Finance Trustee

Do you want the opportunity to help shape the current and future direction of Children’s University?

Would you like to impact the lives of thousands of children and young people across the UK every year? 

Children’s University encourages, tracks, and celebrates learning that takes place beyond the classroom. We are a small and agile organisation with a long history, a big reach and even bigger ambitions, and we are looking to recruit new Trustees.

For more than 15 years we have worked with a significant network of likeminded organisations to make a difference to the lives of children from a really young age. Now, every year we work with more than 65 place-based delivery partners across the UK to reach more than 110,000 children in more than 1,000 schools and since April 2023, thanks to a new individual digital subscription model, we are accessible even beyond that network, to all children and young people, wherever they are and regardless of how they are educated. 

Our Trustees have recently approved a new 3-year strategy for 2023-2026 focused on the four key pillars of Reach, Inclusivity, Credibility, and Financial Sustainability. These are our ambitious goals:

• By 2026, every child and young person in the UK will be able to benefit from Children’s University
• By 2026, every child and young person in the UK will be able to find and participate in a wide range of Children’s University learning activities where they are
• By 2026, the governments in England, Wales, and Scotland will be acting upon data and insights provided by Children’s University
• By 2026, Children’s University will be receiving significant and sustained investment to develop learning beyond the classroom for all.

Becoming a Trustee of Children’s University Trust is hugely enjoyable and rewarding and it comes with the opportunity to meet and work with people outside your own professional sector, and for both personal and professional development. It can also offer a lot of challenge and fun. 

We are looking for candidates who fully support our charitable aims and objectives and are passionate about our vision and mission, and really care about:

• the power and potential of informal education and informal skills development
• raising young aspirations
• closing gaps in educational opportunity, attainment, and outcome
• boosting the self-confidence, resilience, and cultural capital of children, regardless of their background and
• social mobility.

This year, we are looking for candidates who can deepen our expertise and understanding in:

• Finance and accountancy expertise, ideally a qualified accountant with an understanding of charity accountancy matters.

Joining the Board as a Trustee is a hybrid position of online and in-person daytime meetings throughout the year (March, June, September, and December), including:

• 2 in person Board meetings of approximately 3 hours per meeting plus travel as meetings usually take place in London, Birmingham, or Manchester
• 2 online Board meetings of approximately 2 hours per meeting (via Zoom or Teams)
• Occasional remote extra meetings if necessary
• Membership of a sub-committee

Beyond these key meetings, Trustees also make other valuable contributions and occasionally represent Children’s University Trust at events.

We ask all Trustees to commit to a three-year term in the role. In total, a Trustee can stand for two consecutive terms, each of three years, before retiring.

Before applying you are invited to have an informal conversation about the role. To arrange a call, contact Helen O'Donnell, CEO and Director of Partnerships, helen.odonnell@childrensuniversity.co.uk

To apply, please send your CV with a statement of support (a maximum of two pages) to Helen at the same email address. Your statement should include:

• why you would like to become one of our Trustees
• what experience you have in the key skill area we have identified and
• how you think you could help.

Please also provide the names, positions, organisations, and email addresses of two referees. References will only be taken once your express permission has been granted.