Chair of Trustees (Volunteer)

Chair of Trustees (Volunteer)

Help lead Hope Education Project UK as Chair of Trustees. You’ll provide strategic leadership, strengthen governance, and support a growing UK charity tackling human trafficking, girls’ protection and education in Ghana.


What will you be doing?

We are seeking a Chair of Trustees to provide strategic leadership and governance oversight for Hope Education Project UK, a newly registered charity supporting education and anti-trafficking programmes in Ghana.

The Chair will work closely with fellow trustees and the founder to:

• Lead the trustee board and ensure effective governance and decision-making
• Support the charity’s strategic direction, sustainability, and growth
• Ensure strong safeguarding, risk management, and compliance with charity law
• Act as a sounding board and mentor to the founder and trustees
• Represent the charity externally where appropriate (e.g. funders, partners)

This is a non-executive, voluntary role focused on oversight, leadership, and accountability rather than day-to-day operations.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for an experienced, thoughtful, and values-driven individual who is motivated by social justice, education, and safeguarding.

The ideal Chair will bring:

• Experience in governance, leadership, or trustee roles (Chair experience desirable but not essential)
• A good understanding of charity governance, compliance, and strategic oversight
• The ability to lead inclusive, effective board discussions and support collective decision-making
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the confidence to challenge constructively and supportively
• A commitment to safeguarding, ethical practice, and survivor-led approaches

• An understanding of how poverty, climate change, limited access to education and gender inequality drives trafficking in West Africa

Experience in any of the following would be particularly helpful:

• Charity leadership or trustee boards
• Fundraising, strategy, or organisational development
• International development, education, human rights, or gender equality

Above all, we are looking for someone who shares our values of compassion, integrity, education, and protection, and who is motivated to help a small charity grow responsibly and sustainably.

What difference will you make?

As a newly registered CIO, Hope Education Project UK is at a critical stage of development. A strong Chair of Trustees will help us build solid governance foundations, make confident strategic decisions, and grow sustainably.

The Chair will play a key role in ensuring we remain compliant, safeguarding-led, and credible as we raise funds for core costs and programme delivery. Their leadership will help position the charity to secure grants, build partnerships, and support survivor-led education and girls’ empowerment work in Ghana.

This role directly strengthens our long-term impact by ensuring the charity is well-governed, resilient, and fit for growth.

Additional information

You can view the following documents by clicking here
 

Before you apply

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We’re particularly interested in applicants’ motivation for becoming a Chair, their experience of governance or leadership, and their alignment with HEP UK’s mission and values.

Shortlisted candidates will first be invited to an informal introductory conversation with the founder. Those progressing will then be invited to a second discussion with the founder and our Strategy and Governance Director, to explore governance experience, safeguarding approach, and how the Chair role would work in practice.

We aim to acknowledge applications within one week and to arrange conversations shortly after shortlisting. There is no fixed closing date, and we will appoint once we find the right fit.

We are keen for the process to be transparent, welcoming, and proportionate to a voluntary trustee role, and we are happy to answer questions at any stage.