SHiFT Trustee

A SHiFT Trustee plays a pivotal role in the organisation's effectiveness, strategic development and good governance.

Trustees work as part of a high-support and high-challenge Board alongside the Chief Executive in fulfilling the organisation's mission to break the destructive cycle of crime for children and young people and bring about lasting systems change.

Trustees:

• Ensure the charity stays focused on its social mission, holds the Executive Team to account for delivering the mission and vision, and maximises impact for beneficiaries.
• Fulfil all governance duties and responsibilities, ensuring the charity is accountable, compliant with its terms of reference and the law, and supported by effective, agile structures and administration.
• Act in the charity's best interests by managing resources responsibly, overseeing risk management, safeguarding and data protection, and ensuring long-term sustainability.
• Offer constructive support and challenge to the CEO and senior team, act with reasonable care and skill, make sufficient time to carry out duties, and follow up promptly on actions and decisions.
• Promote and support the charity externally, use appropriate communication and data sharing channels, and actively share contacts, influence and opportunities from within trustees' networks.

Essential requirements:

• Willingness to commit to at least 8 days per annum to SHiFT including tri-annual Board meetings, an annual strategic Board away day, Practice visits plus committee meetings and events as appropriate.
• General board skills: ability to scrutinise board papers; challenge management constructively; contribute to discussions; focus on key issues; build and accept collegiate decisions.
• An ability to think strategically.
• Good team worker.
• Demonstrable integrity and objectivity in decision making, embodying the Nolan principles.
• Ambitious on behalf of SHiFT as an organisation and for its Mission, including commitments to Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression.

Terms of appointment

This role is unremunerated, and reasonable, pre-agreed domestic travel expenses will be reimbursed. The appointment is for a three-year term, which can be renewed once at the discretion of the Board.

The Board meets three times per year, for a half day as well as an annual away day; these are normally in London but can also take place at a SHiFT Practice. We prioritise in-person attendance. The Board has three Committees - Practice, Research and Evaluation, and Finance - each of which meet three times per year and Board members are encouraged to take part in Committee work where they can as well as Board meetings. Board members keep in regular contact with each other and with SHiFT's Senior Leadership Team between meetings. Outside of Board meetings, it is likely that you will need to devote around 2-3 hours per week to Trustee duties. This might include support with fundraising and profile raising, liaising with partners, or providing support to staff with respect to the specific skills, knowledge, or experience that you bring to the Board.

SHiFT is based in London and meetings normally take place in person.

Candidates will therefore need to be prepared to travel for meetings.

Application Process

To apply, please send us a copy of your CV along with a supporting statement (2 pages max). Please answer the following three questions as part of your supporting statement:

1. Why do you care about SHiFT's Mission?
2. What key skills and experiences would you bring to the role?
3. What would you like to learn or gain from becoming a Trustee at SHiFT?

Please send applications by an email via the button below by 23.59 on 20 March 2026.

Only applications including a CV and supporting statement will be reviewed.