Trustee

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 Trustee to join our Board and support the delivery of our new strategy. As a Trustee, you will be responsible for the effective governance of the charity, reviewing strategy and finances, and helping to shape our grant-making approach. You will work closely with fellow Trustees and the Chief Executive to ensure we achieve our aims in a way that is inclusive, impactful, and sustainable. This is an exciting opportunity to help lead a Trust through a defining period of influence and change, with the freedom and responsibility to resource vital work across civil society.

About you

We welcome individuals with a diverse range of skills and lived experiences, particularly those with a strong interest in democratic participation and political reform. You might bring experience in grant-making, advocacy, community engagement, learning and evaluation, fundraising, or governance. You do not need to have been a trustee before, and we are open to candidates from all backgrounds and offer support and training as needed.

We are especially keen to receive applications from those who have personal or professional experience of the people we seek to support, including younger people, racialised or minoritised groups, migrants, disabled people, and people with lived experience of political exclusion.

Time commitment

The role involves approximately 8–10 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 believe in building a fairer, more inclusive democracy and want to shape how our resources can support that vision, we warmly encourage you to apply.

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.