Chair of Trustees - Strategy & Growth - Volunteer

ARFID Awareness UK; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

A UK-based charity is seeking a Chair of Trustees to guide its strategic direction and governance as it grows. This volunteer role requires change-management experience and a background in charity governance. Key responsibilities include leading the Board, facilitating meetings, and strengthening the organization’s capacity. The ideal candidate will have the ability to create a supportive environment for trustees and contribute meaningfully to the charity's mission.

Qualifications

• Experience in leading small organizations through growth, stabilization or diversification of income streams.
• Background in organizational development, governance strengthening, or service expansion.
• Experience in charity governance is highly valued.

Responsibilities

• Guide the Board in setting the strategic direction of the charity.
• Facilitate meetings ensuring an inclusive environment for contributions.
• Support trustee induction and encourage ongoing learning.

Skills

Change-management experience

Financial strategy or fundraising development

Charity governance and risk management

Partnership building and stakeholder engagement

Digital transformation or online service delivery

Job description

Chair of Trustees - Strategy & Growth - Volunteer

Chair of Trustees sought to guide ARFID Awareness UK through our next stage of development. Help shape our strategy, strengthen governance as we grow, and support a small, dedicated team making a national impact for families affected by ARFID.

What Difference Will You Make?

As a micro‑charity with national reach, the leadership of our Chair will have a direct and visible impact on how effectively we can support people affected by ARFID. The Board is committed and collaborative, but we are still building the structures needed to sustain the pace of our work. Clear guidance, a steady strategic focus and strong governance will all help us grow with confidence — and this is where the Chair’s contribution is essential.

Your leadership will help our Board stay organised, purposeful and aligned with our mission. By setting the tone for how we plan, make decisions and monitor our progress, you will support us to work more efficiently and with greater clarity. This will free up time and energy for our Executive Directors to focus on developing services, expanding our reach and supporting both families and professionals with better information and resources.

As we scale our training, partnerships and awareness efforts, the Chair’s oversight will ensure that growth remains responsible and manageable. You will help us maintain strong governance, proportionate risk management and clear financial oversight — all of which contribute to a stable, resilient organisation capable of taking on more ambitious work.

You will also play an important role in helping the Board develop confidence and capacity as we grow. Supporting trustees through induction, thoughtful discussion and reflective learning will strengthen the way we work together and enhance the quality of our decision‑making. Your presence will help create a calm, constructive environment in which trustees feel valued, informed and able to contribute meaningfully.

By working closely with our Executive Directors, you will help ensure that communication between governance and operations is smooth, transparent and supportive. This partnership strengthens the whole organisation, allowing us to anticipate challenges, respond well to change and remain focused on what matters most: improving understanding, identification and support for individuals and families affected by ARFID.

Ultimately, the Chair’s contribution will help us grow in a planned, sustainable way. Your guidance will support the development of a stronger, better‑structured charity — one that is equipped to meet increasing demand, broaden its impact and continue advocating for a community that is often overlooked. The work you do at Board level will create the foundations that allow the organisation to thrive in the years ahead.

What are we looking for?

We are particularly keen to appoint someone with change‑management experience, ideally with a track record of leading small organisations through growth, stabilisation or diversification of income streams. Experience in organisational development, governance strengthening, or service expansion would also be highly valuable as we work to future‑proof our operations.

Additional Skills That Would Complement Our Current Board Include

• Financial strategy or fundraising development (to support sustainable revenue growth)
• Charity governance and risk management
• Partnership building and stakeholder engagement
• Digital transformation or online service delivery (relevant as we scale training and resources)

If you’re motivated by building something impactful from the ground up and want to help shape the future of a charity filling a critical gap in the eating difficulties landscape, we’d love to hear from you.

What will you be doing?

Our Board is small, collaborative and committed, made up of trustees who are almost exclusively working within healthcare. As a developing organisation, we are refining our governance, planning for sustainable growth, and ensuring we have the right structures in place to support the work ahead. We’re now looking for a Chair who can help guide the Board through this next stage with clarity, steadiness and a focus on our mission.

As Chair, you will lead the Board in setting the strategic direction of the charity, ensuring that the decisions we make are well considered and aligned with our long‑term goals. You will facilitate effective, focused meetings; provide an inclusive environment where trustees feel confident in their contributions; and help shape the rhythm of the Board’s work through thoughtful planning and good practice.

You’ll work closely with our Executive Directors, acting as a supportive partner and sounding board. Together you will plan the annual cycle of meetings, maintain good communication, and ensure that governance responsibilities — including risk oversight, policy review and financial scrutiny — are carried out proportionately and effectively. Part of the role includes providing constructive challenge, helping us think ahead, and supporting the Executive Directors in navigating opportunities or emerging issues.

You will play an important role in strengthening the Board as we grow, including supporting trustee induction, encouraging ongoing learning, and helping us approach succession planning with intention. While the Board operates well together, we are still developing our processes as a young charity; your leadership will help us build simple, reliable ways of working that make trustees feel supported and ensure that decisions are clear and accountable.

In time, we hope that the Chair may occasionally represent the charity externally, help foster positive relationships with stakeholders, and act as an ambassador for our work when appropriate. At the present however, this remains a strategic, governance‑focused role rather than an operational one.

This is a position where your experience will be felt quickly and meaningfully. We are small enough that your leadership will shape how we work day to day, yet ambitious enough that there is real opportunity to help strengthen a growing organisation and support its next phase of development.