Board-level volunteer is the catch all term used to define an individual who serves on a governing board, for example as a charity trustee or a school governor, of a not-for-profit organisation, local school or a similar entity in a voluntary capacity.
At King’s we have developed Board Bank, a space to provide structure, guidance and support for staff and students seeking to drive positive change through board-level volunteering.
We know how valuable it can be to connect with like-minded peers who are trustees or school governors. There’s a lot that we can learn from one another.
To help us build a network of trustees at King’s, we’d love to hear from staff and students across the university who are engaged in board-level volunteering.
If that’s you, please complete this short form to better understand the contributions King’s staff and students are making in their community, as trustees/school governors.
Watch this inspiring campaign from Governors for Schools, on what inspires people to volunteer as school governors.
For your community
Charities and local schools need trustees with a huge range of skills and experience that the King’s community have in abundance.
From our conversations with charities and local schools, we know that there is a shortage of skilled volunteers on boards, and a desire to recruit and retain a diverse range of volunteers – to ensure their perspectives are reflective of the communities in which they serve.
For your development
Board-level volunteering exposes you to a wide range of skills needed for the successful running of a charity or school, such as negotiation and financial management.
This experience will enable you to explore your leadership style, build your confidence in decision-making and learn how to implement and apply strategic thinking.
We are confident that the skills gained from being a board-level volunteer can be effectively transferred to your time at King’s, enhancing your personal effectiveness and enabling you to strive towards your ambitions.
Overview
King’s Volunteering and Organisational Development are working in partnership with Getting on Board, a charity who are on a mission to make board-level volunteering accessible to people from a diverse range of backgrounds, to deliver the Charity Board Leadership Programme.
Forming part of Organisational Development’s Personal Effectiveness Bootcamps offering, the programme will provide comprehensive training for 20 staff members at King’s on what it takes to become a trustee.
The course is fully participatory, incorporating live application guidance, mock interview support and peer-to-peer discussions in breakout rooms, as well as charity expert-led panels with real time Q&As.
Applications are now closed for this cohort.
Read how The Charity Board Leadership Programme helped King’s Food Retail Manager, Lisa Connellan, discover her volunteer position on the Independent Monitoring Board for Prisons. Read here.
Who’s it for?
The Charity Board Leadership Programme is designed for all King’s staff, regardless of your day job, age, and your level of professional seniority. The most important qualities you can have are enthusiasm and the will to make a difference.
Although securing a trustee role after completing the programme is not an expectation, King’s Volunteering will be available to facilitate connections with community partners who are actively seeking trustees.
King’s Volunteering and Student Transition & Outcomes are working in partnership with Governors for Schools to deliver Pathway to Governance – an online programme, designed to help you understand what it takes to be a school governor and how to become one.
Applications are now closed for this cohort.
Why be part of this programme?
With more governors aged over 80, than under 30 - schools are looking for leadership and voices that are representative of their community and can bring with them a range of skills, knowledge and experience that will help improve the education of their children and young people.
On a personal level, this experience will enable you to explore your leadership style, build your confidence in decision-making and learn how to implement and apply strategic thinking – for the benefit of children and their education.
This interactive online programme will provide you with the knowledge, skills and attributes needed to successfully take on a school governance role, from strategic leadership, communication, and negotiation to financial management skills.
More information about the programme can be found on the Governors for Schools webpage.
Who’s it for?
The Pathway to Governance programme is open to all King’s students, and offers a unique opportunity for those who are:
- Passionate about addressing educational inequality
- Enthusiastic about educational policy, teacher education and education research
- Interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by schools in the UK
- Seeking to develop and nurture their leadership and professional skills
How do I apply?
Applications are now closed for this cohort.