Head of research and insight volunteer roles
How's your job search on our site?
About the board and Trustee role
Trustees are volunteers who oversee the strategic direction of the charity and ensure its compliance with regulators and the law. They are also ambassadors for the charity; and they provide the staff team, which does the day-to-day work, with both scrutiny and support.
The full board meets quarterly. Two meetings focus on ‘business’ – approving budgets and policies, making key decisions, etc. The other two are more discursive, covering strategic issues.
We have four sub-committees: Finance Audit Investment & Risk, Impact & Income Development, Research & Policy, and Governance & People. Trustees are generally encouraged to join at least one sub-committee, which gives them more detailed insight into the charity’s work in that area. A number of trustees choose to sit on multiple sub-committees (there is no upper limit) and trustees are also welcome to attend any sub-committee, for example as a one-off, to see what happens or if they have an interest in a particular agenda item. Sub-committees also meet quarterly.
And there is usually one strategy day a year.
We currently have eight trustees on our board, with experience in public affairs, law, policing, business, research, marketing, inclusion and influencing government. We are looking to a recruit four further trustees. Our primary focus is to bring different perspectives to the board rather than skills, given that the delivery of the charity’s work is delegated to a skilled staff team.
-
One trustee with experience of research (of any type) – an attitude of curiosity, intellectual rigour and open-mindedness.
-
One trustee with professional experience of alcohol treatment (at any level) – the perspective of delivering compassionate support via treatment services, whether charity or NHS settings.
-
One trustee with experience of strategic charity finance – especially interest in weighing up long-term financial strategic choices (not month-to-month financial management: we have a finance team).
-
One trustee from any background.
All trustees are asked to bring a commitment to and passion for our vision, mission and values.
What we can offer
-
Our board of trustees, and our charity as a whole, is warm and welcoming.
-
Everyone is entitled to have their views heard and we work hard to be inclusive of everyone.
-
We are well organised and professionally run.
-
We are a dynamic and fast-paced organisation, with a huge range of interesting work happening.
-
You will have opportunities for personal development and to attend a range of interesting events in your role as a trustee.
-
Finally, and most importantly, we are laser-focused on making as much difference as possible to end alcohol harm.
Trustees’ Role Description and Person Specification
Being a Trustee of Alcohol Change UK
Our Board of Trustees has overall responsibility for the UK’s leading charity in the field of alcohol harm. We are a registered charity (No. 1140287) and a company limited by guarantee (No.
07462605). Our trustees are also members of the charity and directors of the company. Governance is in accordance with both charity and company law. This role description uses the term ‘trustee’ to refer to all three roles (trustee, member, director).
As well as overseeing proper governance, the Board is responsible for strategic decision-making, upholding the reputation of the charity and ensuring that it delivers on its charitable object to reduce alcohol harm. As a trustee you will share this collective responsibility and bring your personal perspectives, skills, experience and connections to bear.
This is an important time for the charity, as we are in the third year of our five-year strategy (Apr 2024 to Mar 2029). Our new trustees will play a key role in helping us deliver on this strategy and in particular navigating a major change in our financial position.
The Duties and Responsibilities of Trustees
Governing Documents
Our primary governing document is the Memorandum and Articles of Association which sets out the formal duties and responsibilities of the trustees, directors and members. It is complemented by our Scheme of Delegation. We have also adopted the Code of Good Governance, and remain compliant with the rules of the Charity Commissioners and Companies House.
General Duties and Responsibilities
The following are general duties, based on documentation from the Charity Commission and Companies House:
- To act in the interests of the charity’s objects – that is, its cause and its beneficiaries.
- To act reasonably and prudently in all matters.
- To avoid personal views and prejudices affecting your decision-making.
- To protect – and actively promote – the property, interests and reputation of the charity.
- To set the strategic direction, provide strategic oversight, and make critical decisions.
- To always make decisions collectively as a board and in particular to actively support all board decisions (that are made in accordance with the charity’s constitution) regardless of your personal position on such decisions.
- To understand how the charity works, including being fully aware of the charity’s general risks and its financial position.
- To ensure compliance with all statutory requirements as set out by Companies House and the Charity Commission and by other relevant statutory bodies and legislation.
- To challenge and support the CEO and, through them, the broader staff team.
Additional Duties and Responsibilities
The following additional duties and responsibilities have been adopted by Alcohol Change UK:
- To abide by Alcohol Change UK’s policies, such as those on equal opportunities, health and safety, safeguarding, code of conduct, conflicts of interest, GDPR, etc.
- To endeavour to achieve at least 75% attendance at Board meetings. In accordance with the governing documents, trustees missing three consecutive board meetings without reasonable cause will normally be asked to step down.
- To undertake training as required and to participate in an annual development appraisal.
- To join at least one of the charity’s four sub-committees.
- To represent Alcohol Change UK at events and to act as a positive ambassador for Alcohol Change UK amongst its key audiences.
- To understand and respect the boundary between governance and the operational matters that are delegated to the staff team.
- To respond to Alcohol Change UK correspondence in a timely manner.
Person Specification
All trustees need the following:
- Strong commitment to the vision, values and mission of Alcohol Change UK.
- An ability to think strategically; that is, thinking of the big picture and the long-term, being impact-focused, and considering the relationship between internal and external factors.
- An ability to work as part of a team, especially understanding and respecting the nature of collective decision-making.
- Excellent communications skills, especially active listening, succinctness, clarity, positivity and tact.
- Commitment to the 7 Nolan Principles on Public Life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
- Discretion and the ability to maintain confidentiality.
- A willingness to contribute your individual skills, perspectives, knowledge and experience without acting as representative of any particular interest.
Trustees are appointed for an initial term of three or four years, following which they may be re-elected for a second and third term of three years.
Trustee roles are unremunerated but reasonable travel, accommodation, childcare and subsistence expenses are of course covered.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
We are Alcohol Change UK. We work for a society that is free from the harm caused by alcohol.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Trustee Opportunity at Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice South Lincolnshire is seeking new trustees to help shape the future of our high-performing advice charity.
With offices in Grantham, Spalding and Stamford, plus outreach centres across the region, we support a population of 225,000 people. Last year, we helped 14,000 clients with 60,000 issues and secured over £7 million of additional income for them. We are here for everyone to help people move on with their lives.
As a trustee, you’d join a well-known, respected charity, influence strategy, strengthen governance and contribute to meaningful change. This is an opportunity to share your expertise with other professional, dedicated trustees, gain valuable experience, build on your leadership and strategy skills, and increase your employability. Prior Board experience is not required.
We welcome expertise in digital media, finance, fundraising, HR, IT, law, marketing, PR, risk management, senior management, local government, or strategy.
What do you need to become a trustee?
Trustees don’t need specific qualifications, but we expect all trustees to have six core skills:
● Insight into the organisation: considering CASL’s objects and its public benefit strategically
● Challenging constructively: clarifying facts; stimulating thought
● Analysing issues: being objective; evaluating risks; using evidence; planning ahead
● Weighing up opinions: using evidence; balancing long- and shortterm; prioritising value
● Interpersonal skills: communicating clearly; listening actively; supporting a healthy culture
● Confidence and self-awareness: collaborating with others; treating everyone with respect.
The Board also values specialist skills as assets among its members:
● experience or qualifications in:
‣ business or charity leadership
‣ equity, diversity and inclusion
‣ facilitation
‣ finance and accountancy
‣ human resources
‣ IT, AI or digital media
‣ law or governance
‣ local government
‣ marketing, PR or communications
‣ risk management, or
‣ strategy development
● past experience as a client or service user of this (or a similar) organisation
● a track record of charitable fundraising, or
● being an effective chair.
Finally, competent trustees should have these six personal qualities to some extent, and demonstrate them in their behaviours:
● Committed - motivated, dedicated, persevering; plays an active role.
● Responsible - accountable, independent, reliable; accepts collective responsibility.
● Trustworthy - ethical, principled; is a critical friend and focuses on continuous improvement.
● Collaborative - team-oriented, approachable; builds relationships and seeks consensus.
● Confident - independent; contributes constructively and expresses opinions courageously.
● Thoughtful - curious, adaptable, open-minded; appropriately challenges the status quo
Please see the attached Information Pack for the Trustee Role Description and how to apply.
Also attached is the Trustee Application Pack and Trustee Recruitment Advert
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
As the Thackray Museum of Medicine looks to build on a period of bold strategic growth since our 2021 redevelopment, we are seeking an experienced, ambitious and community-minded Chair to lead our Board of Trustees. The Thackray is the UK’s largest independent medical museum: a dynamic, civic museum in East Leeds with a nationally significant collection of over 50,000 objects and a clear mission to inspire people with the passion and purpose of medicine and healthcare - past, present and future. Since reopening we have grown audiences, deepened community partnerships and developed an ambitious plan to be the UK’s leading medical museum by 2030.
Role: Chair of the Board of Trustees
Term: Minimum three years from 12th May 2026, renewable (maximum six years)
Commitment: Approx. 1–1.5 days per month (voluntary; reasonable out-of-pocket expenses reimbursed)
Your location: Ideally Leeds (nationwide considered); Board meetings four times a year (three may be hybrid; in-person presence preferred).
The Role:
The Chair will lead and steward an engaged, forward-thinking Board to support the CEO and senior team as the Museum consolidates recent gains and secures long-term resilience. You will ensure excellent governance, provide constructive challenge and support to the CEO, strengthen relationships with funders and partners, champion the Museum’s commitment to equity and community co-curation, and be an ambassador for the organisation locally and nationally.
Key responsibilities:
· Set strategic direction: Lead the Board in shaping, approving and monitoring delivery of the CEO’s strategy to meet the Museum’s mission and 2030 ambitions.
· Own governance & risk: Ensure high standards of governance, legal and regulatory compliance, and effective oversight of the risk register.
· Build board capability: Drive trustee recruitment, induction, appraisal and succession planning to secure the skills, diversity and lived experience needed.
· Partner with the CEO: Line-manage and support the CEO - offering constructive challenge, guidance on operations and people matters, and ensuring strong executive accountability.
· Champion income & profile: Use networks to open doors to major funders, partners and donors, and actively raise the Museum’s profile.
· Ensure financial stewardship: Oversee budgets, reserves and trading activity with the Treasurer and Finance Committee, and scrutinise financial reporting.
· Lead effective meetings: Chair Board meetings, encourage robust discussion, ensure timely decisions and follow-through on agreed actions.
· Represent and advocate: Act as an ambassador to civic partners, funders, media and diverse local communities.
· Steward the estate: Support oversight of capital, maintenance and estate priorities for the Museum’s Victorian building.
Who you are:
· Seasoned governance leader: Experienced chair or senior trustee with sound knowledge of trustee duties, charity & company law and governance best practice.
· Strategic thinker: Track record of leading strategy in museums, heritage, culture, health or education - or in complex, stakeholder-facing organisations.
· Fundraising connector: Proven at building relationships with major funders, trusts, corporates or donors and supporting successful income-raising and profile activity.
· Financially literate: Comfortable with budget scrutiny, risk oversight and the commercial realities of earned income models or trading subsidiaries.
· Capital & estate experience: Practical experience of overseeing capital projects, estate stewardship or major building maintenance.
· ED&I and community champion: Committed to equity, inclusion and co-creation, with evidence of widening participation and diversifying leadership.
· Confident ambassador: Excellent interpersonal and public-facing skills; able to represent the Museum credibly to varied audiences.
· Supportive leader: Able to challenge and develop senior executives while fostering a collegiate, high-performing board culture.
· Local affinity desirable: A strong connection to Leeds or experience working in diverse urban communities is an advantage.
For full details of the role including how to apply, please download the full appointment brief . To apply, please send an up-to-date CV, a Supporting Statement (no more than two A4 pages) outlining your interest and relevant experience, in confidence to Jenny Hills at Harris Hill via the apply button.
For an informal and confidential conversation about this position, please contact Jenny Hills at Harris Hill with times to speak and (optional but appreciated) a CV or professional profile which will be treated with the strictest confidence. There is also the opportunity for suitable interested candidates to speak to The Thackray’s CEO in advance of submitting an application.
Closing date for applications: 11.59pm, Tuesday 31 March 2026.
First stage interviews: w/c 13 April 2026 (tbc).
Second stage interviews: w/c 20 April 2026 (tbc).
The Thackray is actively committed to promoting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. We are a Disability Confident employer (registration number DCS036392) and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.
