Become a young trustee
We’re excited to announce an opening for two new young trustees (up to 30 years old) to join our existing board and help achieve our aims and objectives.
All boards benefit from having a diverse range of perspectives, skills, and experience and this includes young Trustees and all they have to offer. Currently, young Trustees with lived experience of our communities, are not represented on our Board of nine Non-Executive Directors, and we would very much like to change this. You can see who is on our Board by following this link
We want to help improve the lives of young people, so having people on our Board who have recent experience of the challenges young people in our communities face would help our Board in its decision-making and how it develops the charity’s strategy and evaluates performance.
There are benefits for those young Trustees who join our Board. They will gain useful knowledge of the charity sector, expand their networks, enhance their CV and have the opportunity to develop their range of skills as well as knowledge of how organisations work.
We need young Trustees who are excited about joining Right to Succeed, a charity delivering impactful new initiatives in some of the most deprived areas of the UK to help young people fulfil their potential. As a Trustee, together with the rest of the Board and the staff team, you will help us build on the great work the charity is doing now and help us achieve even more.
About us
Right to Succeed is still a young charity. We launched in 2015 with a mission to remove the barriers facing young people. We are committed to supporting communities in areas of high deprivation and bringing them together to work collectively to transform children’s outcomes. We do this to give children and young people the best start in life because we believe every child deserves the right to succeed, no matter where they live.
It is challenging work, but we are learning quickly how best to deliver our aims and objectives. We are fortunate to have an incredible team that embodies our values. We pride ourselves on the speed at which we are learning and improving our work and we are doing this all the time.
The role of the Trustee
It is important that the young Trustees we appoint embody and act in accordance with Right to Succeed’s values and can demonstrate understanding of the challenges facing children, young people and communities that Right to Succeed aims to overcome.
Charity Trustees are the people who share ultimate responsibility for governing a charity and directing how it is managed and run. Trustees also have various legal duties and responsibilities. However, you are not expected to have knowledge of charity law and governance before you apply. If appointed, you will be provided with an induction to help you familiarise yourself with the role and duties of a Trustee. We will provide you with continual support to help you fulfil your role, including any necessary training and the guidance of a mentor.
The Charity Commission website is a good place to look for an explanation as to what is involved in being a Trustee.
Successful Trustees have:
- A commitment to the charity’s work and to the role of Trustee
- A willingness to prepare for and contribute fully to Board and Committee meetings
- An ability to provide challenge and support to the Senior Executive Team in delivering Right to Succeed’s strategy
- A willingness to take collective responsibility for the actions of the organisation with the other Trustees
- Oversight of an effective and efficient administration
- A willingness to keep informed about the charity’s activities and wider issues which may affect its work
- A willingness and ability to work with fellow Trustees in a collaborative way to improve the Board’s performance and agree individual objectives with the Chair
- An ability to contribute actively to the Board’s role including strategic direction and overall policy, defining goals, setting targets, and evaluating performance against those targets.
For this role, candidates need to demonstrate some or all of the following:
- Experience of working in a programme like those Right to Succeed delivers
- An understanding of the communities we serve
- An understanding of the issues disadvantaged children and young people face.
As well as:
- Good, independent judgement and a willingness to speak your mind
- Being an enthusiastic team player
- An ability to think creatively
- Alignment with Right to Succeed’s values of humility, collaboration, commitment, curiosity and integrity
- An understanding of the not-for-profit sector is helpful.
Benefits for you:
- Continuing personal and professional development, developing new skills and growing your networks
- Opportunity to contribute to the organisational strategic plan
- Learning about governance and understanding the charity sector
- Making a difference to the structure and future of this growing charity joining at a stimulating and exciting time with the opportunity to contribute to the charity’s strategic plan and its delivery
- Access to one-on-one mentoring from a fellow board member.
Time commitment:
- Attending four main Board meetings (at least two via video conference and at least one or two in person)
- One programme visit a year (more can be arranged if requested)
- Preparation for Board meetings and any relevant Committee meetings
- Actively participate as a member of a Committee or sub-groups as required
- Participate in other tasks as may arise from time to time, such as helping with events or fundraising activities.
The current term of office is three years following which a Trustee may be reappointed for a further three years. All travel expenses will be reimbursed, otherwise this is an unpaid position.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, please send a CV (maximum two-pages) and covering letter (no more than two pages and not less than size 11 font) outlining the skills and experience you can bring to this role and why you are interested in applying to: recruit@righttosucceed.org.uk
Applications deadline: Friday 30th September 2022
You will be asked to supply references and be subject to a DBS check
For queries about the role or additional information, please contact:
Helen Hayes at Right to Succeed
recruit@righttosucceed.org.uk 0208 099 5171
To find out more, read about Right to Succeed: here