Chair

Support a bold new strategy to tackle political inequality and expand democratic participation.

About us

JRSST-CT is an independent democracy-focused grant-making charity connected to the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust. We fund work that supports inclusive political participation, civic education, and reform, with a strong focus on the people who are most excluded from democratic power, such as young people, migrants, renters, and people from minoritised backgrounds.

In 2025, we committed to spending down our £4.6m endowment over 10 years to accelerate progress on political inclusion and voter participation. By the end of 2025, we will also host the UK Democracy Fund, a pooled fund that works for a democracy in which everyone can participate, and to make the UK's voting system fairer, more accessible, and fit for the 21st century.

About the role

We are now seeking a new Chair of the Board to lead this exciting next chapter. As Chair, you will work closely with our Chief Executive and Board of Trustees to oversee governance, strategy, and impact, and to uphold the Trust’s values and charitable purpose throughout our spend-down period. This is a pivotal role at a critical time for UK democracy. You will lead a committed and independent-minded Board, ensure high standards of governance and decision-making, and act as a key sounding board for the Chief Executive. You will also play an ambassadorial role for the Trust, supporting external relationships.

About you

We are looking for an experienced Chair or Board leader with a clear commitment to inclusive democracy and a strong understanding of charity governance. You will bring excellent judgement, facilitation, and communication skills, along with a collaborative and values-led approach to leadership. You will be able to lead the Board through strategic, financial and reputational considerations, balancing support and challenge. Experience of working with endowment-based charities, grant-making or policy reform is welcome.

We particularly encourage applications from people with lived or professional experience of the people our work serves, including those from minoritised ethnic groups, migrants, disabled people, young people and those from lower-income backgrounds.

Time commitment

The role involves approximately 12–15 days per year, which represents a combination of all responsibilities and expectations. There are four Board meetings annually (typically 2–3 hours, alternating between online and in-person meetings in York), with time for preparation and reading in advance. In-person meetings are usually accompanied by dinner. There may be occasional workshops and optional events such as grantee receptions. Board members are also asked to approve a small number of grants between meetings and provide ad hoc support aligned with their expertise, and you will occasionally represent JRSST-CT externally.

If you are excited to play a leadership role in an ambitious and principled organisation working to revitalise democracy in the UK, we would love to hear from you.

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 at 9 a.m. Tuesday 26th August 2025.