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The Sutton Trust is at a pivotal moment in its development. For nearly three decades, we have been the UK’s leading voice on social mobility, working tirelessly to break the link between socio-economic background and life chances. Today, that mission is as urgent as it has ever been. Despite pockets of progress, social mobility in the UK remains low by international standards, with deep inequalities in education, access to professions, and regional opportunity continuing to limit life chances and economic potential.
We are seeking a Trustee with policy expertise who shares our commitment to fairness, evidence, and long-term change. We value diversity of thought and experience, and we are keen to hear from those who can help us navigate an evolving political landscape and leverage our research to challenge systemic barriers, ensuring our voice remains the most influential in the national drive to transform social mobility.
Duties and Responsibilities of a Trustee
Policy Responsibilities
- Providing oversight for the charity’s research and advocacy, ensuring the Trust’s work is mission-aligned, evidence-based, and intellectually rigorous
- Supporting the Board in discharging their collective duties around planning, risk and compliance, particularly in areas such as horizon scanning for upcoming legislative changes, political shifts and shifts in social trends affecting the Trust as well as specific regulations around political neutrality
- Leveraging their professional networks and expertise, enhancing the charity’s credibility and influence, ensuring our research translates into meaningful systemic change
General Responsibilities
- Inputting into and agreeing the Trust’s vision, mission and values and providing advice on the Trust’s wider purpose, goals and activities
- Inputting into and agreeing the Trust’s aims and long-term strategy in furtherance of its charitable purpose
- Ensuring key risks are identified, monitored and controlled effectively as well as keeping abreast of changes in the Trust’s operating environment
- Monitoring the Trust’s performance against its strategic aims, operational plans and budgets
- Safeguarding and promoting the Trust’s reputation, and acting in the best interest of the Trust at all times
- Ensuring the financial stability and sustainability of the Trust
- Ensuring the effective and efficient administration of the organisation, including having appropriate policies and procedures in place
- Ensuring proper arrangements are in place for the appointment, supervision, support, appraisal and renumeration of the CEO and they are held to account
- Contributing to regular reviews of the Trust’s own governance
- Ensuring the Trust complies with its governing documents, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations
In addition to the above statutory duties, each Trustee should use their specific skills, knowledge and experience to contribute to the Board’s decision-making, and dedicate sufficient time to carry out their responsibilities effectively. This may involve sitting on Board Committees, 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.
Trustees aim to support a specific member of the SLT based on their skills and experience or may participate in appropriate subgroups, e.g., Alumni Leadership Board, Education Advisory Group, (Development) Board meetings, etc.
Person Specification
Mission and Values
- Sympathetic to the aims of the Trust and its mission to address educational disadvantage
- High level of personal and professional ethics, integrity, and accountability
- Willingness to safeguard and promote the Trust’s reputation within the wider sector
Strategy and Interpersonal Skills
- Ability to think strategically in order to provide appropriate oversight and scrutiny for the Trust’s overall activity and direction
- Ability to confidently and fairly make evidence-based decisions and constructively challenge the decisions of others if required
- Ability to collaborate and work as part of a team to provide advice, make decisions, and/or solve problems
- A commitment to personal development and a willingness to participate in regular reviews of the Board’s own performance and governance
Governance, Risk and Finance
- Understanding of the legal duties of a Trustee (or willingness to learn), including compliance with Charity Commission and Companies House regulations and commitment to the roles and responsibilities of a Trustee
- Awareness of (or willingness to learn about) financial health indicators and organisational risk management
Specialist Expertise and Experience
- A background in public affairs, civil service, think tanks, education sector organisations or senior policy or research roles in (education) charities
- Strong understanding of how UK government (at local, regional or national level) and/ or the UK education sector works
- Strong influencing and communications skills with the ability to lead discussions, provide expert advice, and influence stakeholders in a professional manner
- Good understanding of how to translate policy jargon into clear, strategic advice for the wider Trustee Board
Interviews
Applications should reach us by 10am, Monday 30th March. First round interviews will take place on Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th April, and second round interviews will take place w/c 27th April or w/c 4th May. All interviews will be held at our London offices in Millbank Tower.
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!
Exciting opportunity to help shape the future of the UK’s leading Badger charity
Become a Trustee on our active board!
Badger Trust celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2026. We are the leading voice for badgers in England and Wales, dedicated to promoting and enhancing the welfare, conservation, and protection of badgers, their setts, and their habitats.
We have a network of over 50 local voluntary badger groups, growing all the time, supported by thousands of dedicated supporters and followers.
We are now seeking new Trustees to join our Board. These will support the current Trustees and Chief Executive in delivering the charity's objectives, ensuring we have the right mix of skills, experience, and people to achieve even more for badgers in the coming years.
For these vacancies, Badger Trust is particularly interested in people with experience in charity fundraising, law, and development planning to help us achieve our goals in these areas, building on our research, citizen science, and campaigning work.
Your skills
Trustees with a focus on fundraising will have a strategic approach to opportunities, and might offer support through one or more of the following methods:
- Identifying and reaching out to major donors and corporate partners
- Assisting in writing bids for grants and trust applications
- Offering guidance in planning and executing fundraising strategies and campaigns.
We encourage members of badger groups to apply to ensure the group network is effectively represented.
We are seeking applicants whose professional knowledge will bring value to our Board.
You should be a strong strategic thinker, capable of working collaboratively, and willing to engage with the broader role of Trustee. Badger Trust values diversity and aims to broaden our Board in terms of skills, background, and life experience.
We encourage all applications, especially from individuals of racially diverse backgrounds and those with disabilities, as these groups are currently under-represented on our Board.
We also encourage applicants from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds across the UK.
Time Commitment
The Board typically holds four to six meetings each year on Saturdays. Most of these meetings are conducted online, with two in-person meetings scheduled annually. However, there may be occasions when virtual meetings are necessary outside of the regular schedule.
We also conduct an Annual General Meeting (AGM) or Symposium, which Trustees are expected to attend and support. The head office is located in Brighton, but in-person meetings are
generally held in central England. The 2026 Badger Trust Symposium is being held at the University of Northampton.
In addition to routine Board activities, past and present Trustees have contributed to various initiatives and assisted with staff-led projects based on their skills, expertise, and interests. Examples of this work include assisting the creation of our planning and development guide, updating the guide to badger rescue and rehabilitation, engaging with Government and Parliament on the Planning & Infrastructure Bill, scrutinising Government policy and commissioning information searches, taking legal action, and assisting in the recruitment and interviewing of specialised staff.
Our Mission
Our mission is to promote and enhance the welfare, conservation, and protection of badgers, their setts, and their habitats.
Our Vision
Our vision is a world where badgers are respected as part of our rich wildlife heritage and are safe from persecution.
Chair, Rosie Wood, joined the board in 2021:
“Being on the Board of Badger Trust brings with it plenty of opportunities to learn and collaborate with people of like mind, which I hope you would expect. But it also offers opportunities to open conversations with different decision-makers who can drive change. It gives me scope to remake our arguments in fresh and compelling ways, informed – in my case –by sharing the background of those I need to engage with.
While we need people committed to protecting and conserving badgers, we also need them to understand those who can best help – funders, policymakers, lawmakers, and communicators. Don’t expect it to be a passive role – badgers need active friends and advocates. But it will rapidly build your skills, professional networks, and CV, and we will do our best to match your interests and availability to the Charity’s needs.
Content publishing template for Badger Trust ©Cox and Co Creative 2023 updated 24.04.2023
Badger Trust Vice-Chair, Phil Loveday, who joined the Board in 2023, encourages you to get in touch:
“I joined the Badger Trust board as I just love badgers and am a member of my local badger group. I also bring extensive organisational, educational and people skills gained during my career in teaching, including as a head teacher at large secondary schools in the Midlands.
I feel passionately that we need the next generation to have the chance to enjoy nature, and to do that, we need to protect it now — that’s what Badger Trust is all about. We need more experienced people willing to help guide the charity in the years ahead.”
Further information
Find out more about our work on our website, where you can also see details of our current Board. You can connect with us on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.
We are a registered charity and limited company, registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office for data protection compliance and with the Fundraising Regulator for fundraising compliance. We are also members of the Small Charities Coalition and NCVO for best practice, guidance, and support as part of our aim to be an effective and efficient charity.
We encourage applicants to ensure they are familiar with the legal responsibilities of a charity Trustee, and more information can be found on the Charity Commission’s website. See Badger Trust’s registration with the Charity Commission.
Trustee roles are voluntary and unpaid. Expenses for Board business will be reimbursed in line with our expenses policy. The final appointment to the Board depends on the election of the recommended Trustees at the AGM of Badger Trust by member groups.
How to apply
Please complete the Trustee application form (provided as a Word document) and send it back as a pdf, with a copy of your CV.
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!
Taunton Brewhouse is looking for trustees from all backgrounds. Key is sharing our vision for a bold, brilliant cultural venue in Taunton, adding to our existing skills and expedrience and prepared to to play an active role in meeting the challenges ahead.
If you have experience in general management and/or in HR, marketing or fundraising do get in touch. We also seek a lead trustee on finance - please see separate announcement.
As a trustee, you'll share responsibility for:
- agreeing strategy and goals for Taunton Brewhouse
- appointing and setting salaries for senior management
- giving oversight and support to management
- paying attention to financial management
- ensuring due diligence in all regulatory matters including safe-guarding
- ensuring a robust approach to management of risk.
You'll attend Board meeting although much work is carried out in projects or committees. You'll be an ambassador for Taunton Brewhouse and support our wider endeavours through attending press and community events.
There are 5 formal meetings pa held in evenings at Taunton Brewhouse. Other meetings are generally in the day and are organised around the diaries of those involved. We also aim for an annual 'away-day' to enable trustees time to reflect, plan and develop the organisation and themselves.
Please note that exceptional expenses are paid by prior agreement.
We aim to be in touch quickly both those who make a full application and those who prefer an informal initial discussion.
Registered Charity
11 - 20
We believe creative and performing arts should be experienced by and accessible to all and our mission is to make this a reality for our community.