Chair of Trustees - Remote + Meetings Herefordshire
Longtown Outdoor Learning Trust
Location: Remote + meetings
Salary: Voluntary, unsalaried, expenses paid
Closes: 26/9/25
Chair of Trustees at Longtown Outdoor Learning Trust
Contract type: Part-time
Start date: December 2025
Salary: Voluntary, unsalaried, expenses paid
Job Location: Remote + meetings (the Trust is based in Longtown, Herefordshire)
Closing date: Friday 26th September
Interview day: October 2025, dates to be confirmed
Purpose of the role
To provide leadership and direction to the Board of Trustees, enabling them to fulfil their responsibilities for the overall governance and strategic direction of the Trust.
Key responsibilities
- Lead the Board to ensure its effectiveness in:
- Setting and implementing LOLT's culture, direction and strategy.
- Approving the annual operations (business) plan, budget and risk management plan.
- Monitoring the above to ensure delivery.
- Focus the Board on strategic matters, prioritising long-term goals, financial resilience and planning.
- Maintain high standards of governance, foster transparency and ensure LOLT holds itself accountable to its stakeholders.
- Ensure Trustee awareness and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, including:
- The requirements in LOLT’s Articles of Association.
- The Charity Commission guidance on trustee roles and responsibilities.
- Company and Charity Law.
- Ensure that the Board of Trustees reviews its structure, effectiveness, delegations and key policies annually, and implements agreed changes as necessary.
- Liaise with the Clerk to arrange meetings, set agendas and chair meetings to ensure these are well run and focused on delivering LOLT’s charitable work.
- Act as a representative and spokesperson for LOLT.
- Manage trustee relationships to foster a positive board culture, including:
- Ensuring the Board has the policies it needs.
- Leading on the development of trustees.
- Build a strong working relationship with LOLT’s senior leadership team and provide support by positively challenging and holding them to account, and by working with the Board to approve a scheme of delegation and appraisal.
Person Specification
In addition to the qualities required of a LOLT Trustee (see attached), the role of the Chair requires the following attributes:
Knowledge and skills
- Strong leadership skills, the ability to motivate staff and volunteers and to bring people together.
- A broad understanding of financial management.
- A good understanding of charity governance/finance (desirable).
Experience
- Experience of operating at a strategic level in the public, private or voluntary sector.
- Experience of chairing meetings.
- Experience of charity governance and working with or as part of a Board of Trustees (desirable).
Personal qualities
- Demonstrate a passion and commitment to LOLT’s charitable purpose and strategic objectives.
- Exhibit strong interpersonal and relationship building abilities.
- Demonstrate tact and diplomacy, with the ability to listen and engage effectively.
- Able to foster and promote a collaborative team environment.
- Able to commit the time required to be effective in the role.
Terms of appointment
Terms of office
- Trustees are appointed for a 3 year term of office, with the option to be re-elected for 2 further terms (to a maximum of 9 years).
- This is a voluntary position, but reasonable expenses are reimbursed.
Time commitment
- The Board meets 6 times a year. Currently meetings are held both remotely and in person at the centre in Longtown, Herefordshire.
- Trustees are required to complete a 3-hour safeguarding course and there will be opportunities to take part in continuous professional development.
- From time to time additional sub-committees may be convened, as required.
- It is important that the Chair is able to visit The Trust’s centre in Longtown.
- In addition to board meetings, other contact – usually by email or telephone – will be necessary.
This post requires the satisfactory completion of an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and the receipt of satisfactory references.
How to apply
If you are interested in the role and would like to find out more about it, then we would love to hear from you. Just send an introductory email to [email protected]. We can answer any questions you may have and we can arrange a visit to the centre if required.
To apply for the role, please send a covering letter and CV to: [email protected]
Applications need to arrive by 5pm on Friday 26th September 2025.
Further details about the work of The Trust can be found at: www.longtownoutdoorlearning.co.uk and www.longtownadviceservice.co.uk.