Young adult programme director volunteer roles in Bermondsey, greater london
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The Sutton Trust is at a pivotal moment in its development. For nearly three decades, we have been the UK’s leading voice on social mobility, working tirelessly to break the link between socio-economic background and life chances. Today, that mission is as urgent as it has ever been. Despite pockets of progress, social mobility in the UK remains low by international standards, with deep inequalities in education, access to professions, and regional opportunity continuing to limit life chances and economic potential.
We are seeking a Trustee with policy expertise who shares our commitment to fairness, evidence, and long-term change. We value diversity of thought and experience, and we are keen to hear from those who can help us navigate an evolving political landscape and leverage our research to challenge systemic barriers, ensuring our voice remains the most influential in the national drive to transform social mobility.
Duties and Responsibilities of a Trustee
Policy Responsibilities
- Providing oversight for the charity’s research and advocacy, ensuring the Trust’s work is mission-aligned, evidence-based, and intellectually rigorous
- Supporting the Board in discharging their collective duties around planning, risk and compliance, particularly in areas such as horizon scanning for upcoming legislative changes, political shifts and shifts in social trends affecting the Trust as well as specific regulations around political neutrality
- Leveraging their professional networks and expertise, enhancing the charity’s credibility and influence, ensuring our research translates into meaningful systemic change
General Responsibilities
- Inputting into and agreeing the Trust’s vision, mission and values and providing advice on the Trust’s wider purpose, goals and activities
- Inputting into and agreeing the Trust’s aims and long-term strategy in furtherance of its charitable purpose
- Ensuring key risks are identified, monitored and controlled effectively as well as keeping abreast of changes in the Trust’s operating environment
- Monitoring the Trust’s performance against its strategic aims, operational plans and budgets
- Safeguarding and promoting the Trust’s reputation, and acting in the best interest of the Trust at all times
- Ensuring the financial stability and sustainability of the Trust
- Ensuring the effective and efficient administration of the organisation, including having appropriate policies and procedures in place
- Ensuring proper arrangements are in place for the appointment, supervision, support, appraisal and renumeration of the CEO and they are held to account
- Contributing to regular reviews of the Trust’s own governance
- Ensuring the Trust complies with its governing documents, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations
In addition to the above statutory duties, each Trustee should use their specific skills, knowledge and experience to contribute to the Board’s decision-making, and dedicate sufficient time to carry out their responsibilities effectively. This may involve sitting on Board Committees, scrutinising board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, or other issues in which the Trustee has special expertise.
Trustees aim to support a specific member of the SLT based on their skills and experience or may participate in appropriate subgroups, e.g., Alumni Leadership Board, Education Advisory Group, (Development) Board meetings, etc.
Person Specification
Mission and Values
- Sympathetic to the aims of the Trust and its mission to address educational disadvantage
- High level of personal and professional ethics, integrity, and accountability
- Willingness to safeguard and promote the Trust’s reputation within the wider sector
Strategy and Interpersonal Skills
- Ability to think strategically in order to provide appropriate oversight and scrutiny for the Trust’s overall activity and direction
- Ability to confidently and fairly make evidence-based decisions and constructively challenge the decisions of others if required
- Ability to collaborate and work as part of a team to provide advice, make decisions, and/or solve problems
- A commitment to personal development and a willingness to participate in regular reviews of the Board’s own performance and governance
Governance, Risk and Finance
- Understanding of the legal duties of a Trustee (or willingness to learn), including compliance with Charity Commission and Companies House regulations and commitment to the roles and responsibilities of a Trustee
- Awareness of (or willingness to learn about) financial health indicators and organisational risk management
Specialist Expertise and Experience
- A background in public affairs, civil service, think tanks, education sector organisations or senior policy or research roles in (education) charities
- Strong understanding of how UK government (at local, regional or national level) and/ or the UK education sector works
- Strong influencing and communications skills with the ability to lead discussions, provide expert advice, and influence stakeholders in a professional manner
- Good understanding of how to translate policy jargon into clear, strategic advice for the wider Trustee Board
Interviews
Applications should reach us by 10am, Monday 30th March. First round interviews will take place on Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th April, and second round interviews will take place w/c 27th April or w/c 4th May. All interviews will be held at our London offices in Millbank Tower.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Please read the attached Trustee Information Pack for more detail
As a Trustee, you will play a crucial role in the governance and strategic oversight of the charity, ensuring that we operate effectively, achieve our mission, and comply with all legal and regulatory requirements. Trustees are collectively responsible for safeguarding the charity’s assets, ensuring they are used exclusively to further our objectives, and overseeing the charity’s financial health, including budgets, financial controls, and reporting. Acting with integrity and in the charity’s best interests is at the heart of the role.
The Treasurer oversees the financial affairs of the charity and ensures that they are conducted legally, transparently, and in line with the charity’s governing document. Working closely with the Chair, Managing Director, Trustees, and any staff or volunteers, the Treasurer helps safeguard the charity’s financial sustainability.
We welcome candidates from professional backgrounds who share our commitment to supporting those affected by Body Dysmorphic Disorder. If your current or previous skills or experience align with this post, we encourage you to apply and join us in driving meaningful change.
Please note, this role is being advertised on an ongoing basis, with interviews conducted on an ad hoc basis.
To apply for this role, please submit the following documents:
- An up to date CV outlining your relevant experience and qualifications.
- A cover letter of no more than 800 words explaining why you are interested in the Treasurer role, what you would bring to the board, and how your skills align with the needs of the charity.
Please note, this role is being advertised on an ongoing basis, with interviews conducted on an ad hoc basis.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Join Richmond Foundation as a Non-Trustee Grants Committee Member and help shape a fairer, healthier future for our community.
Richmond Foundation is a long-established local charity with a proud history of supporting residents through grant-making, property management, and community initiatives. We are seeking new Non-Trustee (volunteer) members to join our Grants Committee and contribute to our vision: Everyone in Richmond has opportunities to build healthy and fulfilling lives.
Who We’re Looking For
We want to add Non-Trustee members to our Grants Committee to increase the breadth of knowledge and to provide different fresh perspectives into our grant making. We welcome applications from individuals who share our values of integrity, excellence, collaboration, agility, and ambition.
We are aiming to have six members of the Grants Committee with at least one being a non-trustee member, who will participate alongside our Trustees.
Our goal is to recruit people from a wide range of backgrounds, with different expertise, experience and knowledge. We want to make our committees more diverse and representative of the groups and people we support. You can read more about our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion here.
We are keen to receive applications from people who:
- Are aged between 16 and 35
- Are from lower-income socio-economic backgrounds
- Have lived experience relevant to our work
- Are disabled or have a long-term health condition
- Are from communities experiencing racial inequity
We are committed to creating an inclusive recruitment process and are happy to provide reasonable adjustments to support applicants at any stage.
The role of a Non-Trustee Grants Committee Member
This is an exciting opportunity to work closely with the Richmond Foundation team to participate in important decisions around awarding funding and to influence policy and strategic direction.
Terms of appointment
Appointments will be for a two-year term, with the possibility of renewing for an additional two-year term.
You will need to:
- Uphold Richmond Foundation’s vision, mission, objectives, and values
- Attend at least four Grants Committee meetings per year at our central Richmond location (1.5 hours from 5:00pm to 6:30pm)
- Prepare for meetings by reading all relevant documentation and reviewing minutes
- Attend relevant training and at least one event/visit hosted by a grant-funded organisation each year
- Attend our annual AGM meeting in November
Responsibilities include:
- Provide strategic direction and expert guidance on our developing grants portfolio
- Maintain oversight of grant giving activities to ensure: it is in line with our strategic objectives and within agreed budget; grant giving practices are in line with agreed policy, legislation and good practice
- Receive and feedback on impact and other reporting
- Provide support and challenge to the Grants Director and team
- Occasionally attending internal briefings and training and other relevant external events on behalf of Richmond Foundation
- Contribute relevant specialist experience
General experience:
- Contribute to the discussions and decision-making that take place during meetings from a general point of view, as someone who has knowledge and experience relevant to the work of the committee
- A keen interest and understanding of the charitable sector
- An understanding of, and commitment to, safeguarding and diversity, equity and inclusion in the charitable sector and how this relates to grant-making
- Ability to take an independent view which varies from that of other committee members
- Relevant knowledge, perspective, insight, and understanding gathered through lived experience
To support you, we will:
- Provide background information to be discussed in an introductory session and supported by the Trustee and Committee Member Handbook
- Give initial training about Richmond Foundation and our grantmaking, with further training and support to enable you to fully take part in committee meetings
- Ongoing annual training and access to document library
- Link you with a Richmond Foundation Trustee who will act as a buddy. Before each committee meeting, they will offer support with preparing for the meeting and discuss any key issues with you
- Cover reasonable childcare, carer and travel costs if these are required to enable you to attend committee meetings
How to Apply
If you are interested in making a difference in Richmond and can contribute your time and expertise to help us deliver our charitable objectives, we would love to hear from you.
Full details, person specification and requirements, and application instructions are available in the Non-Trustee Grants Committee Member Recruitment pack.
Richmond Foundation are hosting a Webinar and Q+A for interested applicants on 18 March 2026. This will be an opportunity to learn more from our CEO, Chair and Trustees and ask questions. Details will be posted on our website.
The application deadline is 10:00am on Monday 13 April 2026
Interviews: Scheduled in May/June 2026
Term Commences: 23 September 2026 (with a short induction period beforehand)
Registered Charity
6 - 10
Our vision is that everyone in Richmond has opportunities to build healthy and fulfilling lives.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.