Head of education practice volunteer roles

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

There are currently four Committees that report directly to the Board of Trustees, one of them is the Safeguarding Committee, of which you will be a member.

The Safeguarding Committee provides assurance, advice, and recommendations to the Board on safeguarding matters.

The Committee provides strategic leadership, ownership and oversight of The Scout Association (TSA)’s safeguarding policies and procedures, and ensures that safeguarding policies, procedures and practice remain fit for purpose and sector leading in protecting young people in Scouting.

The Committee also provides strategic oversight, challenge and assurance in relation to TSA’s safeguarding arrangements, including the safeguarding of adults where relevant.

The Independent Member aged 18-24 brings a young adult perspective to Committee discussions and helps ensure that the experiences, views and needs of young people are considered in safeguarding strategy, policy, practice and assurance. The role is not operational: it is a strategic governance and assurance role, with support, induction and mentoring provided.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

· Provide a young adult perspective to Committee discussions and decision-making.

· Ensure that the perspectives, experiences and voices of young people are reflected in safeguarding discussions, policy development and Committee decision-making.

· Help ensure the experiences and views of young people are considered in safeguarding strategy, policy and practice.

· Contribute to discussions on safeguarding risk, assurance, organisational learning and continuous improvement.

· Support the Committee’s consideration of emerging safeguarding issues affecting young people, including risks in online and digital environments.

· Assist the Committee in reviewing safeguarding performance, learning and assurance information.

· Contribute to the Committee’s review of safeguarding assurance activity, quality assurance findings, thematic reviews, and organisational learning arising from safeguarding incidents and case reviews.

· Contribute ideas and constructive challenge to help improve safeguarding across Scouts.

· Support the Committee in ensuring safeguarding arrangements remain fit for purpose and responsive to changing risks.

THE PERSON

Skills

· Communicate confidently and respectfully with a range of audiences.

· Listen carefully and contribute effectively in meetings.

· Analyse information, ask constructive questions and share views clearly.

· Work collaboratively as part of a committee.

· Develop a broad understanding of Scouts, its governance arrangements and safeguarding practice.

Experience

No previous committee experience is required. The Committee is looking for someone who can demonstrate some of the following.

· An interest in safeguarding and the welfare of young people.

· An interest in digital safeguarding, online safety, digital harms, social media risks or emerging technologies.

· Experience of volunteering, leadership or participation in youth organisations.

· Experience of representing the views of young people or contributing to youth voice activity.

· Education, employment or voluntary experience connected to safeguarding, social care, criminology, law, psychology, education, digital technology, online safety or related fields.

 Characteristics

· Aged 18-24 at the time of appointment.

· Passionate about helping create safer environments for young people.

· Commitment to the values and purpose of Scouts.

· Curiosity, willingness to learn and readiness to contribute.

· Sufficient time available to fulfil the role.

TIME COMMITMENT AND MEETINGS

The Safeguarding Committee normally meets four times per year, with three meetings held virtually and one longer meeting held face-to-face. The appointed member will be expected to read papers in advance and contribute to discussions during meetings. Support, induction and mentoring will be provided.

Applicants should expect to spend around two days per quarter on Committee business after the induction phase, including preparation, attendance and follow-up activity.

APPOINTMENT TERM

Appointments will normally be for three years, subject to a six-month review, and may be extended by mutual agreement provided the individual remains within the 18-24 age range at the start of any subsequent term.

REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES

In common with other registered charities, there is no remuneration directly associated with the role. The Scout Association will reimburse reasonable and properly documented expenses incurred in performing the role in accordance with its Expenses Policy.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

There are currently four Committees that report directly to the Board of Trustees, one of them is the Safeguarding Committee, of which you will be a member. The Safeguarding Committee provides assurance, advice and recommendations to the Board on safeguarding matters.

The Committee provides strategic leadership, ownership and oversight of The Scout Association (TSA)’s safeguarding policies and procedures, and ensures that safeguarding policies, procedures and practice remain fit for purpose and sector leading in protecting young people in Scouting.

The Committee also provides strategic oversight, challenge and assurance in relation to TSA’s safeguarding arrangements, including the safeguarding of adults where relevant.

Independent Members bring external expertise, independent scrutiny and constructive challenge to support the Committee in fulfilling its responsibilities. The role is not operational: it is a strategic governance and assurance role, focused on strengthening oversight, improving learning and helping Scouts respond effectively to current and emerging safeguarding risks.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

· Provide strategic advice, challenge and independent scrutiny to support the Committee in discharging its responsibilities.

· Assist the Committee in ensuring that Scouts remains at the forefront of safeguarding practice and development.

· Review safeguarding performance information, assurance reports, learning reports and risk information to support effective oversight.

· Contribute to the Committee’s review of safeguarding assurance activity, quality assurance findings, thematic reviews, and organisational learning arising from safeguarding incidents and case reviews.

· Contribute to the development and review of safeguarding policies, procedures, guidance and assurance arrangements.

· Help identify emerging safeguarding risks and opportunities affecting young people, volunteers and the wider organisation.

· Support the Committee’s oversight of safeguarding culture, organisational learning and continuous improvement.

· Participate in monitoring and reviewing safeguarding risks delegated to the Committee by the Board.

· Contribute to discussions on strategic priorities and future safeguarding developments across Scouting.

· Act as an advocate for excellent safeguarding practice and a culture that places the safety and wellbeing of young people at its centre.

THE PERSON

Skills

· Communicate effectively with senior volunteers, trustees, staff and external stakeholders.

· Analyse complex information and exercise sound judgement.

· Provide constructive challenge and independent scrutiny.

· Contribute effectively within a strategic committee environment.

· Work collaboratively while maintaining independence of thought.

· Quickly develop an understanding of Scouts, its governance arrangements and safeguarding framework.

EXPERIENCE

The Committee is particularly seeking candidates with expertise in one or more of the following areas.

· Priority area: substantial expertise in digital safeguarding, including online safety, digital harms, safeguarding in online environments, social media risks, emerging technology risks and child protection risks associated with digital platforms.

· Additional areas of interest: family law, social care practice or leadership, child protection and safeguarding within statutory services, law enforcement experience relating to safeguarding, horizon scanning, regulatory or inspection environments, quality assurance, or safeguarding within youth, education, faith or voluntary sector settings.

CHARECTERISTICS

· Commitment to the purpose and values of Scouts.

· Strong personal integrity and sound judgement.

· Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.

· Ability to operate strategically and objectively.

· Sufficient time available to fulfil the role.

TIME COMMITMENT AND MEETINGS

The Safeguarding Committee normally meets four times per year, with three meetings held virtually and one longer meeting held face-to-face. Members will also be expected to read papers in advance of meetings and may occasionally be consulted between meetings on specific matters.

Applicants should expect to spend around two days per quarter on Committee business after the induction phase, including preparation, attendance and follow-up activity.

APPOINTMENT TERM

Appointments will normally be for an initial three-year term, subject to a six-month review, with the possibility of reappointment for a further term by mutual agreement.

REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES

In common with other registered charities, there is no remuneration directly associated with the role. The Scout Association will reimburse reasonable and properly documented expenses incurred in performing the role in accordance with its Expenses Policy.

Ygam is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to empowering children and young people to lead safer digital lives, with a particular focus on preventing gaming and gambling harms

As part of our commitment to reaching underserved and underrepresented communities, we are expanding our Community & Faith Leaders Advisory Panel and are looking for individuals working or volunteering within community and faith settings who can bring valuable insight, lived experience, and community knowledge to help guide our work.

The panel allows Ygam to:

·Draw on the panels expertise and understanding of local communities, faith perspectives, and young people’s experiences

·Refine our training and resources for families and professionals to make our education more accessible, relevant, and culturally informed 

·Ensure our work reflects the realities young people face, both online and offline

Looking forwards, the panel will play an increasingly important role in Ygams work, supporting the research and insight programme to better understand how different communities experience gambling harms with an initial focus on exploring this through the lens of intersectionality.

Remuneration: £40.00 per hour
Contract Type: 12 months

Please see the applicant pack for further information on how to apply.

Make a difference in the lives of children, families and women. Become a PACT Trustee.

We are seeking two voluntary trustees to join our exceptional Board of trustees: One with professional experience in Safeguarding and one with professional experience within the Violence Against Women and Girls sector, or closely aligned areas.

If you are committed to making a lasting impact and guiding a charity that makes a positive difference to hundreds of lives every year, this is an incredible opportunity to join us on our mission.

You do not need previous trustee experience as we provide a full induction and ongoing training. This is a unique chance to apply your expertise at strategic level, playing a pivotal role in ensuring we continue delivering high-quality, trauma-informed services, championing the welfare of vulnerable families, and shaping supportive policies that protect children and strengthen communities.

PACT (Parents and Children Together) has been building and strengthening families since 1911 through outstanding adoption services and specialist therapeutic and trauma informed support services across Reading, the Thames Valley, and southern England. As one of the UK’s leading voluntary adoption agencies, we place children with loving, permanent families (over 81 placements last year) and offer lifelong specialist support through services like our Strengthening Families Team, CATCH and Adopter Champions. Alongside our adoption service provision, we empower women facing multiple disadvantages through our Alana House women’s centre and help children and their non-abusing parents recover from trauma via our Bounce Back 4 Kids programme.

Who we are looking for

We warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and actively encourage individuals from underrepresented groups, including those with lived experience of adoption, care or disadvantage to apply. Diversity of thought and experience strengthens our Board, and we value perspectives from different communities, cultures and lived experiences. Your expertise will help us deliver inclusive, high quality services for children, families and women.

These trustee roles are voluntary positions that are home-based with occasional travel to our Reading head office for in person board meetings or to collaborate with PACT colleagues relevant to your lead role (reasonable expenses covered) and support for our events. The time commitment is around one day per month, including quarterly Board meetings and input into wider charity matters. We aim to be flexible and will make adjustments where we can support accessibility and your availability.

For the Safeguarding Lead Trustee role, we would welcome applications from interested individuals who have current strong understanding and experience of safeguarding legislation, especially in children’s social care.

For the Violence Against Women and Girls Trustee role, we are looking for individuals with demonstrable experience of working in this sector, or in closely aligned areas (e.g. domestic abuse, sexual violence, women in the criminal justice system, safeguarding, trauma informed services). You will have a strong understanding of the policy, commissioning and funding landscape relating to this field.

What would you get as a PACT trustee?

· Satisfaction of helping vulnerable children, women and families, and giving something back

· An opportunity to exercise your skills and knowledge, possibly in a different environment or context

· A chance to contribute to the charity’s strategic growth

· A chance to expand your experience of charities and gain new skills

· An opportunity to work alongside other skilled and committed trustees

· High-quality induction, training and support from us and other charity-support organisations

· Being a Trustee can support the acquisition of valuable skills and experience that support career development

We understand that becoming a trustee is a commitment and you want to ensure that you are applying for a role that matches your values and requirements. You will find lots more information about PACT on our website and one of our trustees also kindly provided this short video with further details.

If you believe you can contribute to the skills and diversity of our Board and would like to apply, please visit the volunteer page of our website  where you will find the trustee recruitment pack and application form.

We are committed to making our recruitment process accessible. If you need the information in a different format or require adjustments during the application process, please let us know.

We look forward to hearing from you!

The closing date for applications is 9am on Tuesday 01 September 2026.

Early applications are encouraged as we may review and appoint on an earlier basis if a successful candidate is secured.

Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do at PACT. We have robust measures and best practices in place to safeguard and protect the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we take pride in maintaining outstanding safeguarding standards.

Anyone joining our team is subject to PACT’s safer recruitment pre-appointment enquiries, including an Enhanced Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check.

Basis Yorkshire is seeking a committed and values-driven individual to join our Board of Trustees as Treasurer. This is an opportunity to support a long-standing, specialist organisation working alongside sex workers and people experiencing sexual exploitation across Yorkshire.

Basis has over three decades of experience delivering trauma-informed, non-judgemental support, advocacy, outreach and education. We work with people across all sectors of the sex industry, as well as young people and adults at risk of or experiencing sexual exploitation. Our approach is rooted in dignity, agency, social justice and harm reduction, with the voices and experiences of the people we support at the centre of everything we do.

As Treasurer Trustee, you will play a key role in supporting the Board’s oversight of the charity’s financial health, sustainability and governance. While professional financial qualifications are not required, we are looking for someone who is confident in scrutinising financial information, asking constructive questions, and contributing to strategic decision-making.

We are particularly interested in individuals who share our commitment to challenging stigma and inequality, and who can bring thoughtful, independent judgment to Board discussions. Previous experience in the voluntary or community sector, safeguarding, or connections to strategic networks in Leeds would be welcomed.

Trustees are expected to attend quarterly Board meetings, contribute to working groups where possible, and engage with role-specific matters between meetings. An enhanced DBS check will be required and arranged by Basis.

We warmly encourage applications from people with diverse lived and professional experiences, particularly those currently underrepresented at the Board level.

Fine Cell Work (FCW) is a UK-based rehabilitation charity and social enterprise. We are supported by an incredible team of prison volunteers who are the link between the charity and the stitchers we work with in prison. Our volunteers run fortnightly stitching groups in the prisons we work with to facilitate our stitchers’ production of high-quality needlework.

Our prison volunteers work in small teams to teach our stitchers’ embroidery and needlepoint, organise their group sessions, and liaise with the prison and FCW office.

What you will do as a prison volunteer:

• Teach people in prison how to stitch and support the completion of our premade kits in our cell groups, which consist of around 10-15 stitchers.
• Communicate with staff at our hub in Battersea to receive kits and supplies for your group and send back completed work for your stitchers to be paid.
• Encourage and help stitchers to complete our Open College Network certifications in creative needlework.
• Develop stitchers’ skills and confidence by encouraging them to take responsibility as peer mentors.
• Act as an ambassador for the charity and sharing our vision and values throughout your volunteering.

Who we are looking for:

• Skills in embroidery and/or needlepoint or a willingness to learn to stitch is essential for this role.
• Ideally some teaching experience or experience working with socially-excluded groups.
• Someone with a non-judgemental attitude and commitment to rehabilitation.
• Someone who is an excellent team worker.
• Someone who is good at observing personal boundaries.

Commitment: our stitching groups run for 2 hours every fortnight, so with travel time and some admin work after groups we ask prison volunteers to set aside a morning or afternoon every 2 weeks.

You must be over 18 for this role with the ability to travel to the prison. Travel expenses will be reimbursed by the charity.

Please take some time to read the role description to find out more details about the role and what we offer to our prison volunteers. 

At Fine Cell Work, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented amongst FCW’s prison volunteers. This includes applicants from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+, and male identifying applicants.

About this Role: Volunteer Lead Security Engineer

Location: Remote

Commitment: Part-time (volunteer, pro bono role)

Contribution Requirements: minimum 10-15 hours a week; minimum 3 to 6 months.

About Solution Community:

Solution Community is an international 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, pioneering an innovative social platform dedicated to enabling actionable change. With volunteers from over 70 countries, we are a testament to the power of global collaboration. Our team members bring experiences from some of the world’s most successful companies, including Apple, Toyota, Google, Netflix, Walmart, Meta, and many others, creating a rich tapestry of knowledge and passion.

Our Mission:

To foster a global community of compassion, uniting individuals and organizations to solve the world’s social problems. We are the bridge that connects non-profits, businesses, philanthropists, and volunteers, empowering them to create meaningful change for current and future generations.

Our Vision:

Imagine a world where every person can thrive - a world united by collaboration, compassion, and action. At Solution Community, we are making that vision a reality and driving change that will shape the future.

Professional Volunteering:

Professional volunteering is skills‑based service performed with the same reliability, accountability, and quality expected in a paid professional role. Volunteers are core contributors whose work directly supports our mission of global compassion, collaboration, and action.

Expectations include:

• Consistent weekly availability

• Timely communication and responsiveness

• Ownership of assigned tasks and follow‑through

• Participation in team meetings and workflows

• Alignment with organizational values and processes

Examples:

• Attending your weekly team sync and sharing updates

• Responding to Slack messages within a reasonable timeframe

• Completing assigned tasks by agreed deadlines

Role Summary:

As our Lead Security Engineer, you will be the guardian of our digital ecosystem, designing and implementing secure systems that protect our platform, data, and global community. You will lead our security strategy, ensuring resilience, trust, and integrity across all technological initiatives.

Responsibilities:

• Design and Defend: Architect and implement robust security frameworks, policies, and protocols that safeguard our infrastructure, applications, and user data.

• Identify and Mitigate Risks: Proactively assess vulnerabilities, conduct security audits, and lead threat modeling to prevent and respond to potential risks.

• Secure Development Practices: Embed security into the software development lifecycle, guiding teams on best practices such as secure coding, encryption, and authentication.

• Lead Incident Response: Establish and manage incident detection and response processes to ensure rapid resolution and continuous improvement.

• Collaborate Across Teams: Work closely with engineering, product, and operations teams to ensure security is integrated into every layer of our platform.

• Educate and Empower: Mentor team members and raise security awareness across the organization, fostering a culture of shared responsibility.

Qualifications:

• Experienced Security Leaders: 7+ years of experience leading cybersecurity or information security, with a strong background in securing cloud-based systems and applications.

• Technical Experts: Possess deep knowledge of security principles, including network security, identity and access management, encryption, and vulnerability management.

• Strategic Thinkers: Able to balance security with usability and scalability, making thoughtful decisions in a fast-moving, mission-driven environment.

• Collaborative Communicators: Able to clearly explain complex security concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders across a global team.

• Mission-Driven Contributors: Deeply committed to our mission and able to consistently contribute 10–15 hours per week for the duration of the engagement. Your dedication, reliability, and sense of purpose drive meaningful progress and impact.

Team & Reporting Structure

• Reports to: Head of Engineering

• Collaborate with: Engineering, DevOps, Product, Data, and Leadership teams

• May lead or mentor: Volunteer engineers and security contributors

What We Offer:

• Global collaboration with leaders and strategists from top global companies

• Meaningful impact on global causes and communities

• A vibrant, multicultural team spanning 70+ countries

• A supportive environment rooted in compassion, integrity, innovation, and collaboration

• Flexible work life with full autonomy

• Opportunities for personal and professional growth

• A formal recommendation upon successful completion of your volunteer term.

About this Role: Volunteer Lead Security Engineer

Location: Remote

Commitment: Part-time (volunteer, pro bono role)

Contribution Requirements: minimum 10-15 hours a week; minimum 3 to 6 months.

About Solution Community:

Solution Community is an international 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, pioneering an innovative social platform dedicated to enabling actionable change. With volunteers from over 70 countries, we are a testament to the power of global collaboration. Our team members bring experiences from some of the world’s most successful companies, including Apple, Toyota, Google, Netflix, Walmart, Meta, and many others, creating a rich tapestry of knowledge and passion.

Our Mission:

To foster a global community of compassion, uniting individuals and organizations to solve the world’s social problems. We are the bridge that connects non-profits, businesses, philanthropists, and volunteers, empowering them to create meaningful change for current and future generations.

Our Vision:

Imagine a world where every person can thrive - a world united by collaboration, compassion, and action. At Solution Community, we are making that vision a reality and driving change that will shape the future.

Professional Volunteering:

Professional volunteering is skills‑based service performed with the same reliability, accountability, and quality expected in a paid professional role. Volunteers are core contributors whose work directly supports our mission of global compassion, collaboration, and action.

Expectations include:

• Consistent weekly availability

• Timely communication and responsiveness

• Ownership of assigned tasks and follow‑through

• Participation in team meetings and workflows

• Alignment with organizational values and processes

Examples:

• Attending your weekly team sync and sharing updates

• Responding to Slack messages within a reasonable timeframe

• Completing assigned tasks by agreed deadlines

Role Summary:

As our Lead Security Engineer, you will be the guardian of our digital ecosystem, designing and implementing secure systems that protect our platform, data, and global community. You will lead our security strategy, ensuring resilience, trust, and integrity across all technological initiatives.

Responsibilities:

• Design and Defend: Architect and implement robust security frameworks, policies, and protocols that safeguard our infrastructure, applications, and user data.

• Identify and Mitigate Risks: Proactively assess vulnerabilities, conduct security audits, and lead threat modeling to prevent and respond to potential risks.

• Secure Development Practices: Embed security into the software development lifecycle, guiding teams on best practices such as secure coding, encryption, and authentication.

• Lead Incident Response: Establish and manage incident detection and response processes to ensure rapid resolution and continuous improvement.

• Collaborate Across Teams: Work closely with engineering, product, and operations teams to ensure security is integrated into every layer of our platform.

• Educate and Empower: Mentor team members and raise security awareness across the organization, fostering a culture of shared responsibility.

Qualifications:

• Experienced Security Leaders: 7+ years of experience leading cybersecurity or information security, with a strong background in securing cloud-based systems and applications.

• Technical Experts: Possess deep knowledge of security principles, including network security, identity and access management, encryption, and vulnerability management.

• Strategic Thinkers: Able to balance security with usability and scalability, making thoughtful decisions in a fast-moving, mission-driven environment.

• Collaborative Communicators: Able to clearly explain complex security concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders across a global team.

• Mission-Driven Contributors: Deeply committed to our mission and able to consistently contribute 10–15 hours per week for the duration of the engagement. Your dedication, reliability, and sense of purpose drive meaningful progress and impact.

Team & Reporting Structure

• Reports to: Head of Engineering

• Collaborate with: Engineering, DevOps, Product, Data, and Leadership teams

• May lead or mentor: Volunteer engineers and security contributors

What We Offer:

• Global collaboration with leaders and strategists from top global companies

• Meaningful impact on global causes and communities

• A vibrant, multicultural team spanning 70+ countries

• A supportive environment rooted in compassion, integrity, innovation, and collaboration

• Flexible work life with full autonomy

• Opportunities for personal and professional growth

• A formal recommendation upon successful completion of your volunteer term.

Prison-based volunteers are the backbone of Fine Cell Work (FCW). Supported by the Fine Cell Work programmes team and by other staff at the FCW office, they teach and administer FCW stitching groups in prisons.

Prison volunteers work in teams to organise classes and teach our stitchers, as well as providing groups information to the prison and to the FCW office. The precise mix of skills will vary from prison to prison.

Volunteering in prison for Fine Cell Work requires ideally a good level of needlework skill (or a willingness to learn), some teaching experience and/or experience of working with socially-excluded groups. Volunteers must be patient and non-judgemental in order to work effectively. As a prison volunteer you will:

• Developing skills and confidence
• Teach prisoners to stitch FCW products within the framework of our training programme
• Encouraging and supporting prisoners to volunteer as class coordinators and peer mentors
• Encouraging and helping prisoners who wish to undertake their own creative projects
• Teaching prisoners to stitch FCW products within the framework of our training programme
• Encouraging and supporting prisoners to volunteer as class coordinators and peer mentors
• Encouraging and helping prisoners who wish to undertake their own creative projects

It is essential for volunteers to support FCW ethos, believe in rehabilitation, be an excellent teamworker, observe personal boundaries, be reliable and patient to ensure cell groups run smoothly, and have record-keeping skills and have at knowledge of tapestry/needlework. . 

Volunteers work in prisons around the UK dependant on where groups are based, therefore it is requred that volunteers will be able to travel to the relevant prisons. Travel expenses will be reimbursed by the charity. 

Please take some time to read the role description to find put more details about the role and what we offer to our volunteers. 

At Fine Cell Work, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in FCW’s workforce.

These include applicants from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities, LGBTQI+, and male identifying applicants as these are currently under-represented in our volunteers groups.

St Basils is looking for a new Non-Exec Director / Trustee with Marketing & Communications experience to join our Board

About Us

St Basils works with young people aged 16-25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, to enable them to find and keep a home, grow their confidence, develop their skills, increase opportunities and ultimately prevent homelessness.

We help just over 4,000 young people each year across the West Midlands, with services in Birmingham, Coventry, Sandwell, Solihull, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. Our services range from providing supported accommodation to outreach, advice, support, employability and engagement services to help young people regain the stability they need to rebuild their lives, gain skills, confidence and employment and move on. The aim is to help them successfully break the ‘cycle of homelessness’ so that they can go on to experience a bright, fulfilling future and never return to a state where they are at risk of homelessness again.

About our Board

We are a registered provider of social housing, a charity and a company limited by guarantee, meaning our Board members are both Directors and Trustees.

To navigate our challenging regulatory landscape, we need to be tightly governed. At the heart of this is a Board with the right knowledge, values, skills and diversity, all whilst working towards our vision that homelessness should not be part of growing up.

As a member of St Basils’ Board, you will be a guardian of St Basils’ charitable purpose. You will be responsible for holding the Senior Leadership Team to account through constructive challenge and support, and for ensuring St Basils’ strategic priorities are met.

You will form part of St Basils’ governance framework, providing oversight of key business areas, such as business planning, safeguarding, risk, finance, health and safety, EDI and business development. 

Our Board is made up of 14 members, 2 of which are designated for young people who have lived experience of homelessness and / or St Basils’ services.

St Basils has adopted the RACE Equality Code and is actively seeking applications from those from Black communities to ensure our Board is reflective of both the young people that we serve and our dedicated workforce.

About the Role

We are looking for a voluntary Director / Trustee with expertise in marketing, communications and/or public engagement to increase the reach of our campaigns. Our new Board member will need to strong networking and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to open doors and build relationships.

As our Marketing & Communications Board Member, you will:

· Ensure marketing initiatives align with the organisation’s goals and regulatory requirements.

· Support St Basils’ PR and marketing initiatives by bringing knowledge of current marketing tools

· Help identify opportunities to increase the visibility and impact of St Basils’ campaigns.

· Leverage personal and professional networks to enhance the charity’s reach, partnerships and fundraising potential.

· Work closely with the Director of Income Generation & Value Capture to ensure St Basils’ marketing and communications strategies are being implemented effectively.

• Contribute to trustee discussions and decisions on broader charity strategy, risk management and financial oversight.

Our new Director / Trustee will sit on our Business Support & Audit Committee which oversees central functions, including Finance, HR, Fundraising and Marketing. This committee meets virtually, one a quarter.

Although the role is voluntary, reasonable expenses will be paid for costs incurred in undertaking the role.

About You

You will be an experienced professional in marketing, communications, PR or brand strategy, ideally with experience in the youth or homelessness sectors.

You will demonstrate sound judgement and be able to challenge confidently and constructively, although you do not need to have Board experience.

Understanding of governance and the responsibilities of a charity trustee is desirable, but training will be provided.

You will work within the principles of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion and understand the needs of the diverse young people we serve.

You will put the needs of young people first, be passionate about ending youth homelessness and share our mission, vision and principles.

Time Commitment

You will need to be able to attend the majority of Board and Committee meetings, one of each is held each quarter (8 meetings total per year). Each meeting will last around 2 hours and will normally be held late afternoon/early evening (usually 4pm – 6pm). Board meetings are held in person at St Basils’ Head Office in Birmingham, and Committee meetings are held virtually via Microsoft Teams. The dates for meetings are set by calendar year, towards the end of the previous year.

Meeting papers will be shared via an online portal one week in advance of the meeting to allow for sufficient preparation time.

A Board away day is held each year, usually October, and every other year this includes an overnight stay. This will be fully paid for by St Basils.

We encourage Board members to visit our accommodation services to deepen understanding of our work and support effective governance and decision-making. We would like all Board members to make 2 visits a year if possible.

All travel expenses incurred in attending Board meetings / conducting site visits will be reimbursed by St Basils.

What’s in it for you?

We offer a series of essential online training courses (for example GDPR, Cyber Security, EDI, Safeguarding, Risk Management) and the opportunity to do additional online or in-person training, such as Psychologically Informed Environment training. As part of our commitment to race equality, we provide mandatory Anti-Racism training for all staff and Board members.

You will be part of a knowledgeable and supportive Board and have the opportunity to work alongside young people with lived experience.

You will have the guidance of a knowledgeable Chair to support your development as a Director / Trustee, and you will have access to St Basils’ Senior Leadership Team to help you fulfil your role.

St Basils is a learning organisation and therefore we are able to support and develop Board members who are new to the role. In addition, St Basils has membership with the Board Development Agency, which provides our Board Members with access to webinars and development tools specific to housing sector Boards.

Being a Director / Trustee at St Basils is more than just attending meetings – if you would like to contribute to an organisation that has young people at its core, where you can visibly see the difference you are making, then this is the role for you.

For further information please see the link to the full job pack.

We welcome early applications and will interview on a rolling basis.