At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a youth movement, shaping governance and strategy for impactful growth.
- Company: A values-led charity focused on empowering young people with refugee backgrounds.
- Benefits: Gain invaluable leadership experience and make a real difference in the community.
- Why this job: Be a key player in transforming lives and driving meaningful change.
- Qualifications: Experience in strategic leadership and a passion for social impact.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team dedicated to fostering resilience and inclusivity.
You could be the next Chair of Trustees of our youth movement of people with refugee backgrounds. The Chair will combine strategic leadership, governance grounded in lived experience, and thoughtful challenge to ensure the organisation scales with ambition, care, and purpose. This is not a ceremonial role. It is an opportunity to shape how a values‑led charity grows well – strengthening governance without dampening spirit, and building structures that enable lived‑experience leadership to thrive. For the right person, this role offers the chance to have real influence at a formative moment. Working closely with committed trustees, staff, volunteers, and young leaders, the Chair will help OSH become a resilient, impactful organisation for the long term.
What are we looking for?
- 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.
What will you be doing?
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. The Chair of Trustees will play a central role in this next phase. They will help the board develop alongside the organisation; support the CEO with clear accountability and thoughtful challenge; ensure systems and strategy keep pace with growth; steward OSH through a period where long‑term sustainability and leadership development are critical.
Chair of Trustees - Volunteer employer: Our Second Home
Contact Detail:
Our Second Home Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chair of Trustees - Volunteer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your field, attend events, and connect with others who share your passion for youth-led initiatives. Building relationships can open doors and lead to opportunities you might not find on job boards.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your commitment! When you get the chance to chat with potential trustees or staff, make sure to express your genuine passion for OSH's mission. Share your ideas on how you can contribute to their growth and governance – it’ll set you apart!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by understanding the organisation inside out. Familiarise yourself with their recent projects, challenges, and successes. This will help you ask insightful questions and demonstrate that you're ready to take on the Chair role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our mission-driven team at OSH.
We think you need these skills to ace Chair of Trustees - Volunteer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for our mission shine through. We want to see how your values align with ours and how you can contribute to making a real difference in the lives of young people with refugee backgrounds.
Highlight Relevant Experience: Make sure to showcase your significant experience in organisational and strategic leadership. We’re looking for examples that demonstrate your ability to guide a charity or mission-driven organisation, especially during times of growth and change.
Be Authentic: We value lived experience, so if you have any personal insights related to the asylum system or forced migration, don’t hesitate to include them. Authenticity is key, and it helps us understand how you can bring unique perspectives to the role.
Apply Through Our Website: To make sure your application gets the attention it deserves, please apply through our website. It’s the best way for us to keep track of all applications and ensure a smooth process for everyone involved.
How to prepare for a job interview at Our Second Home
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you understand the mission and values of the organisation inside out. Familiarise yourself with their recent projects and challenges, especially those related to governance and leadership. This will help you demonstrate your commitment and show how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Be ready to discuss your approach to strategic leadership and how you've successfully guided organisations in the past. Think of specific examples where you've balanced support and challenge, particularly in a Chair-CEO relationship. This will highlight your ability to lead inclusively and effectively.
✨Prepare Thoughtful Questions
Come armed with insightful questions that reflect your understanding of the organisation's current phase and future ambitions. Ask about their strategies for scaling while maintaining their culture, or how they envision the role of the Chair evolving. This shows you're not just interested in the title but genuinely invested in their growth.
✨Emphasise Emotional Intelligence
Highlight your interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence during the interview. Share examples of how you've navigated sensitive situations or fostered collaboration among diverse groups. This is crucial for a role that requires working closely with trustees, staff, and young leaders.