You will also bring specific skills and experience which would enhance the capability of the board. The attached Recruitment Pack lists required and desirable skills, but we are open to other capabilities you can offer which you can persuade us would be important to the charity.

The skills listed below use Reach Volunteering’s classification. Therefore, although they are indicative of types of skills which would be useful they do not give exact definitions or an exhaustive list. Certainly, no candidate would have all of these skills, and even if you have none you may still be a good fit for the role.

What Will You Be Doing?

Numeracy, like literacy, is a core life skill. However, a shocking 73% of children who do not achieve “Expected Standard” in their SATS 2 maths test at the end of primary school go on to fail GCSE maths. This shuts the door to educational and employment opportunities.

Number Champions was the first and is still the only UK charity focused on using volunteers to support primary school children who struggle with numeracy. By helping children improve their confidence, enjoyment, and skills in maths, we support their wider development and help them achieve their potential. Around 70% of the children we work with are from disadvantaged backgrounds, the cohort most likely to have fallen behind.

The trustee board – normally eight trustees - meets about seven times a year. It sets strategic direction, ensures good governance of the charity and oversees the work of the CEO. All trustees are expected to study the papers for each meeting and to contribute to all discussions.

You would use your experience, skills, and current awareness to identify risks and opportunities to bring to the board’s attention, and you would contribute your judgement and experience to board discussions, helping the board make well-informed strategic decisions.

Board meetings alternate between in-person in London and online.

We encourage trustees to meet our volunteers and staff, and to ensure that their experience and voice is taken into account in directing the charity.

What Are We Looking For?

You will

• Have significant professional or leadership experience in any sector.
• Have skills which would enhance the capability of the board. The attached Recruitment Pack lists required and desirable skills, but we are open to other capabilities you can offer which you can persuade us would be important to the charity.
• Function effectively as part of a team, thinking creatively and strategically, listening, stating your position clearly and succinctly, and accepting group decisions.
• Be open, deliver on commitments and show attention to detail without losing sight of the big picture, and understand your own strengths and weaknesses.
• Be enthusiastic about our mission to help children achieve their potential.
• Devote time to reading papers and attending board meetings and to progressing issues as needed between meetings – probably about ten to twelve hours a month.

We are particularly interested in candidates who can strengthen the board through experience of fundraising and volunteer recruitment, but these are certainly not a requirement for the role.

We serve the diverse population of London children. This diversity is reflected fully in our volunteers and partly in our current board. We welcome applicants from all ethnicities, orientations, and backgrounds, including those with disabilities.

You do not need experience as a trustee.