External Trustee - The University of Portsmouth Students’ Union

Voluntary, c10 / 12 engagements per year

The University of Portsmouth Students’ Union (UPSU) is an independent charity that exists to advance the education of all students at the University of Portsmouth. Our vision is to have a ‘Positive Impact with every Portsmouth student’ and we aim to have both immediate and legacy impacts through our range of inspiring services and activities.

As a charity led by its values and guided by its students, the UPSU provides wide-ranging services and activities for the 27,000+ students of the University of Portsmouth. UPSU is based in the centre of Portsmouth and turns over £1.7M per annum, employing approximately 35 career staff and a further 100 student staff. We work with over 1000 registered student volunteers and over 100 student groups.

UPSU is currently developing a new strategy relevant for all University of Portsmouth students. Our new strategy launching in 2023 is informed by a comprehensive research project that explored ideas, existing practice and sparked innovation that would support the University in its strategic imperatives and primarily ensure successful outcomes for all Portsmouth students.

We are looking for one person to join our Charity Trustee Board to support the Union through its next steps. Our primary focus is to find a candidate who will thrive in a student led and highly responsive environment. As well as sound judgement and enthusiasm for supporting students, you will need strong communication and leadership skills and be able to demonstrate our organisational values - Pioneering, Inclusive and Enriching.

Desirable skills and experience are building social capital, sustainability, EDI, policy/campaigning, charity/social enterprise, higher education and students’ unions.

We would like to encourage anyone who feels that they could bring something to our Board to apply, regardless of experience - our purpose and values also lead us to welcome first time Trustees too.

We will provide training and guidance to help all of our Trustees to succeed.

We have been our investing time and resources in anti-racism work and are committed to improving the diversity of our Board to ensure that it is as relevant and representative of our student community as possible. We are especially welcoming applications from candidates from Black, Asian and other ethnic communities currently underrepresented in positions of leadership.

Closing date: By 9 a.m. Monday 30th May 2022

Please click 'Apply' to be directed to the Peridot Partners website and contact the advising consultants for further information about this role.