Sustainability volunteer roles

Volunteer-led East London Waterworks Park won a 2024 NLA award and raised £2m towards buying the 14-acre Thames Water Depot (Lea Bridge Road) to turn into a new biodiverse park with natural swimming, forest schools, and community spaces.

We are looking for service designers to participate in our community-led working group who are leading improvements in our collaborative social infrastructure. Meetings are every 4 weeks on a Tuesday evening on Google Meet with remote tasks. 

What are we looking for?
 

1. Service Implementation: Expert in design methodologies, ecosystem mapping, visual concepts, and prototyping. Translates insights into tangible service improvements. 

2. User Research: Experienced in behavioral research, ecosystem context, and facilitating co-creation workshops to drive innovation. 

3. Community Engagement: Skilled in inclusive co-design, building community ownership, and communicating complex ideas simply. 

4. Collaboration: Multidisciplinary team player with a systems-thinking approach. 

5. Desirable: Tech-proficient, impact measurement, and inclusive design.

By leading research and service design projects that explore how diverse professionals collaborate to shape community infrastructure, volunteers will directly contribute to the development of a park that reflects the needs and desires of the local people. Your input will help us craft experiences that inspire and engage, driving support for the park's mission and long-term sustainability.

Hide Cleaner Volunteer

About The Role

At the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust we are involved in creating and conserving wetlands and the species who live in them.  At Washington Wetland Centre we develop and maintain visitor areas which provide enjoyable areas which enhance the visitor experience. 

What you will be doing:

• Cleaning and tidying of hides to include litter picking, sweeping out, window cleaning and shelf cleaning
• Maintaining approaches to hides

Volunteering as Hide Cleaner at WWT Washington is a great opportunity to get to see some of our best wildlife from the hides while you work, interact with a range people, including staff and visitors, and make a valuable difference to the upkeep and presentation of our reserve.

Volunteers are an essential part of the WWT team. You’ll get a warm welcome, including information on training, equipment and anything else you need. 

If you are interested in volunteering for WWT but don’t wish to apply online, please email us, or give us a call and leave a message with your name and number.

About You

This role would suit you if:

• You are able to work both independently and as part of a team
• You are physically fit and do not mind working outdoors in all weathers
• You are able to communicate effectively, including the ability to interact with visitors you may meet whilst undertaking your role in order to engage them with the work of WWT

How will you benefit?

• Working in the fresh air with like-minded people
• Exercise and all round fitness with a great view and an opportunity to see amazing wildlife while you work
• Being part of a small, friendly team and getting to engage with a range of different people during your day, including staff, volunteers and visitors
• Discount is available in the cafe and shop on the days of volunteering and you will get free entry to all WWT wetland centres throughout the UK on presentation of your WWT name badge.

Please Note that this role is only suitable for applicants over the age of 18.

We are particularly looking someone that is available for one day a week Sunday-Thursday.

About Us

We’re WWT, and we’re on a mission to restore the super-powered ecosystems we call wetlands. There’s never been a more important moment for our work, and we’ve got some phenomenal people on the case.

Whether they’re taking a new visitor under their wing, or conducting ground-breaking research further afield, our team are second to none. And there’s nothing we love more than watching them soar.

Whatever you do here, you’ll be helping to restore wetlands and unlock their power. So, the only question left is, what role will you play?

Why you’ll love volunteering at WWT

• Feel good knowing you are helping to restore wetlands, and our world
• Be surrounded and inspired by like-minded wetland lovers
• Hear from the people who inject their energy, passion and expertise into wetlands and wildlife – talks, walks, webinars, tea and cake…
• Free entry to all our wetland centres, including your family
• Volunteer discount on shopping and memberships
• Access to webinars and practical information to help you manage daily life

How to Apply

For more information on this role, and others, and to apply please visit our webpage. 

We look forward to hearing from you!

Volunteer Opportunities at Coombe House Farm
Our farm is in the early stages of an exciting journey. We are already cultivating a vibrant mix of fruit and vegetables, including our no-dig beds, polytunnels and orchard. We currently care for chickens, ducks, sheep and guinea pigs with more animals being introduced as the site develops. We are expanding and would love volunteers to join our friendly team! 

Interested in volunteering? Please contact Claire Taylor, Assistant HR Manager for further details.  We are always happy to discuss how you can get involved. We can then advise you of the application process and next stages. 

At FareShare, we stop good food from going to waste and give it to people who need it in our local community. Our Volunteer Drivers deliver food to our Community Food Members which is vital to ensuring the donated food we receive gets to the right people, instead of going to landfill. 

What will I be doing? 

• Safely driving vans to deliver and collect food 

• Loading and unloading food orders, planning routes and completing paperwork 

• Responsibly driving the van, cleaning the van, reporting any issues or accidents 

• Representing FareShare in a courteous and professional manner and, where necessary, you will be accompanied by a Volunteer Driver’s Assistant. 

Why volunteer as a Driver with FareShare? 

• Gain skills such as route planning, manual handling, organisation, teamwork and communication skills 

• Meet new people, be part of a team and socialise with other volunteers and Community Food Members 

• Be physically active, keep fit and help vulnerable people in your community. 

Requirements for the role: 

• Hold a full driving licence with no or low points 

• Be over 21 with minimum 3 years driving experience 

• Have the confidence to drive a medium-sized van (training/support will be offered where needed) 

• Be able to perform physical manual handling tasks safely including loading/unloading food from the van 

• Have the ability to complete paperwork and follow directions via Sat Nav system/map 

• Be adaptable and flexible. Managing surplus food is unpredictable and tasks can vary 

• Be positive, friendly and personable 

• Be able to work well in a team and on your own 

• Follow health and safety policies & procedures 

We are committed to embracing diversity and promoting equality and inclusion. As part of your application, please let us know of any health conditions or access needs that might impact your volunteering with us. 

Reliable Media brings together the Stop Funding Hate and Stop Funding Heat campaigns under one organisational umbrella.

Our mission is to make hate and climate misinformation unprofitable by persuading advertisers to stop funding media outlets and platforms that spread harmful narratives. We believe advertising shapes culture and that, by disrupting the financial incentives behind harmful media, we can build an information ecosystem that is inclusive, accountable and climate responsible.

Would you like to help drive our campaigns?
We are currently seeking new voluntary Board members to strengthen our governance and support the next stage of our mission to make hate and climate misinformation unprofitable.

At this point in time, we are especially looking to appoint:

• A Treasurer to provide strategic financial oversight and support long-term sustainability and
• A Board Member with Legal expertise to help us take informed, proportionate risks and navigate a complex media landscape.

We want to ensure that diverse voices are at the heart of our Board. We’d especially welcome applications from racialised communities, people from ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, people from minority faith backgrounds, including those disproportionately targeted by harmful or discriminatory media narratives.

Being a Board Member may be voluntary but it’s still a real commitment. We meet quarterly, stay in regular contact between meetings and must be willing to be legally (and publicly) responsible for a high-profile campaigning organisation. Board Members are also engaged in various working groups, such as fundraising, governance or DEI or offer short-term ad hoc support where they have relevant expertise. But it’s hugely rewarding. You would be helping to ensure Reliable Media continues to challenge harmful media narratives, shift industry norms and make hate and climate misinformation unprofitable.

East London Waterworks Park is looking for volunteers to lead social media and content creation for communications and campaigning for our community-owned park.

East London Waterworks Park is a volunteer-led charity that has won a 2024 New London Architecture award and raised £2m towards buying land from the Department for Education to transform the 14-acre Thames Water Depot on Lea Bridge Road on the border of Waltham Forest and Hackney, into a new biodiverse park with natural swimming ponds, forest schools and community spaces. 

We are looking for social media and content creator leads to participate in our community-led working group who are promoting public awareness and support of the project. 

There is opportunity to lead on projects across communications, content creation, social media, PR, newsletters, film, podcasts or any other channels of interest, and facilitate the direction of the working group.

The Comms Circle currently meets every 4 weeks on a Tuesday evening on Google Meet and spends voluntary time outside of the meeting completing agreed tasks remotely.

You will be at the forefront of our digital strategy to create a huge new biodiverse park and natural swimming ponds. We’re looking for creative and strategic thinkers who can craft compelling narratives and visually stunning content. You should have a deep understanding of social media platforms and analytics tools to measure and optimize our campaigns. Your ability to build and engage with online communities is crucial, as is your skill in managing media relations. We value individuals who are passionate about our mission and can bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the role. You will be comfortable with community-led processes. Our roles are quite flexible. We hope that people bring radical imagination, peace with nature, and courageous inclusiveness to the role. 

Contribute to the creation of a new biodiverse community-owned park with free access natural swimming ponds. Your strategic content creation will be instrumental in fostering a strong connection between our community, the park, and its biodiversity. Your input will help us craft compelling narratives that inspire, educate, and engage our service users, stakeholders, funders, and the general public, ultimately driving support for the park's mission and ensuring its long-term sustainability.

Become a Young Trustee of Young Citizens and help light the spark of active citizenship for children and young people!

With citizenship education set to become statutory in primary schools, votes at 16 on the horizon, and growing concern about the health of our democracy, this is a pivotal moment to join Young Citizens as a Young Trustee.

For over 35 years, Young Citizens has helped children and young people understand society, engage in democracy and make a positive impact in their communities. Through flagship programmes like The Big Legal Lesson, The Big Democracy Lesson, the Make a Difference Challenge and National Mock Trial Competitions, we bring citizenship to life in classrooms and communities across the UK – reaching 300,000+ young people every year.

Our five-year strategy, Lighting the Spark, is focused on making sure every young person in the UK experiences powerful, practical and immersive citizenship learning. As a Young Trustee, you will help shape this next phase of growth, strengthen our financial sustainability, and ensure we make the most of the opportunities ahead.

This is a voluntary role (reasonable expenses reimbursed) and a chance to play a strategic part in strengthening UK democracy through education.

Role Snapshot: 

• Contribute to shaping Young Citizens’ strategic direction and monitoring performance
• Help ensure compliance with charity law and our governing document (training provided)
• Safeguard the charity’s values, reputation, and financial integrity
• Support effective use of resources and long-term sustainability
• Work with fellow trustees to advise and support the CEO
• Act as an ambassador for Young Citizens, promoting our mission and building connections

Why join as a Young Trustee?

• Play an important role in guiding a national charity at a critical time for civic education.
• Bring your perspective as a young person to Board discussions - your lived experience matters.
• Gain governance experience, develop leadership skills, and learn how charities operate.
• Receive full induction, safeguarding training, and ongoing support, including a mentor trustee.

In short, you’ll help ensure hundreds of thousands of young people every year gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to participate meaningfully in society.

What We Are Looking For

We’re looking for young trustees who bring fresh ideas, big-picture thinking, and a collaborative spirit. You’ll approach the role with openness and integrity, ready to learn, grow, and champion Young Citizens beyond the boardroom.

We welcome applications from young people aged 18–25 who are passionate about active citizenship and youth voice. You do not need prior board experience - training and support will be provided. We’re looking for potential, and learning as you go is part of the role. If you have experience or interest in any of the following areas, that’s great (but not essential):

• Citizenship education or youth engagement
• Marketing, communications, or influencing
• Business growth and partnerships
• Digital innovation or technology
• Fundraising and income generation

We also welcome diverse experiences or educational backgrounds, including leadership, public service, law, finance, policy, or community involvement.

If you want to play an active role in guiding strategy and making decisions that matter, ensuring hundreds of thousands of young people every year have the skills and confidence to engage fully in society, we’d love to hear from you!

Role Requirements

The role requires around 4–6 hours per month, including preparation and engagement between meetings. Trustees attend four board meetings a year (usually weekday evenings in London), monthly online finance updates, and an annual Away Day. Appointments are for an initial three-year term, with potential renewal. While day-to-day operations are led by the Chief Executive and senior team, trustees hold ultimate responsibility for governance and compliance. 

To learn more about the role and the application process, please refer to the job pack for full details.

Shop Volunteering Opportunities

Faversham

Our shops are at the heart of local communities raising vital funds for our fight against homelessness and bad housing - and they’re powered by our volunteers!

Suggested Involvement: It’s up to you! We have volunteers who support for one hour a week and others who volunteer more. Many people volunteer for a morning or an afternoon each week, but we’ll have a chat about your availability after you’ve applied.

Availability: The shop is open Monday - Saturday 09:00-17:00 and Sunday 10:00-17:00. 

Location: Shop in Faversham, ME13 7AL

Supervised by: Community Shop Manager/Assistant Manager

Why volunteer with Shelter? 

Home is a human right. It's our foundation and it's where we thrive. Yet, every day millions of people are being devastated by the housing emergency.

We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.

We’re passionate about what we do, and love giving second-hand clothing a chance of going to a good home. Our shop teams ensure fighting the housing emergency never felt so fun. 

What can I do?

After you’ve filled in an application, we will invite you for an informal chat to find the right role for you. Some roles involve a basic criminal record check being completed during recruitment. Having a criminal record does not mean that you cannot volunteer with us, but it may impact the ways you can get involved.

• Volunteering in the shop

Our retail volunteers are in the middle of it all, and there’s plenty to get involved with. You might be sorting stock, engaging with customers, ringing items through the till, creating fantastic window displays or keeping our shop floor looking organised.

- You will not undergo a criminal record check for this role  

• Volunteering in a leadership role

Our volunteer supervisors help with overseeing the running of our shop and creating a fantastic environment for our customers. You may be involved with coordinating and supporting other volunteers, operating computer systems, and being a key point of contact for the shop.

Skills and Experiences Required:

We welcome applications from people with a wide range of skills and experiences. You don’t need to have volunteered or worked in a shop before as full training will be provided. What’s important to us is that you are a team player, open to learning and willing to follow Shelter’s policies and can be an excellent ambassador for Shelter. We particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience of bad housing or homelessness.

Induction, Learning and Development:

To enable you to take part in this opportunity Shelter will:

• Welcome you with a Volunteer Handbook
• Provide training, induction, and ongoing support from your Shop Manager to help you feel confident in your role
• Refund any out-of-pocket expenses in line with Shelter’s volunteer expenses policy

Benefits of volunteering with Shelter…

• Supporting Shelter in our fight against bad housing and homelessness
• Gain valuable experience in a retail environment
• Getting involved in your local community and being part of a great team
• Build your confidence and develop transferable skills

We aim to respond to all applications within 14 days

If you would like to find out more about the volunteering opportunity before applying, why not pop into the shop, or contact the shop manager.

Our Second Home (OSH) is the UK’s youth movement of people with refugee backgrounds. We have welcomed over 600 young people from 50 countries to our activities in London, Essex and Bristol.

Mission

For young people with refugee experience to build community, become leaders and flourish into adulthood in the place they call home. Through transformative activities, our members take control of their lives and create meaningful change for themselves and their wider community.

About This Role

OSH is at a pivotal point in its development.

Over the past few years, OSH has grown from a small, founder-led organisation into a national movement with increasing reach, complexity, and ambition. Our income has risen from £250,000 to £500,000, our staff and volunteer base is expanding, and our programmes are reaching more young people than ever before.

OSH now needs confident, experienced, and future-focused governance that can support scaling while protecting the culture, values, and relational way of working that make the organisation distinctive.

Your role will involve 4 main areas:

1. Board Leadership and Governance
2. Strategy and Organisational Leadership
3. CEO Support, Appraisal, and Accountability
4. External Representation and Engagement

More information is in the recruitment pack attached.

About You

Essential

• Significant experience in organisational and strategic leadership, ideally including guiding a charity or mission-driven organisation from small to medium scale
• A proactive and forward-thinking mindset, demonstrating the ability to anticipate potential issues and risks while identifying opportunities.
• Strong understanding of good governance, with the confidence to lead a board and hold senior executives to account
• Experience of or exposure to fundraising, financial sustainability, and organisational development
• The ability to balance support and challenge, particularly in a Chair - CEO relationship
• Commitment to OSH’s mission and values, including a genuine willingness to engage with and be guided by those with lived experience of the asylum system
• Highly organised and dynamic, with the ability to prioritise the effective use of Board time, facilitate the timely and focused distribution of information, and ensure appropriate follow-up to Board decisions.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the emotional intelligence to lead inclusively, collaboratively, and sensitively

Desirable

• Lived experience of asylum or forced migration
• Previous experience as a Chair or Vice-Chair of a charity or similar organisation
• Experience working with youth-led or lived-experience-led organisations
• Familiarity with safeguarding in youth or community settings

Education Volunteer Role Description 

Are you passionate about changing the way we treat animals? Do you want to help reduce environmental damage? Do you want to inspire people to enjoy healthy vegan food that both looks good and tastes great? 

The Vegan Society aims to make veganism more accessible. We help people to adopt a vegan lifestyle by supporting individuals, policy- and decision-makers, caterers, manufacturers, healthcare professionals and the media. 

Why do we need you? 

Laura Chepner is our Education Officer, and she is looking for a volunteer to support her in her role. Laura has a background in education, with a degree in Primary Education which preceded a decade of teaching and a short stint in the role of SENco (Special Educational Needs Coordinator). Shortly after that, Laura theorised vegan-inclusive teaching, published An Educator’s Guide for Vegan-Inclusive Teaching and worked as the UK’s first vegan-inclusion education specialist until joining The Vegan Society. 

At The Vegan Society, Laura supports vegan learners in education who have been discriminated against by acting as an intermediary between their families and the institution. Additionally, Laura supports educators by creating resources and delivering training sessions on what it means to be vegan-inclusive in their practice. Furthermore, Laura empowers parents/guardians to ask for vegan-inclusion by creating documents, with the help of The Education Network, that they can present and highlight their rights. 

What does this role involve? 

We support vegan learners and their families by offering practical resources, including tips for discussing veganism with schools, understanding legal protections and addressing concerns like catering and inclusivity. Our resources aim to help create an educational environment where vegan families feel respected and valued. This role will involve creating resources for families and educators. For example, template letters, guidance on legal protections, policy review requests, learning materials for children and much more.

What training and support is available? 

The ideal candidate for this role will have a background in Primary Education and be comfortable working independently. However, we are always willing to invite volunteers along to staff training when possible and to deliver training on specific skills in-house, as identified throughout the volunteering period. This role is remote, so support from the Education Officer will be available through email and phone calls as required. Monthly reviews with the Volunteering and Engagement Officer will also be conducted to ensure the volunteer is happy in their role. 

What skills would be useful in doing this role? 

• Qualified teacher

• Good written English

• Competent using Microsoft Office

• A strong understanding of the aims, campaigns and tone of voice of The Vegan Society 

• The ability to work independently. 

What does my availability need to be?  

This is an ongoing role and tasks will be requested by Laura on an ad hoc basis, volunteers can accept or decline each task. Volunteering can be done outside traditional working hours and in any time zone, although meetings and staff support will only be available between 9am and 5pm UK time. We ask volunteers to commit to a minimum of six months to make the best use of recruitment and induction time and to get the best out of their volunteering experience.

Who does this role report to?

Laura Chepner, Education Officer and Kaya Gromocki, Senior Volunteering and Engagement Officer.

Here’s 5 reasons you’ll love to volunteer in our shops:

1. It's fun

2. It's flexible

3. You'll learn and share skills

4. You'll be making a difference

5. You'll work with a great team

We’re passionate about what we do, and love giving second-hand clothing a chance of going to a good home. Our shop teams are key to raising vital funds for our work and act as incredible advocates for the rights of children both in the UK and around the world.

Please note that this is a voluntary, unpaid role, based in the UK. We are unfortunately not able to provide support with visa requests.

Volunteering in the shop

Our Retford Shop Volunteers are in the middle of it all, and there’s plenty to get involved with. You might be sorting and pricing stock, engaging with customers, ringing items through the till, creating fantastic window displays or keeping our shop floor looking organised.

It’s up to you how much you commit. We have volunteers who support for a couple of hours a week and some do more. Many people volunteer either a morning or an afternoon each week - this is something that will be discussed at the selection stage, after you’ve applied.

Why volunteer with Save the Children?

In over 110 countries, we support children to transform their lives. By providing live-saving short-term help, and pushing for deep-rooted social change, we help children take, their future into their own hands. We believe every child has the right to learn. Every child should have good food to fuel their bodies and every child should have medicine when they're sick.

Skills and experiences we seek

We welcome applications from people with a wide range of skills and experiences. You don’t need any retail or shop experience as full training will be provided. What’s important to us is that you are a team player, open to learning and to follow our policies as well as be an excellent representative for Save the Children.

We know that our shop teams are stronger when they are inclusive and representative of their communities. Everybody can make a real difference. People come to us for all sorts of reasons, from all backgrounds, and we will do what we can to find a role that works for you.

What happens next?

After you’ve filled in an application, we will invite you for an informal trial shift. It’s a great opportunity to visit the shop, meet some of our existing volunteers and have a go at some of the tasks that you would be supporting with as a shop volunteer. Hopefully allowing you to get a feel for the role and make sure it’s for you. We also ask for a couple of references (these don’t have to be formal workplace ones, just someone who has known you for over 6 months and isn’t related).

How to apply 

Express your interest on email via the apply button.

Please note that this is a voluntary, unpaid role, based in the UK. We are unfortunately not able to provide support with visa requests.

Leicestershire LGBTQ+ Centre is recruiting new Trustees to join its Board at a pivotal time of growth and regional expansion. With a 50-year history of supporting LGBTQ+ communities, the Centre is transitioning from a city-based service to a regional organisation serving Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland, guided by a bold five-year strategy.

We are seeking committed individuals to join our Board, including a General Trustee and a Treasurer. Trustees play a vital role in governance, strategic direction, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the charity. This is an opportunity to contribute your skills and experience to a well-established, community-led organisation delivering counselling, youth and adult groups, creative activities, advocacy, and outreach services.

Trustee roles are voluntary, with an average time commitment of 5–6 hours per month. We particularly welcome applications from trans people, those with financial experience, and individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. Training, induction, and reasonable expenses are provided.

This is a chance to make a meaningful impact and help shape the future of LGBTQ+ support across the region.

Mind in Haringey is an independent charity organisation providing vital mental health services to our community in Haringey for over 35 years.

We have a broad and exciting range of services and projects running in a dynamic, evolving environment. We are constantly striving to develop and improve our services through listening to our community, peers, and staff team to evaluate and deliver the best possible projects for our community. 

We particularly encourage applications from those with lived experience of mental health, from racialised communities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and residents of Haringey who are passionate about changing things for the better in the borough. 

Haringey is a melting pot of culture, history, and resilience. Though there is much that needs to be improved, we are proud to work as part of a community that has displayed great strength in hardship both in the past and in more recent years. Interested in joining us in this work? We look forward to receiving your application for the role.  

We are currently looking for new trustees to join our board of trustees to support with continuing the positive work being undertaken to ensure Mind in Haringey’s sustainability as an organisation. 

Our trustees are the individuals who collectively make decisions on behalf of Mind in Haringey and oversee the general management of the charity. They ensure that Mind in Haringey has a clear purpose and direction, is financially solvent, well run and delivers its goals for the people we serve. Trustees are expected to undertake duties in a manner that reflects Mind in Haringey’s values and ethos.

Our charity has an ambitious agenda and is committed to reducing the racial and health inequalities that exist in Haringey. We support all people across the borough with mental health issues, providing a range of services to meet the diverse needs of our community.  

Join the non-executive Board of Governors of the University of Wolverhampton and help shape the future of an inclusive, values-driven university through strategic leadership, independent challenge, and a shared commitment to the transformative power of higher education.

Who we are

Independent Governors are non-executive members of the University’s Board of Governors. They bring independent judgement, strategic insight, and professional expertise to support the University’s long-term success, financial sustainability, and compliance with an increasingly complex regulatory environment.

The Board operates through a constructive partnership between Governors and the Executive, underpinned by mutual respect, clarity of roles, and a shared commitment to the University’s mission. Governors are responsible for strategic oversight, assurance, and governance, while the Executive team retains accountability for operational leadership and delivery.

Independent Governors are expected to work collaboratively, valuing strong relationships, open dialogue, and collective responsibility. The role requires a genuine commitment of time and attention, including engagement in discussions and workshops that support informed decision-making and long-term stability.

About the role

Setting direction and providing strategic oversight:

• Contribute to the definition, approval, and review of the University’s mission, values, and strategic priorities.
• Support the Board in maintaining a clear long-term strategic direction that is responsive to a volatile external environment.
• Provide assurance on institutional performance and future strategic positioning.

Ensuring financial sustainability and effective governance:

• Monitoring financial performance, long-term sustainability, and the effective management of risk.
• Overseeing governance frameworks and ensuring regulatory compliance, including with the Office for Students Conditions of Registration.
• Ensuring adherence to the University’s Instrument and Articles of Government, Board Regulations, and the Committee of University Chairs Code of Governance.

Providing constructive challenge and assurance:

• Offer informed questioning and constructive challenge, supporting robust decision-making.
• Recognise and respect the professional expertise and leadership of the Executive team, providing oversight without encroaching on operational management.
• Receive and evaluate assurance on delivery, outcomes, and the effectiveness of strategic execution.

Working in partnership with Board leadership and the Executive:

• Effective governance depends on strong relationships and clear communication. Independent Governors are expected to:
• Adopt a collaborative, relationship-based approach that supports Board cohesion and effectiveness.
• Maintain a ‘no surprises’ approach, keeping the Chair appropriately informed and supported.
• Be prepared to adapt thinking and support changes in strategic direction where required.
• Commitment, engagement, and ambassadorship.

The role requires:

• A meaningful commitment of time, including attendance at Board and committee meetings, strategy sessions, and workshops.
• Ongoing development of knowledge of higher education governance, policy, and regulation.
• A willingness to act as an ambassador for the University, representing and promoting it at key events and formal occasions, including graduations

Governors are expected to act in line with the Nolan Principles of Public Life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership.

Appointments are typically for a three-year term, renewable up to nine years, with a 12-month probationary period. The time commitment averages a minimum of 5 hours per month, plus preparation, briefings, and 2 annual strategic away days.

Who we are looking for

We welcome and encourage interest from experienced, values-driven individuals who can bring independent, strategic thinking and senior professional expertise to the University of Wolverhampton’s Board of Governors.

Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee

We are looking for an experienced and commercially minded leader with either direct experience of leading audit and risk services for large and complex public institutions as clients, or as an experienced non-executive with prior service on an audit & risk committee. The successful candidate will have an excellent understanding of the business cycle of an audit & risk committee, including its critical oversight role in financial management, risk, and regulatory compliance, and the importance of audit in ensuring the long-term sustainability and governance of a higher education institution.

Independent Governor – Digital Transformation

We are seeking an individual with extensive experience leading major programmes of IT and digital change, linked to infrastructure planning, capital development, and investment to support organisational growth. This role requires the ability to bring strategic insight into how technology and digital initiatives can transform operations, enhance student and staff (customer) experience, and deliver long-term institutional impact.

Independent Governor – Higher Education Policy & Regulation

We are seeking a candidate with significant experience in higher education policy, regulation, or governance, gained either through work in government, advising government, or supporting the sector through professional and membership organisations.

Candidates could also come from think tanks or policy organisations with expertise in shaping higher education strategy, regulation, and compliance. This role requires an understanding of the wider higher education landscape and the ability to contribute insight into regulatory, policy, and sector developments that affect the University’s strategic objectives.

All Independent Governors

Successful candidates for all roles will demonstrate:

• Independent judgement, integrity, and the ability to act impartially
• Strong analytical, interpersonal, and collaborative skills
• The ability to provide constructive challenge while supporting collective decision-making
• A commitment to preparation, attendance at meetings, and ongoing development
• Alignment with fairness, inclusion, public service, and the University’s values
• A passion for the transformative impact of higher education and the University of Wolverhampton

We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds. Diversity of experience and thought strengthens the Board and reflects the inclusive values of our university.

Please click 'Redirect to recruiter’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the candidate profile and register your interest to apply.

Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Monday 23 February.