Trustees for refugee youth movement

We exist for young people with refugee backgrounds to build community, become leaders and flourish in the place they call home. As we embark on an ambitious 3-year strategy, we’re looking for passionate and skilled trustees to join our Board and help shape the next chapter of our journey.

With residential trips, leadership training, youth hubs, and one-to-one support, we are creating a peer-led social movement, and have welcomed over 500 young people from 47 different countries on our programmes since 2018. This is an exciting and pivotal moment for Our Second Home, as we aim to become the fastest-growing youth charity in the refugee sector – one that places inclusion, empowerment, and impact at the heart of everything that we do.

What you gain – being a trustee is an opportunity to:

• Help shape the future of a growing, impactful organisation.
• Make a meaningful difference in the lives of young refugees and asylum seekers.
• Develop new skills and gain experience in charity governance.
• Join a collaborative and inspiring team of trustees, staff, and volunteers.

We are particularly looking for these backgrounds

• Fundraising, including statutory and corporate funding
• Youth leadership development
• Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning
• An interest in stepping up to chair the Board of Trustees

THE ROLE

Leadership and Governance:

• Provide strategic guidance and leadership to Our Second Home. Support the leadership team, particularly the CEO, by offering expertise and insight.
• Play your part in fostering an inclusive and values-driven culture, champion diversity and inclusivity in board composition and decision-making.
• Oversee the mitigation of risks that could affect the charity's operations, reputation, or financial stability.

Strategy and Planning:

• Contribute to the development and execution of the charity's strategic plan.
• Align the board's vision with long-term sustainability and impact.
• Monitor progress towards strategic goals and adapt strategies as needed.

Stakeholder Engagement & Fundraising:

• Act as a passionate advocate for OSH, representing our mission and values to external stakeholders.
• Cultivate and nurture relationships with partners, donors, and the wider community.
• Leverage your network to advance the charity's interests and fundraising efforts.

Governance and Compliance:

• Ensure OSH complies with its governing documents, charity law, and relevant regulations.
• Uphold OSH’s safeguarding policies and ensure the safety and welfare of all participants.
• Ensure OSH remains financially sustainable by overseeing budgets and financial planning.
• Uphold the highest standards of ethics, transparency, and accountability.

Teamwork and Collaboration:

• Attend and actively participate in quarterly trustee meetings, and attend OSH activities and events to familiarise with OSH activities and leaders.
• Work collaboratively with other trustees and the staff team to achieve OSH’s goals.

ABOUT YOU

• A commitment to OSH’s mission, values, and safeguarding principles.
• Proven leadership experience.
• Commitment to the Nolan Principles of good governance: honesty, integrity, objectivity, accountability, selflessness, openness and leadership
• An understanding of governance principles and best practices.
• Being an approachable and proactive communicator.
• Ability to think creatively and strategically, exercise good, independent judgement and work effectively as a board member and leader.
• A willingness to act as an advocate for OSH.
• Ability to allocate the necessary time and dedication to fulfil the role's responsibilities, include preparing for and attending trustee meetings and events.

Our Second Home is an equal opportunity organisation, committed to fostering diversity and inclusion. We particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups, particularly those who have lived experience of the asylum system.