Fitzrovia Youth in Action (FYA) is Camden’s leading youth action charity. Operating for more than 25 years, FYA supports young people in and around Camden’s neighbouring communities to lead community action and create positive change for themselves, their peers and their community. FYA takes a youth action approach, ensuring young people are actively involved in each stage of its projects.

Last year, FYA supported over 500 young people in organising youth social action programmes which subsequently engaged over 2,500 other young people and residents. FYA's young volunteers organised and delivered awareness campaigns on mental health and community safety, ran peer support groups and peer mentoring programmes to support mental health, and organised a range of other community events to bring people together. The charity also manages and runs a local community pitch as well as The Warren Centre, a youth led space in the heart of the Camden community.

This is an exciting time for the organisation, as it recently defined its new strategic plan. The charity is now developing a corresponding operational business plan to launch and scale programmes, with the aim to expand into the Westminster area. Additionally, FYA has also launched exciting priorities which include creating more innovative programmes, further diversifying its service user base, growing new income streams and developing the excellent staff team.

FYA is seeking a new Chair to lead the charity through its next exciting period of development, which includes scaling and expanding programming for greater mobilisation of youth social action in London.

You can read more about FYA's strategic priorities here.

The Chair of FYA leads the Board, oversees its strategic direction and its governance, adds insight, and provides collaborative advice and appropriate challenge to the Executive team. The role would also involve working closely with FYA’s CEO and leadership team to achieve the charity’s strategic aims and prioritising the relationship between the Board and FYA staff.

The Chair will oversee management of Board meetings, monitoring decisions and ensuring actions are implemented. The incoming Chair will continue to provide inclusive leadership and direction to organisation, instilling by example an engaged, thoughtful, and proactive culture to the Board. FYA has an active, supportive Board and it is essential that the incoming Chair fosters this collaborative environment as the charity continues to grow

The role will also involve working with FYA's Treasurer to full financial transparency and information disclosure to the Board, as well as FYA's CEO and leadership team to achieve the charity's strategic aims and continue building the relationship between the Board and the FYA staff.

FYA is seeking a dynamic Chair – with a passion for youth engagement and a strong sense of social mission - to lead the charity over the next few years. The successful candidate will possess strong interpersonal skills and an ability to bring people together, leading with sensitivity and diplomacy.

There is no preferred functional background for this role, so long as candidates bring senior, strategic-level leadership experience from a commercial or not-for-profit organisation and a strong understanding of charity governance and finance.

Ideally, this leadership experience will include exposure to operating within a growing business or smaller charity. Candidates will therefore have an appreciation of the challenges and opportunities of smaller organisations in this role, and bring an attitude of flexibility and energetic leadership to the position.

FYA is open to receiving applications from those seeking their first non-executive role, as long as they exhibit an understanding of board dynamics, differentiating between executive and non-executive roles. However, individuals with previous charity Trustee experience will be particularly competitive.

Natalie Speranza, Chairperson
Afrin Alam
Jane Boddington
Patricia Marron
Halima Nessa
Daniel Pitt
Lorna Ponambalum
Mark Seaborne
Rosemary Swainston 
Emilie Vanpoperinghe
Alice Weavers
Brian Willmore

You can learn more about the Board here. 

This role is unremunerated. The Board meets four times per year. All members of the Board sit on at least one subcommittee which held before Board meetings. All meetings taking place in the evening, lasting between 1.5 and 2 hours with a mix of online and face-to-face at FYA Warren Street locations. There are two additional strategy meetings and the Chair would act as ambassador for the charity at community events, held in Fitzrovia throughout the year.

First-round interviews will be held virtually on December 18th, 20th, 21st. The final appointment will be confirmed in January.

This organisation is based in London and meetings will take place in person. Candidates will therefore be UK-based, with a preference for those with connectivity to Camden or Westminster.

FYA welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, belief or disability. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.