16 Senior director volunteer roles in Edinburgh

Bring your voice and experience to a Board where it can shape real change. Join a national children’s health and wellbeing charity, challenge our thinking, influence our future and help us make stronger decisions for the children, young people and families at the heart of everything we do.

Compass exists for children, young people and families who need someone in their corner. For 40 years, we have delivered health and wellbeing services that give people access to the right support, at the right time and in ways that reflect their needs and communities.

We are looking for a voluntary Non Executive Director and Trustee to join our Board and help shape what comes next. This is an opportunity to use your knowledge, experience and perspective somewhere they can influence real decisions and help Compass remain ambitious, accountable and focused on the people our services exist for.

As a member of the Board, you will provide independent oversight, constructive challenge and fresh thinking. You will work alongside fellow Trustees and our senior leaders to help shape strategy, review organisational performance and ensure decisions are thoughtful, evidence informed and consistent with our charitable purpose and values.

Your role will reach across the organisation. You will contribute to discussions about service quality, safeguarding, workforce, finance, risk, performance and long term sustainability. You will ask the questions that help us think differently, test assumptions and understand the likely impact of our decisions. You will also share responsibility for ensuring Compass is well governed, uses its resources responsibly and meets its legal and regulatory duties as a charity.

This role is about more than attending Board meetings. You will have opportunities to deepen your understanding of Compass, connect with the people who deliver our services and see how Board decisions translate into practice. You will act as an ambassador for our work and help us build trust with the communities, partners and organisations around us. You will also contribute to at least one Board advisory group, bringing closer attention to an area where your knowledge, experience or curiosity can add value.

We want our Board to benefit from a range of voices and experiences. We welcome applications from people of all cultures, ethnicities, backgrounds and walks of life, including those underrepresented at Board level. This is not about asking anyone to speak for an entire community. It is about building a stronger, more representative Board that makes better decisions, challenges established thinking and understands the people it serves.

Previous experience as a Trustee or Non Executive Director would be valuable, but it is not essential. We are interested in what you can bring, whether that comes from your professional career, your community, your lived experience or a combination of these. You will need the confidence to contribute your views, the openness to listen to others and the integrity to put the interests of Compass and the people we support first.

You will be joining a Board where your contribution will be heard and valued. If you are curious about how your experience could help shape a national children’s health and wellbeing charity, we would encourage you to take a closer look.

This is a voluntary appointment. Expenses directly connected with carrying out the role, such as travel, will be reimbursed.

About ABT and Refutrees - Aid Box Trading (ABT), the trading subsidiary of Aid Box Community (ABC), is seeking a voluntary Co-Director to join the existing Director to provide strategic leadership, financial oversight and robust governance for its small trading operation — Refutrees seasonal project. This is a seasonal project running between November and December, so this role is most active between these dates with some work to tie up accounts in January/February.  

Refutrees is Aid Box Community’s much‑loved seasonal fundraiser, selling around 1500 locally grown Christmas trees each year and generating over £30,000 profit to support refugees and people seeking asylum in Bristol. Powered by hundreds of volunteers and thousands of customers, it operates as a vibrant community enterprise each festive season, with all profits funding essential support, crisis assistance, and wellbeing activities for our service users.  

This role is ideal for someone with senior management or governance experience who wants to make a meaningful contribution to a charity supporting refugees and asylum seekers. 

Who We Are

Tell My Truth and Shame the Devil C.I.C. (TMTSD) is a survivor-led organisation being established to create a platform for truth-telling, accountability, community healing and meaningful social change.

Our work centres the voices and experiences of people who have historically been ignored, silenced or left behind by existing systems.

TMTSD is a developing podcast and documentary storytelling platform designed to create space for real human experiences — particularly stories connected to childhood sexual abuse, adverse childhood experiences, survival, resilience and social neglect.

However, TMTSD is intended to become more than a storytelling organisation.

It is being developed as one of the organisations through which a much broader vision can be explored, developed and ultimately brought into reality.

TMTSD is a sister organisation of The SHG Family Group Corp, which is being established as a long-term innovation, creativity and closed-membership ecosystem focused on addressing significant social and economic challenges through technology, education, social infrastructure, sustainable enterprise and international collaboration.

SHG's long-term vision includes the development of interconnected initiatives across areas such as:

• Renewable Energy
• AI/Social/Community Housing
• Artificial Intelligence
• Education
• Cybersecurity
• Healthcare & Family Wellness
• Economic Development
• International Development
• Social Infrastructure
• Public-Private Partnerships
• Emerging Technologies
• Other strategically important sectors

The ambition is not simply to create individual projects.

It is to develop interconnected systems, organisations and initiatives capable of creating sustainable economic and social opportunity while improving quality of life — particularly for young people and communities across the Global South.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an exceptional Founding Director / Political Affairs Strategist to establish and lead the Political Intelligence Strategic Relations and Partnerships function within Tell My Truth and Shame the Devil C.I.C.

This is one of the most strategically important founding positions within the organisation.

The purpose of this department is to help move the SHG vision from concept to reality.

Many of the initiatives being contemplated within the SHG ecosystem will ultimately require relationships with:

• National governments
• Government ministries
• Local and regional authorities
• Public bodies
• Regulators
• International organisations
• Development institutions
• Universities and research institutions
• Major corporations
• Foundations
• Strategic investors
• Public-private partnership bodies
• International development organisations
• Other major institutional stakeholders

The Political Affairs function will therefore serve as a strategic bridge between SHG's ambitions and the institutions capable of helping those ambitions become real-world programmes, partnerships and infrastructure.

We are looking for someone capable of building that bridge.

Your Mission

Your central mission will be:

Build the Political Intelligence Strategic Relations and Partnerships (P.I.S.R.P) function within TMTSD into a capability that helps turn SHG's strategic initiatives and long-term vision into credible government, institutional and international partnerships.

You will help establish the relationships, strategies, structures and institutional pathways required for SHG's initiatives to progress from ideas and concepts into viable programmes, organisations, partnerships and real-world projects.

This means understanding not only how governments work, but also:

who needs to be involved, why they would become involved, what value SHG can provide, what conditions need to exist for collaboration, and how an initial relationship can develop into a meaningful long-term institutional partnership.

Your Role as Founding Director

You will become the founding architect of TMTSD's P.I.S.R.P function.

Your role will include determining:

• Which countries should be prioritised.
• Which government sectors are strategically relevant.
• Which ministries, departments and public bodies should be engaged.
• Which international institutions should be approached.
• Which SHG initiatives are ready for government engagement.
• Which initiatives require further development before approaching government.
• What SHG's government proposition should be.
• What value SHG can credibly offer governments and institutions.
• Which relationships should be developed.
• Which relationships should be escalated to senior leadership.
• What constitutes a qualified government opportunity.
• How government engagement should be structured.
• How government relationships should be maintained.
• How government intelligence should flow through SHG.
• What future international Political Affairs offices should look like.
• What type of people should eventually represent SHG in different countries and regions.

Your Strategic Mandate

You will be given the following founding mandate:

"Establish the P.I.S.R.P function within Tell My Truth and Shame the Devil C.I.C. and build the institutional pathways through which SHG's strategic initiatives can become reality."

The objective is to create a department capable of looking at an SHG initiative and asking:

What would it take to make this real?

Then determining:

• Which country?
• Which government?
• Which ministry?
• Which public institution?
• Which strategic partners?
• Which policy environment?
• Which regulatory requirements?
• Which funding mechanisms?
• Which institutional relationships?
• Which political and governmental stakeholders?
• Which sequence of engagement?
• Which leadership involvement?
• Which risks?
• Which opportunities?

The department should ultimately become the function that can say:

"This is how we take an SHG initiative from concept to institutional reality."

Core Responsibilities

The Founding Director will be responsible for building the function from the ground up, including:

Government Strategy

• Develop TMTSD/SHG's government-affairs strategy.
• Establish government-engagement principles and protocols.
• Develop country and jurisdiction prioritisation frameworks.
• Identify government sectors relevant to SHG initiatives.
• Monitor political, governmental, policy and regulatory developments.
• Provide strategic government-affairs intelligence to SHG leadership.

What We Are Looking For

We are not primarily looking for someone with a political science degree.

We are looking for someone who has actually operated around government, institutions and senior decision-makers.

Ideally, your career will include experience across combinations of:

• Government Affairs
• Public Affairs
• Government Relations
• Public Policy
• International Development
• Public-Sector Partnerships
• Diplomacy
• Government Contracting
• Ministerial or Government Offices
• International Organisations
• Regulatory Affairs
• Institutional Partnerships
• Major Corporations dealing with Government
• Strategic Stakeholder Engagement

Experience operating across multiple countries, jurisdictions or political systems would be particularly valuable.

Qualifications / Experience

Ideally, you will have:

• 5+ years' experience in government affairs, public affairs, government relations, policy, diplomacy, international development, public-sector partnerships or a closely related field.
• Demonstrable experience engaging with government departments, ministries, public bodies, senior officials or institutional decision-makers.
• Strong understanding of political and governmental systems.
• Strong stakeholder-management capabilities.
• Strong strategic-thinking ability.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience developing senior institutional relationships.
• Strong political and institutional judgement.
• Understanding of ethical government engagement and compliance boundaries.
• Ability to operate across cultures and jurisdictions.
• Ability to work independently and build a new function from the ground up.

Exceptional candidates may be considered with a different combination of experience where they demonstrate significant government, institutional or strategic capability.

The Person We Are Looking For

You understand that government affairs is not simply about knowing politicians.

It is about understanding systems.

You understand the difference between:

an introduction → a relationship → an opportunity → a partnership → an institutional programme.

You know how to navigate complex organisations. You know how to identify who actually matters within an institution. You can build credibility with senior stakeholders. You are politically aware without being politically partisan. You understand discretion, integrity and confidentiality. You are diplomatic without being passive. You are strategic without losing sight of execution.

You can take an ambitious idea and begin asking the practical institutional questions required to make it real.

You are comfortable with uncertainty. You enjoy building things that do not yet exist.

You think internationally. You think in decades rather than months. You care about creating meaningful social and economic impact. And importantly:

You want to build a function, not simply occupy a position.

The Founding Leadership Opportunity

This position is initially offered as an unpaid volunteer/member founding leadership opportunity during Phase 1.

The intention is to build the function alongside the organisation rather than create a permanent unpaid executive position.

As TMTSD and the wider SHG ecosystem develop, secure funding, establish operational entities and generate sustainable economic activity, appropriate paid executive positions will be created subject to organisational growth, governance, funding and operational requirements.

The successful Founding Director will therefore have the opportunity to help design the function they may ultimately lead.

To Apply

Please send:

• Your CV, portfolio or LinkedIn profile, if available.
• A short introduction about yourself.
• A summary of your government, public-affairs, policy or institutional experience.

We are particularly interested in understanding what you have actually done, the environments in which you have operated, the complexity of the relationships you have managed, and how you think strategically.

Founding Director of People, Culture & HR Innovation

Help us fix HR today — and design what HR becomes tomorrow.

We are looking for an experienced HR leader who is ready to do something very different.

Someone who understands HR, but also sees where it has become too bureaucratic, too process-driven and too disconnected from the creativity, ambition and humanity of the people it is supposed to support.

This is not a conventional HR management role.

This is a high-stakes founding opportunity to help rebuild our HR function from the ground up — while working with a team to design an entirely new, people-first way of working that could challenge the status quo.

The opportunity

Our immediate mission is practical: clean up, strengthen and professionalise our existing HR department.

That means looking honestly at what currently exists, identifying what works, what does not, what is missing and what has become unnecessarily complicated — then putting the right structures, policies, processes, governance and people practices in place.

But that is only the beginning.

Alongside fixing today's HR function, you will help us design the blueprint for the next generation of HR: an open-source HR platform and new way of working designed around people, creativity, innovation, development, fairness, accountability and better organisational culture.

We believe HR should be more than policies, procedures and risk management.

People are not processes.

Organisations should be places where people can think, create, challenge, develop, contribute and do meaningful work — while still having strong structures, accountability and professional standards.

We want to explore what HR could look like if we designed it around that principle from the beginning.

Two connected missions

1. Fix and strengthen HR today

You will initially help us:

• Review the existing HR function, structures and practices

• Identify gaps, weaknesses, risks and unnecessary bureaucracy

• Establish appropriate HR policies, procedures and governance

• Strengthen recruitment and onboarding

• Improve employee experience and people support

• Develop better approaches to performance, learning and development

• Ensure appropriate employment practices and HR compliance

• Create systems that can scale as the organisation grows

• Help build a strong people and culture foundation

2. Help invent HR for tomorrow

At the same time, you will work with the founding team to explore and develop:

• A blueprint for a new open-source HR platform

• A people-first approach to organisational design

• New approaches to employee voice and participation

• Better models for creativity, innovation and collaboration

• New approaches to leadership and personal development

• Psychological safety and healthy organisational culture

• Fairness, accountability and transparency

• The appropriate use of technology and AI in HR

• New ways of measuring organisational health and employee experience

• A framework that other organisations could potentially adopt, adapt and build upon

The ambition is not simply to improve HR within one organisation.

It is to ask:

What would HR look like if we were brave enough to redesign it properly?

You will be joining at a stage where there is significant work to do, significant problems to solve and significant things yet to be built.

That is precisely what makes the opportunity different.

For the right person, this could become a paid founding leadership position as the organisation develops, funding is secured and the wider structure is operationalised.

We are looking for someone who sees the potential in that journey rather than simply looking for an established job description and a finished organisation to step into.

This is an opportunity to:

build something.
lead something.
invent something.
leave a legacy.

If you have spent years watching organisations operate in ways that you knew could be better — and quietly thinking “someone should really change this” — this may be your opportunity to actually be one of the people who does.

You will not be doing it alone.

You will have the opportunity to build and work alongside a founding team, bring ideas into reality, test new approaches, learn from what does and does not work, and help shape something that can grow beyond its original founders.

The legacy opportunity

We are particularly interested in people who want their work to mean something beyond another position on a CV.

The long-term ambition is to create something that can be shared, developed and potentially adopted by others.

If successful, the HR model you help create could become part of a much larger body of work — something that demonstrates that organisations can be both high-performing and deeply human.

That is the opportunity.

Not to inherit someone else's HR system.

To help invent a better one.

Who we are looking for

You may be an experienced:

• HR Director

• Head of People

• People & Culture Director

• HR Transformation Leader

• Organisational Development Leader

• Senior HR Consultant

• HR strategist or practitioner

You should have substantial practical HR experience and understand the realities of employment, governance, organisational risk and people management.

But experience alone is not enough.

We want someone who:

• Thinks critically about conventional HR

• Is comfortable challenging established thinking

• Can distinguish between necessary structure and unnecessary bureaucracy

• Is genuinely people-centred

• Understands organisational design and culture

• Can move between strategy and practical implementation

• Has an interest in innovation, technology and AI

• Is capable of building systems rather than simply operating them

• Can work collaboratively with founders and other senior leaders

• Is comfortable working in an environment where not everything has already been figured out

• Wants to create, experiment and improve — not simply maintain the status quo

Most importantly, you should want to build something.

What we can offer

This is initially a voluntary founding leadership opportunity during Phase 1, as the organisation develops its foundations, structures, funding and operating model.

However, the intention is that the right founding leaders can have the opportunity to progress into substantive paid leadership positions as the organisation grows and the relevant funding and operational capacity are secured.

This is therefore an opportunity to get involved early, have genuine influence over the direction of the organisation and potentially grow with what you help build.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Shape the HR function from an early stage

• Work directly with the founding leadership team

• Influence organisational culture from the beginning

• Help develop an original HR model

• Build a team around the work as the organisation grows

• Contribute to something with potential beyond the organisation itself

• Establish yourself as a founding leader in an emerging model of people and organisational practice

• Progress into a paid founding leadership positionh

🌎 VOLUNTEER FINANCE MANAGER / TRUSTEE TREASURER

UK-based | Remote | Flexible

Could your financial expertise help make a real difference?

We are looking for an experienced Finance Manager / Accountant to join our international charity on a voluntary basis and help strengthen our financial management as we grow.

Working closely with senior management, you will provide financial oversight, guidance and reporting, helping us make informed decisions and ensure our resources are managed responsibly.

What you'll do:

• Oversee accounting and financial reconciliations
• Support budgeting, forecasting and financial planning
• Prepare clear financial reports for senior management and trustees
• Monitor income, expenditure and financial controls
• Provide financial advice and support strategic decision-making
• Help develop strong financial systems and processes

What we're looking for:

• Strong professional experience in finance, accounting or a similar role
• Excellent analytical and organisational skills
• Confident using Excel and Microsoft Office
• Able to communicate financial information clearly
• Reliable, proactive and comfortable working remotely
• Charity/NGO experience is desirable but not essential

Professional qualifications such as ACA, ACCA or CIMA are welcome, but relevant experience is more important.

Why volunteer with us?

This is an opportunity to use your professional skills to support an international charity and directly contribute to work that makes a difference to communities in need.

⏰ Flexible commitment
📍 UK-based / Remote
❤️ Voluntary / Unpaid 

If you're an experienced finance professional who would like to give something back and become part of our team, we'd love to hear from you.

Initially we are looking for a Finance Manager, however, if the board feels after a 3 month trial, the candidate is the right fit, this position could lead to a Trustee/Treasurer role.

Please send a short introduction and your CV.

Global | Remote | International travel as required

Shape a flagship programme. Transform lives. Build stronger families.

Project Yananai is looking for an experienced and purpose-driven Program Director – The Journey to lead the global development and implementation of our flagship marriage preparation programme.

‘The Journey’ is designed to support participants from singleness through dating, courtship and engagement, helping couples build strong foundations for lasting, healthy marriages. You will shape the programme strategy, curriculum and learning experience while building the mentors, partnerships and country-level teams needed to take it global.

This is a unique opportunity to build something from the ground up and create a programme with international reach and long-term impact.

What you’ll lead

• Global strategy and delivery of The Journey
• Curriculum and blended learning development
• Recruitment, training and development of mentors and facilitators
• Participant acquisition, onboarding and cohort management
• Safeguarding, participant support and pastoral care
• Monitoring, evaluation and continuous improvement
• Leadership of National Program Managers across our focus countries
• Strategic partnerships with churches, faith-based organisations and family-focused organisations

What we’re looking for

You’ll bring 8+ years’ experience in adult education, programme management, online learning or a related field, including senior leadership experience. You’ll have strong curriculum and learning expertise, experience working across cultures, and the ability to turn a vision into a scalable, high-impact programme.

Just as importantly, you’ll be empathetic, culturally sensitive and comfortable supporting people through deeply personal relationship journeys.

What’s on offer

• A seat on the Global Executive Leadership Team (GELT)
• The opportunity to build and shape a flagship international programme
• Global scope with flexible remote working
• International travel opportunities
• Professional development
• Flexible remuneration arrangements, including a voluntary pathway and a performance-linked commission model

Project Yananai is a UK-registered international charity working across India, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. We specialise in poverty alleviation programmes through sustainable skills development and compassionate humanitarian aid.

If you have the vision, experience and passion to build The Journey into a globally recognised programme, we’d love to hear from you.

Role: Director of Local Operations

Job Description:
Youth Advantage UK is seeking a volunteer Director of Local Operations to develop and lead its Local Operations Departments (England and Wales; Scotland and Northern Ireland) in identifying and delivering on opportunities for the organisation to have an impact at a local level through commissioned research projects. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring these Departments produce high-quality research projects which meet the goals agreed with the commissioning organisations and grow Youth Advantage’s reputation and reach in line with its strategic policies. Working closely with the COO and the Policy and Ethics Departments, the ideal candidate will use their prior experience to effectively guide and strengthen the organisation’s ability to enable evidence-based, positive local change. They should have excellent writing and speaking skills, IT literacy, and the ability to work well independently and in a team.

This role reports directly to the Chief Operating Officer.

Responsibilities:

● In line with the organisation’s strategic priorities, to lead the Local Operations Department in designing, developing and implementing impactful research and project objectives.

● To line manage the Head of Local Operations (England and Wales) and the Head of Local Operations (Scotland and Northern Ireland), supporting them to effectively manage their own teams and to develop and implement the frameworks necessary for producing top quality research projects based around both desktop research and fieldwork.

● To work with HR in creating a strong Local Operations Department composed of individuals with the appropriate skills and expertise. To ensure these volunteers are appropriately supported and trained during their period of service.

● To work alongside the Policy Department to source potential commission and project opportunities, shaping the focus and output of the Local Operations Department accordingly.

● To develop short- and long-term strategies in relation to the Department’s activity, ensuring that these align with the wider strategies of the organisation.

● To liaise with the Policy and Ethics Department of the organisation on an ongoing basis, ensuring that their advice is incorporated into Departmental decisions and output.

● To take responsibility for relationships with key external stakeholders, at all times representing the organisation positively and professionally.

● To work on an on-going basis with the other members of the organisation’s Senior Leadership Team in determining its strategic priorities and incorporating these into the Department.

● To monitor, analyse and respond to external trends which impact on the organisation’s strategies and the Local Operations Department’s activities.

● To work closely with the organisation’s Communications Department in developing and implementing effective strategies to raise the organisation’s profile and impact.

● To create blogs and articles on related issues and to find and distribute information on related topics which may be of interest to the other organisation members.

● To support the Chief Executive Officer in presenting local operations strategies to Youth Advantage’s Trustees.

Requirements:

● Experience in research and planning, leading key campaigns or programmes.

● High-level understanding of carrying out quality desktop research and related fieldwork, ideally in an area related to the organisation’s priorities.

● Excellent knowledge of a range of methods and approaches to effectively disseminating research results.

● Excellent leadership and organisational skills, with proven experience of setting priorities and motivating team members.

● Excellent writing and speaking skills.

● IT literacy, including proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Suite.

● Ability to work well independently and in a team.

● Strong attention to detail and organisational skills.

● Ability to prioritise tasks and manage time effectively.

Benefits

● Gain valuable experience in leading a research and project team.

● Opportunity to work with a dedicated and passionate team.

● Flexible working hours.

External Trustee (HR) 

University of Cumbria Students’ Union 

Location: Remote / Cumbria 

Contract: Voluntary Trustee position 

Time commitment: Approximately one day per month, particularly during the first year 

Are you an experienced HR, People and Culture leader looking to use your expertise to support a student-led organisation making a real difference to students’ lives? 

University of Cumbria Students’ Union (UCSU) is seeking an External Trustee with strong strategic HR, People and Culture expertise to join its Board of Trustees at an important time for the organisation. 

About UCSU 

University of Cumbria Students’ Union is the independent Students’ Union at the University of Cumbria, representing and supporting students across campuses in Carlisle, Ambleside, Lancaster, London and Barrow-in-Furness. 

As an External Trustee, you will bring independent professional expertise to support effective governance, strategic leadership and organisational development. 

This is a particularly important time to join UCSU as the organisation prepares for the departure of its current Chief Executive after 10 years. The successful candidate will have an opportunity to support the Board through this transition and help ensure strong leadership and governance for the future. 

About the Role 

As the HR specialist on the Board, you will provide strategic expertise, constructive challenge and support on people, culture and organisational development, while contributing to the wider responsibilities of the Trustee Board. 

In this role, you will: 

• Provide strategic HR and People & Culture expertise to support Board decision-making. 

• Provide insight on equality, diversity and inclusion, employee engagement, succession planning and organisational change. 

• Support the recruitment and induction of a new Chief Executive. 

• Contribute to effective governance, risk management and strategic decision-making. 

About You 

UCSU is looking for an experienced HR, People and Culture professional with significant senior-level experience and the ability to contribute effectively at Board level. 

You will bring: 

• Strong strategic HR, People and Culture or organisational development experience. 

• Experience of organisational strategy, change and transformation. 

• An understanding of good governance and the ability to provide constructive challenge. 

• Strong communication, judgement and relationship-building skills. 

• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. 

• Experience of supporting and developing others, including people at different stages of their leadership journey. 

Experience of the Higher Education would be valuable, but is not essential and candidates with relevant experience from other sectors are encouraged to apply. 

Commitment 

The Board meets approximately five times per year, usually via Microsoft Teams. Trustees are expected to prepare for meetings, review papers in advance and actively contribute to discussions and decision-making. 

For this particular appointment, the anticipated commitment is approximately one day per month, particularly during the first year, reflecting the additional involvement required around the recruitment and induction of a new Chief Executive. 

Most Trustee activities can take place remotely, although the successful candidate will be expected to attend in-person activities approximately three to four times per year. 

How to Apply 

To apply, please click Apply Now. You will need to submit an up-to-date CV and complete an application form, where you will be asked to answer three questions (maximum 300 words per question): 

• Why are you interested in applying and how do you feel your personal values align with our mission? 

• What are the key skills, knowledge and achievements that make you a strong candidate for the role? 

• What do you believe are the most significant contributors to Board effectiveness? 

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Nida at Atkinson HR Consulting via the contact information provided on the Candidate pack.

Key Dates 

Closing date: 12 noon, Tuesday 29 September 2026 
Interview date: Week commencing 12 October 2026 (remote) 

Seeking a Chair/Co-Chair and a Treasurer

Are you passionate about helping children develop a love of reading? 

We are looking for a Chair/Co-Chair and a Treasurer with Board level experience to support our small but mighty charity to bring the joy of reading to primary school children across the country.

Location: Online Salary: Voluntary with reasonable expenses reimbursed

Deadline for applications: 30th September 2026

About Us:

The Children’s Bookshow is a national charity that inspires children with a love of books and reading through an annual programme of inspiring theatre and digital performances and engaging creative workshops. We showcase some of the best authors and illustrators of children’s books from around the world, and celebrate children’s literature in translation. 

We are an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation that has been running successfully for 24 years. Each year, we deliver 15 events in venues ranging from iconic theatres such as The Old Vic in London to community spaces and smaller scale theatres such as the New Wolsey in Ipswich, plus a programme of 60 creative workshops in primary schools. We target areas of high socio-economic deprivation, support environmental sustainability, and partner with local authorities, libraries and education providers. Every child who attends our theatre performances receives a free copy of the author’s book to take home and keep. This is integral to our offer - putting excellent books directly into the hands of children.

“Having Frank Cottrell-Boyce in for a free workshop really did make such a difference to our school and to our children. Frank was able to inspire every single child to write, no matter their need or ability, and children who would normally be reluctant to share their ideas in front of the class were confident to do so. Every single one of them went home talking non-stop about the amazing author they had met - with many now inspired to become authors. I can't put into words how grateful we are or how much of an impact those couple of hours have had on both the children and staff.”  Teacher,Winyates Primary, Peterborough

The opportunities:

If you have the expertise and passion to support our work and help us to deliver the impact and change experienced by Winyates Primary, then we would love to hear from you!

Thanks to successful fundraising, The Children’s Bookshow is financially stable for the next two years. Iterative growth and continued financial sustainability are crucial for us to fulfill our aspirations for the future: 

• Give more primary school children the invaluable experience of a live author event at a local theatre.

• Enable children to work creatively with a world class artist in their own classroom.

• Increase book ownership by putting a free book into the hands of every child who attends one of our performances.

We are recruiting a Chair/Co-Chair and a Treasurer to join our Board of highly-skilled, committed and friendly Trustees to guide and support us in achieving these aims.

Chair/Co-Chair:

We are looking for a passionate and dedicated Chair/Co-Chair to lead our Board of Trustees. You will work with our Board to ensure good governance, and act as a supportive, critical friend to our Senior Leadership team. 

What You Will Do

• Lead Board meetings and maintain focus on our core mission.

• Support and guide our CEO and Senior Leadership Team.

• Collaboratively with Trustees, ensure our charity complies with legal duties and Charity Commission regulations.

• Act as an external figurehead to help raise our profile.

We Are Looking For:

• A commitment to the values and mission of our charity.

• Strong strategic leadership, communication, and listening skills.

• A supportive, engaged and positive approach helping to move our charity forward to achieve our shared aims.

Time commitment: around 8-10 days per year.

Treasurer:

We are seeking a new Treasurer to ensure high standards of financial governance and decision-making, and to act as a key sounding board for the Co-Directors in the financial planning, management and reporting of our charity. This will include overseeing our annual budget and cashflow and quarterly management accounts, and advising on how best to invest our reserve fund. 

We are looking for: a skilled and experienced  finance professional, ideally with accountancy qualifications, with Board level experience with a UK charity and an interest in our work.

Time commitment: around 5-7 days per year.

Meetings:

There are typically four Board meetings a year lasting around an hour. Three of these meetings take place online and we endeavour to meet in person once a year in central London for a meeting followed by lunch. We welcome Trustees to attend our theatre performances and online events wherever possible to directly experience our work. 

We also have a Finance and Operations Committee that occasionally meets online and reports to the Board, which Trustees are invited to opt into to share their expertise in specific areas such as Finance, Staffing, Fundraising and Development. 

How to apply

Please email your CV and a covering letter (each a maximum of 2 sides of A4) detailing your relevant expertise and experience for the role of Chair/Co-chair or Treasurer, and why you would like to be part of The Children’s Bookshow. We look forward to hearing from you. 

The Children’s Bookshow is committed to creating a collaborative Board of Trustees that is inclusive and representative of our society. We actively encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds and from all sections of society to apply. 

As the Guild has grown in the past few years, our risk management, financial controls, and body of policies and procedures have also matured. Following the scheduled departure of two trustees earlier this year, the Guild’s Finance Subcommittee is seeking to welcome an independent member with relevant skills to attend meetings and advise on financial matters to help us make good decisions effectively.

This voluntary role supports trustees and staff by providing independent insight, constructive scrutiny, and professional expertise on financial planning, budgeting, risk, and long-term sustainability. As a guest to Finance Subcommittee meetings, you will review financial information, contribute to discussions, and help ensure resources are used effectively to maximise our charitable impact for students.

The Finance Subcommittee currently consists of two elected Officers, two external Trustees, and may include a student trustee in future. Papers and reports are ordinarily provided by the Guild Director, who is a non-voting guest to Subcommittee meetings. The Subcommittee normally meets four times per year for around two hours.

Students’ Union experience is not essential, but we are seeking a volunteer able to operate within our distinctive context. We are particularly interested in applicants with experience in finance, accounting, audit, charity governance, or business management.

Role overview

Trustee — Programmes

About us: Could you help us get millions of separated children Back to Family?

Orphanages don’t protect children, they harm them. Put simply: the last thing an orphanage can provide is the first thing a child needs - someone to love them. 

Right now, 5.4 million children around the world are locked away in orphanages — even though over 80% of them are not orphans. Orphanages expose children to abuse and trafficking, and physical and psychological trauma that can last a lifetime. A century of evidence shows that the bond between a child and their family is what every child needs to grow, thrive and be safe. 

The role

As our Programmes Trustee, you will bring senior international development or humanitarian programmes expertise to our Board, helping to strengthen the quality, scale and impact of HHC's work across nine countries. Working closely with our Chair, CEO and Director of Global Programmes, you will contribute to our ambitious 2030 goal by:

• Programmes leadership — drawing on your senior experience to provide strategic oversight and constructive challenge on HHC's programme delivery, quality assurance and evidence base, helping ensure our work delivers real and lasting change for children and families.
• Systems change — advising the Board and Executive on how to drive and sustain national-level care reform across the diverse contexts in which HHC operates, including fragile and conflict-affected settings.
• Humanitarian financing — supporting HHC's ambitions to transform how the humanitarian sector finances work addressing children in orphanages and those at risk of family separation, drawing on your understanding of macro-level financing mechanisms and how they can be influenced.
• Safeguarding and risk — contributing to the Board's oversight of the risk, regulatory and safeguarding context for an international organisation working directly with vulnerable children and families.

Who we are looking for

You will bring senior leadership experience in a programmes function within an NGO, multilateral organisation, government body or major funder — particularly in work with marginalised children, families and communities. Beyond that, we are looking for someone who brings:

• A track record of overseeing or leading programmes at scale across multiple countries or regions, including in lower income, middle income or fragile and conflict-affected settings
• Extensive experience of programme strategy, quality assurance, monitoring, evaluation and learning, and of using evidence to drive decision-making
• A sound understanding of the international development and humanitarian sector, including donor landscapes and the operating environment for international NGOs
• Experience of working in partnership with local government and other stakeholders to bring about systems change

Above all, you will share our belief that every child deserves to grow up in the love and safety of a family, and our commitment to driving that change with courage, integrity, excellence and being deeply human. 

What we offer

This is a voluntary, unremunerated role. In return you will:

• Engage with our work across nine countries 
• Contribute to systemic change at global scale, helping to shape the future for separated children worldwide
• Be part of an organisation approaching its 2030 goal — a worldwide consensus that orphanages have no place in any child's life

Time commitment

The role requires approximately 12–18 days per year, comprising:

• Four Board meetings per year (in person, London or virtual)
• Five subcommittee meetings per year (virtual), as a key member of our Programmes, Advocacy, Research and Accountability Committee (PARAC)
• An annual two-day awayday, which may take place in one of our countries of operation
• Additional time for preparation, ad hoc queries and induction in your first year

The initial term of office is three years, with the possibility of two further three-year terms by mutual agreement.

Closing Date: The final cut off for applications is 17.00 UK time on Thursday 8 October 2026 so please get in touch if you have the right skills, experience and passion for our cause.

To apply, please upload your CV and a brief covering letter indicating why you are interested in joining the Hope and Homes for Children Board and how your experience, skills and values map to the requirements of this role.

Diversity

Hope and Homes for Children actively encourages equity, diversity and inclusion, and we look to recruit a diverse range of people to reflect the communities in which we live. We are keen to see a diverse membership of both the trustee body and committees as we believe diversity brings us closer to our mission of eliminating orphanages.

Thank you for considering this role. Every child deserves to grow up in the love and safety of a family

Contract type

Volunteer

Hours

12 - 18 days per annum

Salary

Voluntary (expenses paid)

About Us

The Child Beale Trust is a registered charity dedicated to public recreation, wildlife conservation, and education. Based at Beale Wildlife Park, our unique operations include a vibrant 40-acre zoo set within 350 acres of picturesque Thameside land.

Our core purpose is to preserve and enhance Beale Park as a place of natural beauty, wildlife conservation, and meaningful discovery for generations to come. To connect people with nature through conservation, education, and accessible outdoor experiences that inspire care for the environment and wellbeing for all.

By joining our board, you will play a critical strategic role in ensuring our activities remain values driven and mission-led on these charitable objectives, protecting this beautiful asset for generations to come whilst delivering impact for our beneficiaries. To secure our governance and drive our mission forward, we are expanding our board. We are explicitly looking for mission-led individuals who want to help us deliver on our charitable objectives.

We are currently seeking five distinct specialists to join our board:

• 1. Zoo or Veterinary Specialist -The Role: Provides high-level governance oversight for Collection, animal welfare, veterinary protocols, and captive breeding standards -Who you are: A registered vet, zoologist, or senior animal care professional who understands BIAZA and Zoo Licensing Act compliance.

• 2. Education Specialist (wildlife focussed) - The Role: Helps shape our educational outreach, school workshop strategies, and curriculum-linked visitor learning programs. - Who you are: A teacher, educational consultant, or learning coordinator with a passion for wildlife.

• 3. Visitor Recreation Specialist - The Role: Guides the strategic development of our public visitor experiences, family attractions, and park play/leisure assets.- Who you are: A professional from the leisure, tourism, or visitor attraction sector who understands how to optimise visitor experience and income.

• 4. Marketing & Communications Specialist - The Role: Advises on strategies to grow ticket sales, boost annual memberships, enhance digital marketing, and protect brand PR. - Who you are: A senior marketing manager, PR director, or commercial growth expert. 

• 5. Legal & Compliance Specialist - The Role: Provides oversight on health and safety, public liability, employment law, and charity governance frameworks.- Who you are: A qualified solicitor, legal counsel, risk compliance manager or H&S qualified professional. 

Our Culture & Values, Equal Opportunities, Diversity & Accessibility. How we work together matters just as much as our professional expertise. We pride ourselves on a board culture rooted in collaboration and mutual support. We welcome trustees who are open minded, listen generously to alternative viewpoints, and desire to work collectively in a positive, constructive environment to champion the charity’s goals. 

The Child Beale Trust is a fully inclusive and equal opportunities employer and charity. We value diversity and positively welcome applications from all backgrounds, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. 

Please apply even if you do not meet every piece of criteria listed above. We are always seeking to increase diversity of thought, experience, and background on our board. If you share a deep passion for our mission and believe you bring other relevant skills or perspectives that could help us grow, we would love to hear from you. 

How to Apply

Please submit your CV along with a brief covering paragraph outlining your background, which area you feel you can support, and why you are passionate about supporting our conservation and education goals.

Note: This is a voluntary position with only reasonable expenses paid.

We are seeking two enthusiastic and committed individuals to serve on our Board. This is an exciting opportunity to join an ambitious organisation working at the intersection of law, campaigning and social justice. As a Trustee, you will help shape the future of PILC, ensuring that we remain true to our purpose while continuing to deliver meaningful impact for the communities we serve.

We are committed to developing and maintaining a Board that is as inclusive as possible and representative of the communities we work alongside. Therefore, having lived experience in an area of our work would be advantageous. We welcome applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives, recognising that a diverse Board strengthens discussion, improves decision-making and helps us better fulfil our mission.

We are particularly interested in applications from individuals who have legal expertise (ideally in the non-profit sector), or expertise in Human Resources or Finance.

As a member of the Board of Trustees, you will oversee the strategic direction, governance and financial sustainability of the organisation. You will help ensure that PILC has a clear strategy, that its resources are used effectively, and that its activities remain aligned with its charitable objectives and values. You will also provide constructive support and challenge to the Senior Management Team, helping the organisation to develop, grow and achieve its mission.

Trustees have collective responsibility for the governance of the charity. This means that decisions are made collectively by the Board and trustees share responsibility for those decisions, always acting in the best interests of PILC.

Please note that this is a voluntary position, but reasonable expenses will be reimbursed. The time commitment for this role is approximately 8-10 days per annum. The Board meets online on the 3rd Monday of every other month from 6-8pm and trustees are required to attend with their cameras on. All Board papers are circulated usually 2 weeks ahead of the meeting. All applicants must be based in the U.K. 

Duties
As a Trustee, you will be expected to:
• Attend bi-monthly Board meetings (held remotely), having read the papers in advance and being prepared to contribute constructively to discussion and decision-making.
• Attend the annual Board away day and Annual General Meeting (AGM).
• Support, promote and provide advice on PILC’s charitable purpose, vision, values and strategic objectives.
• Approve operational strategies, policies, and monitor and evaluate their implementation.
• Oversee PILC’s financial sustainability by reviewing and approving budgets, PILC’s financial statements and monitoring and evaluating financial performance.
• Ensure that the charity is well governed, effectively managed and compliant with its legal and regulatory obligations.
• Support the effective management of risk and ensure that appropriate systems of internal control are in place.
• Provide appropriate support, constructive challenge and accountability to the Director in the exercise of their delegated authority.
• Keep informed about developments affecting PILC, the non-profit legal sector and the wider operating environment.
• Contribute to the regular review and continuous improvement of the Board's effectiveness and governance arrangements.
• Exercise independent judgement, act with reasonable care and skill, and always act in good faith in the best interests of PILC’s, managing any actual or potential conflicts of interest appropriately.
• Act as an ambassador for PILC, promoting its work and using your skills, knowledge, experience and networks to support the organisation where appropriate.

Trustees wanted – help shape the future of Musculoskeletal Education with SOMM

We’re looking for engaged, thoughtful and proactive Trustees to join the Council of the Society of Musculoskeletal Medicine (SOMM).

This is a working Board, and we are looking for people who will contribute, challenge and help move the organisation forward.

What we need - We are particularly keen to hear from individuals with expertise in:

· Digital / Data Strategy – digital transformation, data-driven decision making, cyber awareness

· Marketing & Communications – brand, engagement, audience or membership growth

· Commercial / Growth (desirable) – income diversification, business development

The Role -  As a Trustee, you will:

· Contribute to strategy, governance and long-term direction

· Provide constructive challenge and independent thinking

· Support key areas of organisational development

· Act as an ambassador for SOMM

Commitment: 3–6 meetings per year + occasional project work (approx. 2–4 hours/month)

We are looking for someone who will bring:

· Sound judgement and integrity

· A willingness to contribute and engage

· The confidence to challenge constructively

Why join us?

· Shape a respected national MSK education provider

· Work with a knowledgeable and supportive Council

· Make a genuine, tangible impact

Diversity & Inclusion

SOMM is committed to building a diverse and inclusive Council. We actively welcome applications from individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, including different ethnicities, genders, career stages, and sectors, to better reflect the communities we serve.