Job Description

Trustee Board role

We are seeking new Trustees to strengthen our Board and work closely with the executive to create and enable sustainable changes in the lives of individual children, communities and in the wider policy and practice that affects children living alone on the streets.

Railway Children is the largest UK charity working exclusively in the field of street children. For 26 years, we have provided protection and opportunity for children alone and at risk on the streets with nowhere else to go and nobody to turn to. Every year thousands of children across the UK, India and Tanzania run away or are forced to leave homes that have become unbearable through poverty, abuse, violence and neglect. Reaching a child as soon as possible is crucial to getting to children on the streets before an abuser can, and before they become entrenched in street life.

Our Board collectively ensures delivery of our aims, sets our strategic direction and upholds our values. It’s an exciting time to join as we launch a new five-year strategy. You’ll have experience of providing strong governance and oversight and be willing to become a key contributor to our trustee board and its sub-committees.  Upholding statutory duties for the effective and efficient oversight of the charity will be essential, as well as contributing your knowledge and experience to its development through our next strategy period.

To fulfil the role, you’ll need to commit to 10-15 days per annum. The main Board and each sub-committee meets each quarter. 

About you

We are seeking exceptional values-led leaders with relevant experience to shape and drive forward our strategic direction. Specifically, we are looking for:

• Senior programme experience in an international NGO.
• Senior experience in managing programmes or services for children, including a sound knowledge of managing safeguarding.
• A senior leader or Trustee of an international NGO of a similar size with an understanding of charity governance.
• A senior person of influence in the rail industry.

In addition, we are seeking to strengthen our knowledge and experience in new technologies and sustainability issues.

You will have exceptional ambassadorial, interpersonal, advocacy and negotiating skills and passionate about the opportunity to use your leadership skills to improve the lives of vulnerable children around the world.