Non Executive Director / Board Member - VOLUNTARY ROLE

Newham & Tower Hamlets, London Volunteer • Part‑Time • Board of Trustees

When applying, please specify which voluntary role you are applying for!!!

Help build a charity that changes lives, shifts systems, and opens doors for generations.

At Unlock YOUR Potential, we believe an “accident of birth” should never determine a person’s destination. We are a new London‑based social mobility charity committed to breaking cycles of deprivation through holistic employability, wellbeing, and mentoring programmes that empower adults to thrive.

We are prioritising delivery in Newham and Tower Hamlets — two boroughs that rank among the top 10 most deprived areas nationally for employment and skills. The need here is real. The talent is abundant. The opportunity for impact is extraordinary.

Our vision is to build a flagship model in East London that can grow, evolve, and expand beyond these two boroughs — creating a blueprint for social mobility that transforms communities across the UK.

Through enriching programmes, professional experiences, and empowering support, we champion ambition, connect individuals to meaningful opportunities, and help every person develop, grow, and excel. We believe success should be defined by talent, aspiration, and dedication — never background or circumstance.

We are now recruiting our founding Board of Trustees — compassionate, strategic, values‑driven leaders who want to build something meaningful from the ground up.

You will work closely with the Founder & Executive Director to shape our culture, guide our strategy, and lay the foundations for long‑term impact.

We are recruiting for the following Trustee roles:

1. Chair of the Board

A confident, inspiring leader who can guide the Board, support the Executive Director, and champion strong governance as we grow.

2. Deputy Chair

A collaborative, steady partner who can deputise for the Chair and help drive board cohesion, clarity, and momentum.

3. Treasurer

A financially skilled leader who can oversee our financial strategy, sustainability, and accountability as a start‑up charity.

4. Secretary

A detail‑driven organiser who ensures excellent governance, compliance, and smooth board operations.

5. Trustees (General)

People with skills, experience, or lived experience relevant to a social mobility start‑up — including:

• Community development
• Lived experience of social mobility barriers
• HR, people, and culture
• Fundraising and partnerships
• Operations and governance
• Marketing, communications, and branding
• Programme design and delivery
• Local knowledge of Newham or Tower Hamlets

If you bring passion, integrity, and a commitment to equity, we would love to hear from you.

Why join us?

1. Shape a new charity from day one

Your leadership will directly influence our culture, strategy, and long‑term direction.

2. Champion social mobility where it matters most

Help adults unlock confidence, skills, and opportunities that change the trajectory of their lives.

3. Lead with authenticity and heart

We welcome trustees with lived experience, community roots, and non‑traditional backgrounds.

4. Build a flagship model for national impact

Your work in Newham and Tower Hamlets will lay the foundations for future expansion across the UK.

Who we’re looking for

We welcome applications from people who are:

• Passionate about social mobility, equity, and community empowerment.

• Excited by the challenge of building a start‑up charity.

• Collaborative, reflective, and committed to good governance.

• Able to offer strategic insight, constructive challenge, and supportive leadership.

• Ready to bring their whole self, lived experience, and voice to the table.

We particularly encourage applications from people from working‑class or low‑income backgrounds, people of colour, and those with lived experience of the barriers we aim to dismantle.

Time commitment

• Flexible volunary role with approx around 4–6 hours per month, including quarterly board meetings, occasional working groups, and strategic development sessions.

• Flexible, remote‑friendly, with some in‑person sessions in Newham or Tower Hamlets.

Join us and help build a charity that unlocks potential, transforms futures, and uplifts communities.

Help Us Unlock Potential and Break Down Barriers

If you’re ready to guide a charity with purpose at its core, we’d love to hear from you.