External trustees volunteer volunteer roles

Use your expertise to shape education, influence communities, and grow as a leader 

Role available at Norwich City College 

Are you a business leader or corporate professional looking to make a meaningful impact outside the boardroom? 

By becoming a volunteer governor at a further education (FE) or sixth form college, you’ll help shape the strategic direction of an organisation that transforms lives through education and skills—while strengthening your own governance experience and leadership credentials. 

Why it’s relevant to professionals like you 

Further education colleges train over 1.6 million learners annually, preparing the skilled workforce that keeps our economy moving—from engineers and IT specialists to healthcare professionals and construction experts. 

As a college governor, you’ll sit on the board of an FE institution (and registered charity), where your insight into strategy, risk, people, or finance will have a direct impact on how public funds are spent, how performance is measured, and how learners are supported to succeed. 

This is an opportunity to: 

• Apply your corporate skills in a leadership role 

• Gain board-level experience and enhance your CV 

• Contribute to local economic growth and social mobility 

• Support a vital sector during a time of transformation 

What will you be doing? 

As part of a governing board, you’ll: 

• Set strategic direction: help define the college’s mission and goals 

• Hold leadership to account: monitor finances, performance, and outcomes 

• Ensure governance excellence: make decisions in the best interests of learners and stakeholders 

• Act as a charity trustee: ensure financial sustainability and legal compliance 

You’ll also engage with senior leaders and external stakeholders, including local employers, regulators, and community partners. 

Who are we looking for? 

We welcome professionals from a broad range of sectors, including but not limited to: 

• Finance, Audit & Risk 

• HR, People & Culture 

• Strategy, Transformation & Operations 

• Technology, AI & Digital 

• Legal, Governance & Compliance 

• Marketing, PR & Communications 

• Education, apprenticeships, or vocational courses 

What matters most is your strategic thinking, commercial awareness, and commitment to helping others succeed. 

Prior education experience is not required. Full induction and training are provided, with access to DfE-funded development and peer mentoring where needed. 

Time commitment 

Expect to give approximately 1–2 days per month, including: 

• Attending board and committee meetings (in person or remote) 

• Reading papers and preparing questions 

• Participating in training and occasional college visits 

The time commitment is manageable alongside a full-time role—and many employers actively support staff to take on governance roles as part of their professional development. 

Where you’ll be needed 

Some colleges offer remote governance and meetings take place online. This may suit you best, or we may suggest a role where you volunteer on a hybrid basis at a college within a reasonable distance from you. We are recruiting governors for colleges across England, with new opportunities added regularly. 

What’s in it for you? 

This role offers the opportunity to: 

• Enhance your board-level and governance experience 

• Develop strategic oversight and leadership outside your day-to-day role 

• Expand your professional network 

• Give back in a way that creates long-term, measurable impact 

About Boards for Education 

Boards for Education is a charity that sources and supports volunteers for governing boards. We aim to improve educational outcomes for children, young people, and adult learners by strengthening governance across the education sector. 

With more than 25 years’ experience and a national network of partners, we connect schools, academy trusts, colleges, and education charities across England and Wales with skilled, independent volunteers. 

Ready to step into a strategic, purpose-driven leadership role? 

If you’re ready to bring your corporate insight to the education sector and help shape the future of skills, opportunity, and social mobility—we’d love to hear from you. 

Apply now to become a volunteer college governor. 

Thank you for your interest in supporting the work of Portsmouth Cathedral through membership of its well-established Finance (incorporating Audit and Risk) Committee. 

We are looking for up to three candidates who have:governance and committee experience at senior level; relevant and recent financial or fundraising experience; and/or a track record in accountancy, investments, endowments, trading subsidiaries, audit and risk. In addition to sound interpersonal skills, they should be competent and able to exercise governance in a charity organisation 

We are committed to increasing diversity and inclusion within our Committees. We welcome applications from anyone regardless of disability, ethnicity, heritage, gender, sexuality, social economic background, faith or other difference.
 

Non-Executive Director (Board member) 

Positive Money is a leading international think tank and campaign organisation working to redesign our economic system for social justice and a liveable planet. We publish research, advocate for our proposals with politicians, policymakers, and the press, collaborate with civil society, and mobilise our community of supporters with digital campaigns. We work across six key areas: racial economic justice, finance and democracy, green finance, the future of money, housing, and macroeconomics.

We are seeking up to 4 new Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) to join the board of Positive Money UK. Our board is a non-executive body responsible for the organisation’s vision, mission, strategic direction, finances and governance. These positions are voluntary and unremunerated. Our board meets four times per year at our office in Vauxhall, and NEDs also support the organisation via membership of occasional working groups, or in reviewing policies or other documents.

We are looking for people who will bring strategic insight and either have, or wish to develop, a good understanding of governance. At a time when the funding landscape for our sector is volatile, we are also seeking people who can bring insight, experience or new connections to our fundraising efforts. We are also seeking a candidate with a strong finance background to take over from our current Non-Executive Finance Director, who will be retiring at the end of his term by the end of 2027. We are not seeking all these attributes in each candidate, and recognise that different candidates will bring different strengths and skillsets. See our application pack (link below) for full details

We are committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility and aim to dismantle oppression in all areas of our work. If you have any questions or considerations you would like us to accommodate in the recruitment process, please contact us.

Contract: Voluntary unremunerated position

Time commitment: Attendance at four board meetings annually, including at least three in person. NEDs may also be asked to review policies, proposals or other documents for the organisation or serve on occasional working groups. NEDs generally spend 3-5 hours per month on Board work.

Deadline: Closing date for applications is 9am Mon 7th Sept with interviews held on Wed 16th Sept

There will also be an open webinar on Wed 26th August at 6pm at which some current board members and Co-ED’s at Positive Money will speak a little more about the organisation and the role, and take questions.

Start Date: We aim to appoint new NEDs formally at our Dec board meeting. We may also invite successful candidates to attend some upcoming strategy development sessions this autumn, see application pack for dates and further details.

How to apply: Please visit our website vacancies page to view a full application pack and details of how to apply.