Chair of the Board | Kids Inspire

This is an opportunity to lead the Board of a rapidly growing children’s mental health charity, significantly impacting the lives, mental health and well-being of our children and young people through the provision of award-winning mental health services. Play your part in leading Kids Inspire as they grow in scale and geography and further their impact.

Applications close on: Monday 10th June 2024

Time commitment: c.2 days per month

About Kids Inspire

Kids Inspire was founded in 2007 by our Chief Executive, Sue Bell OBE, to fill gaps in mental health provision for children and young people. Today, Kids Inspire has a track record of success, providing specialist mental health services for children, young people and families.

We have a highly ambitious executive team and an engaged board of trustees. Together, we are determined and driven to make a sustainable difference in the lives of children, young people, and families by ensuring they get the support they need to recover from trauma and thrive.

We provide a range of therapeutic and community services which are suited to each child’s needs. Our holistic specialist services empower children, young people and their families affected by trauma or negative experiences to make positive choices and reclaim their lives.

Our services are informed by the latest developments in research and practice of neuroscience, trauma, and therapy. We believe the best outcomes are achieved when the adults around the child are included in the support, keeping the child at the centre.

Uniquely, therefore, since our inception we have provided ‘family inclusive’ specialist services to children and young people affected by negative experiences or trauma. This approach is one of the critical differentiators that enable us to make a positive impact on young people’s lives.

We are experiencing ever-increasing demands for mental health support. As a society, we are navigating post-pandemic challenges alongside the cost-of-living crisis and its effects.

The global uncertainty puts pressure on everyone, and we know children and young people are sensitive to the well-being and emotional capacity of their parents and/or adults who care for them.

Alongside this, we have seen an increase in the complexity of how our young people present and what concerns them. We need to ensure young people have access to support as we face an emerging and growing mental health crisis.

We know that children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds have, on average, weaker social and emotional learning skills at all ages than their peers. This is linked to poor mental health, lower academic attainment, and poorer employment outcomes. However, evidence suggests that developing social and emotional skills can improve young people’s lives.

A recent partnership with Impetus who supports and funds ‘high potential charities,’ has enabled us to reflect on and refine our theory of change and create a rigorous and robust strategy for the next three years of growth. The partnership also gave us access to pro bono support from Bain and Company who pressure-tested our strategy and created a comprehensive implementation plan which is already underway.

We work across Essex and are rapidly growing into Thurrock and Suffolk, with ambitious plans to continue to grow sustainably and have a bigger impact on the lives of children and young people.

We are on the cusp of our next stage of development, from local charity to countrywide provider, and, as we embark on our new business plan, this is a great time to join and lead our board as Chair.

About the role

As our current Chair, Simon Carpenter, is due to step down later this year, we are looking for a new Chair to lead our board at this pivotal time of growth, scaling and development for our organisation.

Who we are looking for

Our new Chair will:

• Bring governance experience and strong commercial acumen, with entrepreneurial experience in scaling and growing organisations.
• Together with our Chief Executive, Sue Bell, help to develop and drive our strategy, creating a bigger impact.
• Have experience leading organisations through growth and change and bringing a business focus.
• Understand the distinctive culture of the charity sector.
• Challenge and support our board and executive team alongside a strategic, open, calm, diplomatic and inclusive approach.
• Join our ambitious and engaged board and collaborate with the executive team to ensure our organisation grows sustainably.
• Share our vision and values and have a passion for supporting children’s and young people’s mental health and well-being.

We want to ensure that all voices are heard across our organisation, and our Chair will work closely with our Chief Executive and team to ensure that young people are at the core of how we work.

Please click 'Apply’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the candidate profile and register your interest to apply.

Applications for this role close on Monday 10th June 2024.