Trustee – Education and Training Lead

Trustee – Education and Training Lead

About the role 

We are looking for an individual to join Central YMCA’s Board of Trustees and Performance, Quality and Impact (PQI) Committee, with an aim to take over as Chair of the Committee within approximately the next 12 months. Our PQI Committee oversees the Charity’s funded education and skills provision, ensuring continuous improvement, safeguarding learner outcomes, and demonstrating impact for beneficiaries, employers, and funders. This includes providing assurance to the Board that the Charity delivers high-quality, impactful education and training provision in line with the Charity’s purpose, vision, and values and relevant statutory and regulatory standards.

About you 

We are seeking an individual with extensive experience in post-16 funded education, including apprenticeships, ideally within an Independent Training Provider. The ideal candidate will also have served as a trustee, governor or non-executive director and have committee chair experience. We highly value diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and insights in our work. We are particularly interested in hearing from candidates whose professional and personal experiences, including lived experiences, will bring fresh understanding to the Board and the work of the PQI Committee.

Role description 

Collective Responsibilities of the Board of Trustees 

Trustees are responsible for the governance and careful management of the resources of a charity to ensure they are used effectively to achieve its aims and purpose.

Trustees, as stewards of the Charity's governance and strategy, work closely with the Executive Team to provide oversight, guidance, and support. While Trustees set the direction and ensure compliance with regulations, the Executive Team executes day-to-day operations and implements strategies to achieve the Charity's goals. Together, they form a cohesive unit, combining their expertise and commitment to drive the Charity's success and make a positive impact in the community.

A Central YMCA Trustee will be expected to work effectively with fellow Trustees to:

• Uphold the values and objectives of Central YMCA
• Determine the overall direction and development of the Charity through good governance and clear strategic planning.
• Enable the achievement of objectives through appropriate delegated authorities, operational procedures and the provision of paid employees with the appropriate skills and competencies.
• Promote the accountability of the Charity through open and transparent conduct and contact with communities, representative bodies, regulatory and strategic authorities.
• Measure and review the performance of Central YMCA.
• Avoid undue financial risk and protect the public funds invested in the Charity.
• Exercise sound financial management and maintain financial viability whilst meeting Central YMCA’s objectives.
• Ensure that robust systems are in place for internal financial control and the protection of the Charity’s funds and assets.
• Approve annual budget and accounts prior to publication.
• Ensure the effective management and use of Charity resources to ensure long-term sustainability.
• Ensure that the Charity complies with legislative and regulatory requirements and acts in accordance with its governing documents to further its charitable objects.
• Take professional advice (as appropriate) in matters where there may be a material risk to the Charity, or where the Trustees may be in breach of their duties.

 Individual Responsibilities of Trustees

• Regularly attend and contribute to Board Meetings and any delegated sub-committee meetings.
• Ensure that adequate preparation is made for meetings by reading and assessing all relevant papers and reports.
• Pay attention to strategic and creative thinking when formulating policy.
• Attend functions, conferences and other meetings as and when required and use personal skills and knowledge in the interests of Central YMCA.
• Attend appropriate induction and training events.
• Avoid any personal conflict of interests. Where issues involving a possible conflict of interests arise unexpectedly, they should immediately be disclosed to the Chair of the Board.
• Ensure the effective and efficient administration of the Charity and its resources, striving for best practice in good governance.
• Maintain absolute confidentiality about all aspects of the trustees’ business, bearing in mind the overriding legal obligations placed upon trustees.

Additional Responsibilities of a Trustee Lead for Philanthropy and Income Development 

This is a critical role to strengthen the Board of Trustee’s understanding of the post-16 education and training sector and oversight of the Charity’s work. This role will serve as a long-term successor to the current Chair of Central YMCA’s Performance Quality and Impact (PQI) Committee.

The postholder will be required to:

• Support oversight and critical evaluation of the Charity’s long-term vision and strategic direction of our Education and Skills provision, taking into consideration any changes to government policy and the funding landscape.
• Review the development of our long-term curriculum strategies to ensure they are reflective of the needs of our learners, employers and local markets, as well as contemporary education and technology trends.
• Ensure the Charity can clearly demonstrate its impact and how it enhances the skills of local and national communities.
• Monitor the performance, achievement and progression of learners across all of our Education and Skills provision, including any subcontracted provision. This includes in-person visits and other stakeholder engagement, to better understand the learner and employer experience.
• Review systems of pastoral care and inclusion strategies, with particular focus on our system of support for learners with learning difficulties or disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
• Monitor performance against our contract values and any growth targets.
• Review progress against the annual quality cycle, including the development and approval of the annual self-assessment report and quality improvement plans Review updates on observations of teaching, learning and assessment and make recommendations as appropriate.
• Review Ofsted reports or any quality audit reports and monitor progress against recommendations.
• Support Ofsted inspections as one of the lead Trustees for interviews with inspectors

Time Commitment

This role involves attending quarterly Board meetings and Performance, Quality and Impact Committee meetings, generally totalling two meetings per quarter.

Meetings typically occur from 4-6 pm and are a mix of in-person and online, with adjustments available as needed.

Preparatory materials are provided in advance, and typically, half a day of preparation ensures productive participation. Additionally, there is an annual strategy day from 10 am to 4 pm, and you may be asked to represent the charity at various events or undertake visits to our sites.

You may also be asked to provide occasional ad hoc support to the Executive Team outside of scheduled meetings. Trustees should expect to dedicate a minimum of 12 days annually to this role.

We offer reasonable reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses incurred for in-person meeting attendance. Furthermore, training and development opportunities will be provided to support your role on the Board.

How to Apply

If you are interested in this position, please send a brief cover note and a copy of your CV to Naomi da Silva, Director of Governance and Risk: naomi.dasilva@ymca.co.uk.

An initial conversation will be arranged with the Charity’s CEO, Monique Clements, and Naomi da Silva, to provide a brief overview of the work of the Charity and the role, and to answer any questions. This will be followed by an online interview with members of the Nomination Committee.

The closing date is 04 December 2026 and we aim to undertake interviews in December.

This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.