Trustees - Speech and Language UK

Speech and Language UK is dedicated to supporting children and young people with speech and language challenges. Our mission is to ensure that every child can develop the necessary skills to face the future with confidence. Challenges with speech and language affect around 1.9 million children in the UK – or 1 in 5 children - making it a significant issue that impacts various aspects of a child's life, including their academic progress, emotional well-being, and future opportunities.

We work to raise awareness about the challenges faced by children with these challenges. We provide expert advice, tools, and training to families, educators, and other professionals to help spot and support children who struggle with talking and understanding words. This includes offering free resources on our website, running a free advice line, and creating interventions and training programmes to equip educators from early years to secondary schools.

In addition to providing resources, we play an important advocacy role. We speak out so that policymakers and government bodies know the scale and impact of speech and language challenges today. We also run two specialist schools and services for children with more complex challenges. 

Background to the roles  
The Speech and Language UK Board currently includes ten Trustees including the Chair. We are lucky to have a broad mix of relevant skills, enjoy a positive culture and good working relationships with the executive team. At this stage of the charity’s development we have recognised the need to enhance the Board and welcome new Trustees who will bring specific knowledge and experience to support our important work. We are seeking motivated people who share our commitment to improving the lives of children with speech and language challenges and who would relish the opportunity to get involved.

To enhance our Board’s capacity we are now looking for people with experience and expertise in the following areas:

• Fundraising
• Public Affairs and Public Policy

Main Responsibilities

• Govern the charity’s execution of its strategy Confident Young Futures and ensure the charity is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit
• Make decisions on future strategy, policy and resource allocation in line with the Scheme of Delegation, always complying with the charity’s governing document and the law and acting in the charity’s best interests
• Hold the Senior Management Team to account for delivery of the strategy
• Ensure the charity manages its resources responsibly and ethically, both human and financial
• Fulfil responsibilities as required by company and charity law
• Work with the Senior Management Team and other Trustees to ensure the future financial and environmental sustainability of the organisation
   

Person Specification

Among your key attributes, we are looking to secure experience at a senior level of

• public affairs, including how organisations can engage with Government and influence policy through a combination of insider lobbying and public campaigning
• OR fundraising, including an understanding of the mix of income streams, including trusts, foundations, corporates, individual giving and community fundraising.

Alongside an:

• Ability to understand and accept the duties and liabilities of a Trustee and how they differ from operational management
• Empathy with the vision, mission and values of the charity
• Willingness and ability to devote the necessary time and effort
• Ability to think and apply knowledge strategically
• Ability to analyse and evaluate management information and any other evidence
   

Eastside People is supporting Speech and Language UK in the recruitment for this role. Please apply by submitting your CV and cover letter, which should cover the following:

• Why you are interested in a trustee role at Speech and Language UK
• How you can contribute to the Trust as a trustee. Please highlight relevant experience and demonstrate how your skills match the specific requirements of the role as set out in the Person Specification.
• Why you think you would be a good fit for the charity

If you would like a call to discuss the role in more detail, please email Lucinda to arrange a convenient time. Having a call of this kind will not influence the success or otherwise of your application.

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential. Please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can make the application process work for you.

The closing date for applications is 2 December with shortlisting interviews with Eastside People taking place that week. Interviews will be held with Speech and Language UK the following week.

Eastside People is fully committed to equality of opportunity and diversity and work with our clients to ensure that we recruit inclusively, seeking to address the underrepresentation of some groups of people in leadership teams. 

Statement on diversity

We are keen to diversify our Board so that we better reflect the people and communities that we serve and we would therefore particularly welcome applications from people from racialised minorities, from people living outside of the south-east of England, and from women. We recognise that having people with a range of different life experiences will bring fresh perspectives to our work and enhance our Board’s effectiveness and ability to support children in many communities across the UK.