OnSide is a national charity that believes all young people should have the opportunity to discover their passion and their purpose: to find out what they’ve got, and where it could take them. It raises funds to build state-of-the-art, multimillion-pound Youth Zones in the country’s most economically disadvantaged areas. The charity trains the amazing people that run these Zones. It also offers continuing support to the nationwide OnSide Network where young people can learn and grow, share their stories and celebrate their success together. These are brand-new, purpose-built spaces fizzing with energy, and crammed with incredible facilities. They are staffed by skilled and dedicated youth workers who truly believe in young people – helping them see what they could achieve, and giving them the skills, confidence and ambition to go for it. This is life-changing support that helps tens of thousands of young people from a diverse range of backgrounds to thrive.

Founded in 2008, based on the model of the famous Bolton Lads & Girls Club, the charity has raised over £130m to build and run Youth Zones. OnSide supports a network of 14 Youth Zones around the country, and has eight currently under development in underprivileged areas. OnSide is targeting the opening of four new Youth Zones every year, further strengthening the OnSide Network and providing much-needed open access youth work to local communities. Initially focused in the North West of England, it now operates nationally with three Zones open in London and another one opening in the next year. More than 50,000 young people make over 650,000 visits to OnSide Youth Zones every year. Learn more about the fantastic, 21st-century youth work OnSide does by visiting its website.

This is passionate, properly-funded youth provision, with no ifs or buts. OnSide is a unique partnership between young people and their community, local authorities and private business leadership, and a growing movement of supporters who believe that how we treat the next generation defines who we are as a society. Because when we really invest in young people, we all benefit – from who they are now, everything they might become and achieve, and everyone they might touch and inspire. All young people need is the chance to shine – an environment where they can be their best selves. It’s about opportunity.

Each Youth Zone is a registered charity with its own Board of Trustees and management team. OnSide is the separate, coordinating charity which designs, builds and raises the finances for each new Youth Zone, in addition to recruiting and training its leadership teams. OnSide is the strategic body which offers ongoing support to all Youth Zones so they operate to the same high standards and core values, ensuring our young people have fun in a safe, supportive, fulfilling environment. This Trustee role is for OnSide, and as such will involve:

• Contributing actively to the Board by providing strategic direction, setting overall policy, evaluating performance and ensuring OnSide’s future sustainability
• Attending five Board meetings a year, in addition to devoting some time outside of the Board room to the mission of OnSide
• Providing advice and support on an ad hoc basis
• Attending events where practicable

OnSide strives towards improving the diversity of the Trustee Board with regard to ethnicity, gender, age and socio-economic background as it seeks to be representative of the diverse population of the young people it serves, and therefore encourages applications from all backgrounds. The one thing all applicants must all have in common is a desire to raise the aspirations of young people across the country.

To complement the skills of the existing Board and support its long-term strategy, OnSide seeks new Trustees who have senior-level experience in one of the following areas:

Youth Work: The successful candidate will have substantial strategic experience in, and a passion for, open-access, universal youth work. They will provide support and challenge as the rapidly growing organisation seeks to ever-strengthen the impact that Youth Zones have on young people. They may have experience in the charity sector, though this is not essential. This candidate will ideally have had hands-on experience working with young people as well as strategic, senior-level experience working in the sector.

Marketing & Communications: The successful candidate will have a strong background in senior strategic marketing & communications, and a demonstrable interest in the charity sector. They will provide strategic advice as the rapidly growing organisation seeks to strengthen its profile and brand nationally and regionally. Their experience could have been gained in the private sector or third sector. An understanding of influencing policy would be beneficial, but is not required for the role.

Fundraising: The successful candidate will have considerable leadership experience including time within or in partnership with the commercial sector, combined with a clear interest in helping a youth charity to deliver its ambitious fundraising strategy by enhancing its reach amongst big business and corporate leaders. They will be well-networked, will feel comfortable fostering relationships with influential individuals who could strengthen our brand awareness, and will be willing and able to help OnSide build a broader network of enthusiastic donors to provide long-term financial sustainability. The candidate may have experience in raising funds for charities, but more important is a passion for wanting to help young people in disadvantaged areas.

As a Trustee you must:

• Always act in the best interests of OnSide, exercising the same duty of care that a prudent person of business would in looking after the affairs of someone for whom they have responsibility
• Act as a group and not as an individual
• Ensure that OnSide complies with charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations
• Ensure that OnSide applies its resources wisely and applies ‘best value’ principles
• Contribute actively to the Board in giving firm strategic direction to the Chief Executive in setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets
• Contribute actively to Board Meetings and other appropriate events
• Safeguard the reputation and values of Onside
• Ensure the financial stability of Onside

In addition to the above statutory duties, each trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the board of trustees reach sound decisions. This may involve leading discussions, scrutinising board papers, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, or other issues in which the trustee has special expertise.

You can find our more about the Board here.

The Board meets five times per year. Virtual attendance is possible, but in-person attendance is encouraged. These meetings typically last two hours. Additionally, there is an annual development day, which takes place in-person in December. There will also be ad hoc engagements, which may include joining either the Nominations or Finance and Audit Committee, which both meet two times per year. The appointment is for a three-year term, which can be renewed once at the discretion of the Board. This role is unremunerated.

Board meetings are generally held in White City in London, with occasional meetings in Bolton / the North West, with virtual attendance possible but in-person encouraged. Candidates should be willing to travel for meetings in London and to the Youth Zones in the OnSide Network.

OnSide strongly welcomes applicants 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, OnSide may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.