MEN’S LIVES IN LONDON
MINDSET Charity
Trustee Recruitment (Volunteer Roles)
Chair • Treasurer • Fundraising Trustee • Safeguarding Lead • Strategy & Development Trustees
WE’RE NOT LOOKING FOR TRADITIONAL TRUSTEES. WE’RE LOOKING FOR BUILDERS.
MINDSET is a bold, preventative mental fitness charity for teenage boys and men in London. We don’t do clinical therapy. We don’t sit on couches. We build systems, habits, and psychological tools that help men stay strong long before crisis hits.
We exist because too many good men have been breaking in silence. Our founder lived that reality — losing his father and close friends to battles they were never given the tools to fight. Their stories became our mission: no more preventable exits. No more silent suffering. No more men fighting alone.
Now we’re building a movement. A training ground. A new standard for male mental fitness.
And to launch this charity with strength, focus, and integrity, we need a small, high‑energy, high‑impact Trustee Board who can help us build MINDSET from the ground up.
THE ROLES WE’RE RECRUITING
1. Chair of Trustees
A steady, strategic leader who can guide our early direction, keep us aligned with our mission, and help us build a strong, safe, compliant organisation. You’ll be the anchor of our governance and the champion of our preventative mental fitness vision.
2. Treasurer
A numbers‑driven, detail‑focused trustee with UK accounting experience who can help us build lean, efficient financial systems. You’ll ensure our budgets, reporting, and financial planning are rock‑solid as we grow.
3. Fundraising & Grants Trustee
A proactive connector who can open doors, build partnerships, and secure funding. You’ll lead our grants strategy, donor relationships, and fundraising campaigns to fuel our 12‑week programmes. You'll also lead our board in fundraising areas and matters.
4. Safeguarding Lead Trustee
A calm, experienced safeguarding professional who ensures our boys and men are protected at every step. You’ll help us build safe systems, strong policies, and a culture of responsibility. You'll also lead our board in safeguarding areas and matters.
Additional Trustees (Various Specialisms)
We’re also seeking trustees with experience in:
-
Strategy & organisational development
-
Mental health, wellbeing, coaching or personal development
-
Monitoring, evaluation & impact measurement
-
Youth work or education
-
Digital operations & community building
-
Start‑up charities or early‑stage organisations
If you bring clarity, energy, and a passion for helping men and boys build stronger futures, we want you on our team.
WHY JOIN MINDSET?
1. Because this isn’t a passive board role — it’s a founding mission.
You’ll help shape the charity’s identity, culture, and long‑term direction.
2. Because our model is modern, lean, and high‑impact.
We operate like a fitness brand, not a slow-moving charity. Fast execution. Clean systems. High energy.
3. Because every decision you make will change real lives.
Every metric we track represents a boy, a father, a mate — staying in the game.
4. Because we’re building something West London genuinely needs.
A stigma‑free, practical, preventative space where men and boys learn to build habits, not hide feelings.
WHAT WE ASK OF YOU
-
Attend in‑person meetings in London (especially early on for Charity Commission documents).
-
Bring your skills, your ideas, your networks, and your leadership.
-
Help us build strong governance, safe systems, and a scalable model.
-
Champion our mission and represent MINDSET with passion, including helping us spread our social media presence by liking and sharing our posts.
-
Commit to a role that genuinely matters.
JOIN US.
HELP US BUILD MINDSET.
HELP US CHANGE THE STORY FOR MEN AND BOYS IN LONDON.
If you’re ready to help build a charity with purpose, energy, and real impact, we’d love to hear from you.
Non Charity Employer
1 - 5
A charitable foundation for Classical Arts, Humanities, Enlightenment and Renaissance Architecture
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.