Volunteer recruiter volunteer roles

Enriching lives and creating bright futures for all, Derby College Group is looking for a Chair of Finance & Resources and a new Governor with audit expertise to help push forward this critical agenda.

Applications close: 9 a.m. Monday 1st September 2025

Location: Derby

Time commitment: 5 board meetings per year

About Derby College Group

Derby College Group (DCG) is the 18th largest college in the country, supporting 54% of learners in Derby City and its surrounding area. The vision of Derby College Group (DCG) is to create world-class, accessible education opportunities that enrich lives and make bright futures a reality for all. DCG is committed to providing educational excellence, championing social mobility and driving economic prosperity.

DCG delivers high-quality academic, vocational and technical education that empowers people to achieve their ambitions while providing employers across the Midlands and beyond with the talented workforce of tomorrow.

Through a dynamic and responsive curriculum, it predicts and serves the needs of its business and civic communities. Students of all ages and backgrounds are prepared for positive destinations in the next stage of their lives, whether that be further study, the world of work, entrepreneurship or independent living. They leave DCG ready to contribute to society as responsible citizens.

The Group’s portfolio of educational programmes and skills solutions is underpinned by thriving partnerships with employers, shaped by comprehensive market intelligence and informed by liaison with key stakeholders such as the East Midlands Combined Authority.

A truly diverse organisation, the Group comprises four Colleges – the Roundhouse, the Joseph Wright Centre, Broomfield Hall, and the Community College, Ilkeston. Every year it caters for thousands of learners spanning post-16 students pursuing academic and technical pathways, apprentices at all levels, higher education students, and adults seeking career progression, upskilling and reskilling.

About the roles

Being a Governor in the FE sector is like no other voluntary role.  At Derby College Group, you will be a member of the Board of Corporation led by our Chair, Andrew Cochrane, contributing to the overall responsibilities of the Board, which include:

• The preservation and development of the educational character and mission of the Group and oversight of its activities:
• Setting and communicating the Group’s strategy and goals.
• Exercising effective control to ensure that funds and assets are protected, the organisation remains solvent and legal obligations are met.
• Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance and quality of the college and for the performance of staff.

The DCG Corporation structure consists of five Board meetings per year with all Governors attending and a number of specific committees, including Curriculum Performance, Audit, Finance & Resources and Strategy & Curriculum Planning, feeding into the main Board.

Who we are looking for

Chair of Finance & Resources Committee

We welcome applications from qualified financial leaders, someone who understands technical accounting, and has the ability to monitor financial performance to ensure financial stability. Candidates may have gained their professional experience from a range of settings, including education, the public sector, charities, and other corporate entities.

Given the committee leadership nature of this role, we anticipate that candidates will have previous experience sitting on or reporting to a Board, which will provide them with the skills and understanding of the expectations, processes, and procedures that come with leading a committee.

You will attend all board meetings and lead the Finance & Resources Committee that meets five times over the academic year, along with building a trusted professional relationship with our Chief Financial Officer, Jo Clifford.

Governor – Audit

As a member of the Corporation and Audit Committee, you will attend all Board meetings as well as the Audit Committee meetings.

For this role, we are seeking someone ideally with a regulatory background, an active interest in further education, and someone with strategic awareness experience and understanding, as well as critical reasoning skills and the ability to engage in board-level discussions and decision-making.

Most importantly, you will be passionate about the power of education at all stages in life and will have an understanding of the area, both the City of Derby and the wider East Midlands.

You will also be a team player and a critical thinker, using these skills to work closely with other Governors to continue to drive forward the success of the College for students and the City of Derby.

Peridot Partners and Derby College Group are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and our client expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references before any final offer can be made.

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 1st September 2025.

Join the Board of Derby Diocesan Academy Trust and bring your secondary education expertise to the role of Trustee to support the development of a growing, values-led multi-academy trust. 

Applications close: 9 a.m. Monday 18th August 2025 

Location: Hybrid/Derby 

Time commitment: 6 – 8 days per year 

About Derby Diocesan Academy Trust (DDAT) 

Established in 2014 and built upon Christian values and ethos, the Derby Diocesan Academy Trust (DDAT) has grown into a thriving and effective family of 28 Church and 5 non-Church schools, with two new free schools in the pipeline. 

DDAT consists of infant schools, junior schools, primary schools, and one secondary school. Based in the East Midlands region of England, DDAT enjoys a strong and productive relationship with the whole of its family of schools but also benefits and supports schools and organisations across Derby and Derbyshire. Within the DDAT family, there are over 7,500 children and young people, and more than 1,000 members of staff. The Trust has an annual income of £53m. 

The Derby Diocesan Board of Education developed DDAT to allow schools to take advantage of an academy model, but without being distracted from their core business of educating pupils. The Trust was designed to secure the schools’ church heritage, and to provide highly effective external support and challenge whilst delivering much of the business side of being an academy. 

Our Trust’s vision is rooted in Christian teachings, aiming to nurture and empower everyone to reach their fullest potential. 

Through the values of inclusivity, integrity, community, excellence and courage, we aim to support all of our students and staff to embrace the abundant possibilities of “Life in all its fullness.” 

About the role 

As a Trustee at DDAT, you will hold a strategic and non-executive role, providing oversight, support, and challenge to our executive team, and ensuring that the Trust delivers on its core mission: to provide excellent education, rooted in our Christian values, for all children. Trustees have collective responsibility for setting the vision and strategic direction of the Trust, monitoring performance and standards, safeguarding public funds, and ensuring that we operate ethically and in line with our charitable objectives. 

This specific vacancy has been created to bring additional expertise in the secondary phase of education to our Board. As Derby Cathedral School continues to grow and expand its educational offerings, and as we explore future opportunities to extend our secondary provision, we want to ensure that our Board has the necessary insight to oversee and guide this work with confidence. 

This may include contributing to conversations around curriculum design, school improvement strategy, sixth form development, behaviour and attendance, or educational disadvantage. 

You will work closely with other Trustees, including those with expertise in finance, HR, safeguarding and primary education, as well as our CEO and executive team. This is not an operational role; Trustees are not involved in the day-to-day running of schools or the Trust but provide constructive challenge and high-level scrutiny. You will help ensure that our education strategy is well-informed, equitable, and ambitious for all learners. 

In return, you will gain significant non-executive board experience, contribute to the development of a trust that is growing in influence and support us in shaping the life chances of young people across our region. This is a public service role with real meaning. 

Who we are looking for 

You will be an experienced secondary leader, inspector, or education policy specialist with deep insight into curriculum, assessment, inspection or school improvement. 

As a Diocesan multi-academy trust, our vision and values are built upon a Christian ethos that celebrates individuality, fosters collaboration and promotes unity. We welcome students and staff of all faiths and none, supporting each person to learn, grow and live life in all its fullness. As a trustee, you will bring a deep understanding of this theologically rooted vision, living and championing our values of inclusivity, integrity, community, excellence and courage through your governance and strategic leadership. 

We value Trustees who are curious, humble and values-driven. You do not need to have been a Trustee before, our Governance team will support you with induction, training and development, but you must be able to contribute with clarity, independence and care.

An understanding of the difference between strategic and operational leadership is essential: we are not looking for someone to run the school, but to help steer the Trust at a strategic level. 

Derby Diocesan Academy Trust welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. As those from ethnic minority backgrounds are currently under-represented on the Board, applications from those individuals would be particularly encouraged. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. However, in line with the Equality Act 2010, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well. 

Peridot Partners and Derby Diocesan Academy Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and our client expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references before any final offer can be made. 

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 18th August 2025. 

Join the Board of an organisation working in partnership with people with learning disabilities to support them to achieve the life they want.

Applications close Monday 15th September.

Location: Hapstead Village, Buckfastleigh TQ11 0JN

About us

In the rolling countryside on the outskirts of Dartmoor National Park, something special is happening at Camphill Devon Community. At our Hapstead Village, six carefully designed houses provide more than just registered residential accommodation – they create a vibrant, supportive home where adults with learning disabilities and autism don’t simply live, but truly thrive.

Our reach extends beyond Hapstead into the wider communities of Teignbridge and South Hams, where we provide supported living services that honour each person’s individual journey toward independence and fulfilment. This isn’t about fitting people into predetermined boxes; it’s about crafting person-centred approaches that recognise the unique gifts, dreams, and aspirations that each resident brings to our community.

What makes Camphill Devon truly distinctive is our unwavering belief that everyone has something valuable to contribute. We’ve fostered an environment where people don’t just receive support – they give it too, creating mutual care and respect that defines Camphill Communities across the globe. It’s a place where active, fulfilling lives aren’t just possible; they’re the natural outcome of thoughtful, compassionate community living.

About the roles

As we look toward the future, we’re seeking two new Trustees to join our Board and help steer our strategic direction. We’re looking for engaged individuals who can both challenge our thinking and provide support. You’ll be someone who appreciates the delicate balance between holding us accountable to our mission while championing the innovative work we do every day.

Who we are looking for

The expertise we’re seeking speaks to the heart of what makes our community work. We are looking for someone whose professional journey has taken them across adult social care and health. You’ll bring that invaluable perspective that comes from navigating CQC regulations and championing person-centred service delivery in real-world settings. Your experience will help us maintain the highest standards while staying true to our community ethos. Whether you’ve worked within charities, regulated care environments, or supported living services, your insight into the sector and best practices will prove invaluable as we continue to evolve and grow.

Our second trustee search focuses on the people who make everything possible – our dedicated team. We’re looking for an HR professional who can help us navigate the complexities of sustaining a workplace that is deeply values-driven. Your expertise in staff engagement, organisational culture and employment law will be key as we support our workforce in delivering life-changing care. You’ll understand how to balance regulatory requirements with the kind of supportive, inclusive environment where our staff and volunteers can flourish alongside the people they support.

What unites both roles is a shared commitment to the Camphill ethos and a willingness to engage meaningfully in governance. We need strategic thinkers who can offer critical insight while supporting our executive leadership. You’ll be someone who sees the bigger picture, understands the challenges facing adult social care, and believes passionately in the rights, independence, and wellbeing of adults with learning disabilities.

These roles offer the opportunity to contribute to something that extends far beyond policy and procedure. You’ll be helping to nurture a community where every person’s dignity is respected, where individual needs aren’t just acknowledged but celebrated, and where the concept of inclusive living becomes a lived reality rather than an aspiration.

Time commitment:

With quarterly board meetings, committee work, our annual strategy away day, regular engagement with our dedicated team, occasional community visits, and the thoughtful preparation these responsibilities need, you can expect to invest approximately the equivalent of up to a day a month.

We’re committed to diversity and inclusion, and we particularly welcome applications from those with lived experience of disability or professional experience in learning disability support. If you’re ready to help write the next chapter of Camphill Devon’s story and bring either deep health and social care expertise or HR excellence to our mission, we’d love to hear from you.

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 Monday 15th September.