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Who we are
The Humane League UK (THL UK) is dedicated to ending the abuse of animals raised for food by influencing the policies of leading food companies, advocating for stronger animal protection laws, and encouraging individuals to take action. We are part of a global network of organisations working to create a future where all animals are treated with respect and compassion.
Thanks to our effectiveness, The Humane League has been named Top Charity by the independent evaluator Animal Charity Evaluators for every rating period since 2012.
THL UK is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to furthering equity and inclusion, and we value diversity. We seek people from a wide range of backgrounds who will bring a fresh perspective to the team, not just because it is the right thing to do, but because it makes us stronger. We are proud to be a Disability Confident Committed Employer, demonstrating our commitment to recruiting, retaining, and supporting disabled people and people with health conditions, based on their skills and talent.
The Position
We are seeking two new Trustees to add to the current Board of four voluntary members.
Board members (trustees) of THL UK are responsible for providing strategic leadership, ensuring strong governance, and safeguarding the organisation’s mission, values, and financial sustainability.
This is a voluntary position, and trustees are expected to act in the best interests of the charity and in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements.
Whether you are an experienced charity trustee or looking for your first board position; if you believe you can share our commitment for ending the abuse of animals raised for food and have the qualities, knowledge and experience we are looking for, then we’d love to hear from you.
For full details about the role of trustees please view our information pack which you can find in the application resources below.
If you would like to watch a recording of our recent webinar where we discussed the role in more detail, you can view this by following the link to our website.
Person specification and requirements for this role
While specific experience in animal protection is not essential, all Board members must:
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Demonstrate a commitment to the aims and values of THL UK.
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Understand and accept the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of trusteeship.
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Bring a strategic mindset and the ability to make well-reasoned, independent decisions.
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Be able to communicate in ways that build understanding and trust, and contribute positively to collaborative team working.
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Be willing to devote the necessary time and effort to the role.
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Be committed to moving forward with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion best practices.
Specialist Expertise Sought
In addition to the general requirements above, we are particularly seeking candidates who can bring expertise in one or more of the following areas:
1. Charity Governance
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In-depth knowledge of charity governance best practice, preferably gained through prior trustee, board, or senior charity leadership experience.
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Understanding of regulatory compliance and governance frameworks for UK charities.
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Legal skills relating to charity law, contracts, risk management, or related fields (desirable).
2. Charity Fundraising
Experience and understanding of charity fundraising, with particular relevance to EA-aligned funding environments.
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Knowledge of charity fundraising principles, governance considerations, and ethical fundraising practice.
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Understanding of the Effective Altruism funding landscape, including grant-making bodies, donor expectations, and impact-led funding criteria.
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Experience supporting or advising on grant applications, funder relationships, and individual donor stewardship.
3. Farmed Animal Campaigning
Knowledge of campaigning and advocacy within animal protection movements, with a particular focus on farmed animals.
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Understanding of the strategic landscape of farmed animal protection, including corporate campaigns, legislative advocacy, public engagement, and movement priorities.
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Experience of designing, advising on, or evaluating campaigns that seek measurable improvements for farmed animals.
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Awareness of the wider animal protection movement, including key organisations, campaign tactics, risks, and opportunities for collaboration.
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Scientific or veterinarian understanding and experience with farmed animals (desirable).
We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds and with a range of perspectives. Having reviewed existing Trustees' diversity we would particularly welcome applications from ethnic minorities, disabled people and marginalised groups.
Where candidates bring similar skills and experience, we may take lived experience or background into account to help us build a more representative and inclusive board.
Key Responsibilities
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Contribute actively to the Board’s role in giving strategic direction, setting overall policy, defining goals, and evaluating performance.
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Ensure that THL UK complies with its governing document, charity law, and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
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Oversee the financial health of the charity, approving annual budgets and monitoring financial performance.
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Champion the fundraising work of THL UK in various ways–for example by introducing new donors from your network, actively promoting THL UK’s fundraising initiatives (like our end of year appeal), or by donating directly if you have the means to do so.
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Protect and promote the charity’s values, reputation, and effectiveness.
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Support and challenge the executive team to achieve the organisation’s objectives.
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Act as an ambassador for THL UK, promoting its work to stakeholders and the public.
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Participate in Board meetings (typically four per year) and occasional sub-committee meetings, as well as contributing advice and guidance outside formal meetings when required.
Key competencies
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Strategic thinker: Looks at consequences, implications, interdependencies, and indirect effects, all in both the short and longer term. Looks beyond the immediate goal or issue and with the greater context, not just the content of the moment. Is able to think and act creatively in difficult situations.
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Problem solver: Identifies issues, effectively structures problems, analyses information to produce insights and generates wise, actionable recommendations. A forward-looking thinker who anticipates the needs of the organisation.
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Effective: Strategically able to focus our energy, resources and talent toward impactful actions that will reduce, and ultimately end, the abuse of animals for food.
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Communication and strong interpersonal skills: Ability to communicate in ways that build understanding and trust and can adapt to different tones and styles and be able to engage with people from all walks of life.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
We exist to end the abuse of animals raised for food
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts 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!
Do you have a passion for helping grow support that transforms lives? Are you ready to use your skills to make a difference?
Join DFN and play a key role in growing the funding and partnerships that support our programmes in India.
Dignity Freedom Network (DFN) works in cities and in rural villages across India. We champion those society sidelines including those from low caste and tribal backgrounds. Could you help secure funding from grant makers for our education, health and protection programmes?
What will you be doing?
You will support DFN’s fundraising team by helping to identify new opportunities, strengthen relationships with supporters, and contribute to the development of funding opportunities that enable our work to grow.
This role will involve using your writing and research skills to support a range of activities, working closely with the team to help increase DFN’s fundraising capacity and impact. The role is remote, with regular opportunities to connect with the fundraising team and learn more about DFN’s work. You will need access to a computer and the internet.
What are we looking for?
Skills and experience
Essential
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Good research skills
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Excellent writing
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Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
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Organised, reliable, and able to manage multiple tasks.
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Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusive practice.
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Comfortable working independently and collaboratively in a small team.
Desirable
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Experience intrust and foundation fundraising and/or major donors
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Previousfundraisingexperience (paid or voluntary)
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Experienceofdevelopingfundraising resources
What difference will you make?
Your contribution will help DFN strengthen its fundraising approach and secure support for programmes that create opportunities and improve lives.
By sharing your skills and experience, you will help a growing charity expand its ability to deliver meaningful work with communities across India.
What are the Benefits for you?
- Experience in a small, entrepreneurial charity where your contribution has visible impact.
- Opportunities to develop or broaden your fundraising skills in a supportive environment.
- Informal training in fundraising skills
- A warm, values‑driven team committed to inclusion, learning, and positive change.
- References and recognition for your contribution to help you secure your first or next paid role
- An opportunity to make the world a better place!
- Working flexibly, tailored to your availability.
Dignity Freedom Network (DFN) is active across India. We work in large cities and in rural villages, with young children and new mums, with women who have experienced exploitation, and families facing discrimination and prejudice. We work to champion those society sidelines including those from low caste and tribal backgrounds.
Indian colleagues and volunteers deliver impactful education, health, protection and vocational skills programmes - the ladder needed by those we seek to help to overcome the barriers they face.
Please send a short cover letter of no more than one A4 page telling us why this opportunity interests you and what you hope to bring to it and gain from it. Please don't use AI to write this!
If you have a CV then please send this across, otherwise just a document listing some basic information about you - your education, work and/or volunteering history, skills and interests.
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!
Unreal offers support and information to people with lived experience of Depersonalisation and Derealisation (DPDR) - including people experiencing symptoms themselves and their carers, friends and families. We aim to raise awareness of DPDR, provide up-to date clinically-validated information, signpost people to relevant resources, push for policy change, assist in research studies and enable people living with DPDR to speak with others through our flagship Peer Support Programme to help support each other.
We are supported by a dedicated network of volunteers and ambassadors whose expertise and lived experience are central to what we do.
Despite being a small and relatively young charity, officially founded in 2019, we have established ourselves as the leading voice on DPDR in the UK and are proud of what we have achieved.
Unreal enters this next chapter from a position of real strength. We have established ourselves as the leading charity for DPDR in the UK, with a peer support programme that continues to grow in demand, strong relationships with clinicians, policymakers and researchers, and a clear strategic direction.
We have recently set our key priorities for 2026 to 2030, and we are looking for new board members who are excited to help us deliver on that ambition.
This is a significant moment for the charity. We are recruiting for trustees at a time when we have strong foundations, a clear sense of purpose, and real momentum. The people who join us now will help shape the next chapter of Unreal.
At such a pivotal time for the charity, and to help achieve our ambitions, we are looking for enthusiastic and committed individuals to join our Trustees.
We are currently recruiting:
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A HR/Governance Trustee
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A Finance Trustee
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A Fundraising Trustee
We welcome applications from people with or without previous trustee experience. What matters most is your commitment to our mission and the skills and perspectives you bring.
We have attached our recruitment pack with details of the individual roles.
Time commitment
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Board meetings: monthly (9 per year), held online
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Full trustee days, held in person: twice a year
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Online Trustee meetings, twice a year
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Additional time required for specific projects or sub-committees
Support for new trustees
We are committed to making trusteeship at Unreal as accessible and rewarding as possible. All new board members will receive a full induction and training
Expenses
All reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out your role as a trustee will be reimbursed in line with our expenses policy.
What we are looking for
We are not looking for a particular type of person. We are looking for the right people. Within our trustees and board, we aim to bring together a range of skills, backgrounds and perspectives.
Full role specifications for each position are included below. These set out the specific skills, experience and qualities we are looking for, alongside the responsibilities of the role.
In addition to the specified roles below, we will also be recruiting more widely, and welcome applications from anyone who fulfils the below general criteria.
We particularly welcome applications from:
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People with lived experience of DPDR, including carers, friends and family members.
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Clinicians and researchers working in the field.
Skills and experience that are valuable to us include:
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Finance
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Fundraising
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HR
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Governance
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Expertise in the mental health or charity sector.
We ask all trustees to commit to a term of three to four years. The Chair may be appointed for a term of up to five years.
Before you apply
Trustees of Unreal must meet the following eligibility criteria. Please check these before applying.
You must:
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Be 18 years of age or older
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Not be automatically disqualified under the Charities Act 2011. This includes any person: with undischarged bankruptcy those who has been declared bankrupt; that has entered into an IVA; been disqualified as a company director; or that has certain unspent criminal convictions relating to dishonesty, fraud or contempt of court
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Have no safeguarding restrictions that would prevent you from working with vulnerable people
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Be willing to declare any conflicts of interest and to complete a DBS check
If you are unsure whether any of the above applies to you, the Charity Commission website has further guidance.
All trustees are expected to uphold Unreal's Code of Conduct for Board Members. A copy will be shared with shortlisted candidates and must be signed on appointment.
General Trustee Responsibilities
Candidates should demonstrate:
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Commitment to the charity’s mission and values.
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Integrity, sound judgement and professionalism.
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Ability to contribute to effective governance and strategic decision-making.
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Willingness to act in the charity’s best interests at all times.
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Ability to work collaboratively and constructively as part of a board.
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Good communication and interpersonal skills.
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Understanding of confidentiality, accountability and conflicts of interest.
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Awareness of safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion responsibilities.
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Financial awareness and responsible oversight of resources.
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Sufficient time and commitment to fulfil trustee duties and attend meetings.
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Willingness to undertake training and ongoing development.
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Relevant professional, leadership, governance or lived experience would be advantageous.
How to apply
To apply, please send the following:
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A CV or brief summary of your relevant experience
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A short personal statement of up to 250 words setting out what you would bring to Unreal and why the role appeals to you
We ask that any applications submitted are in the candidate’s own words.
Deadline
The closing date for applications is 27 August 2026.
Interviews are expected to take place in September 2026.
The Recruitment Process
We want to make this process as straightforward and human as possible. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an informal conversation with one or more of our trustees, giving you a chance to find out more about us and for us to learn more about you. Successful candidates will then be invited to a formal panel interview with set questions.
Interviews will be held virtually, though if you would prefer to meet in person we will do our best to accommodate this.
We are committed to making this process as accessible as possible. If you require any adjustments to support your application or participation in the interview process, please do get in touch and we will do our best to accommodate you.
We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in everything we do, including in how we recruit. We particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience of DPDR, and from those who are underrepresented in charity leadership.
Registered Charity
11 - 20
Unreal offers support and information to people with lived experience of Depersonalisation and Derealisation (DPDR)
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.