✨Help shape the future for children and young people across the South✨
Our Charity
No Limits is the leading youth services charity in Southampton, supporting children and young people in the city and across Hampshire.
At No Limits, it is important our staff and volunteers reflect, represent, and have experience of the challenges faced by the children and young people we support. We are proud of and appreciate our many staff and volunteers who use their own lived experience to support the children and young people they work with.
With this in mind, we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in all aspects of our work and organisational culture – and when recruiting, it’s important to us that we continue diversifying our staff and volunteer teams, with children and young people at the centre of everything we do. You can learn more about our DEI approach here.
When we talk about talent, we value the transferrable skills and experiences you can bring to No Limits, whether through work (in the same or a different sector), volunteering, or personal experiences. To make sure we get the best talent on our team, we are open to and actively encourage applications from all backgrounds and sections of the community, including diverse ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQIA+, disabled, and neurodiverse individuals.
Your Role
No Limits is a charity supporting children and young people across Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth, Dorset and the Isle of Wight.
Through a wide range of services, we provide support relating to mental health and wellbeing, housing and homelessness, employability, youth participation, counselling, advice and information, and personal safety.
We are looking to appoint up to three new Trustees to join our established and experienced Board of nine. Our current Trustees bring an average of six years’ experience, giving the Board a strong mix of knowledge, skills and continuity. We’re now looking to build on that experience by welcoming some new perspectives, ideas and skills. You’ll be joining a supportive and friendly team, with plenty of experience to draw on and people who are happy to share their knowledge and help you settle in.
Your key responsibilities will include:
Following a recent review of the skills and experience represented on our Board, we are particularly interested in hearing from people with experience in one or more of the following areas:
- The charity and not-for-profit sector
An understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing charities, voluntary organisations and community groups, whether through employment, volunteering, governance or lived experience. - Fundraising and income generation
Experience of fundraising, philanthropy, grant funding, corporate partnerships, business development or developing sustainable income streams. - Change and transformation
Experience of supporting organisations through periods of change, growth or development, including service redesign, organisational transformation, culture change or responding to changing policy and funding environments.
We’re also keen to hear from people who can bring different perspectives, lived experience and community connections that will strengthen the Board and help us better reflect the children, young people and communities we serve.
Previous trustee experience is not essential. We’re looking for people who share our values, can think strategically, are willing to contribute constructively to discussions and want to support the long-term success of No Limits.
We are committed to making a difference in the lives of the children and young people we work with, and as such, you must show a willingness to demonstrate commitment to the values and behaviours which flow from the No Limits ethos. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people is paramount.
We particularly welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and those who have had experiences similar to the young people we aim to support. We are committed to creating a diverse environment where people can be their authentic selves, where their experiences and opinions are valued, and we are all open to learning from each other.
What does a Trustee do?
Trustees are responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of No Limits. Working alongside fellow trustees and the Executive Team, trustees:
- Set the organisation’s strategic direction
- Monitor performance and organisational effectiveness
- Ensure appropriate oversight of finances and risk
- Support good governance and decision-making
- Act in the best interests of No Limits and the young people it exists to support
What can you expect?
New trustees receive a full induction and ongoing support to help them in the role.
You’ll have opportunities to learn more about our services, meet staff and volunteers, and contribute to discussions about the future development of the organisation.
Time commitment
The Trustee Board meets quarterly, with meetings currently held in person on Tuesday evenings from 6pm to 8pm at our head office on The Avenue in Southampton.
Trustees are also expected to participate in at least one Board committee, which also meets quarterly online. We also ask trustees to attend occasional development sessions including an annual Trustee Away Day and the No Limits Annual Staff Away Day.
Diversity and inclusion
We believe that a stronger Board is one that brings together a range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.
We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and are particularly interested in hearing from people who are currently underrepresented on charity boards, including younger people and those with relevant lived experience.
Please let us know if we can support you with any reasonable adjustments at any point prior to, during or after the selection process, such as access arrangements, flexible working, or a suitable place to pray.
If you’d like to find out more about becoming a Trustee, please take a look through our Trustee Handbook.
If you’d like an informal chat with our CEO about the role before deciding whether to apply, we’d be very happy to arrange one. Just email Samantha.coxwell@nolimitshelp.org.uk in the first instance.
To apply, simply send us your CV and a covering letter or email outlining your relevant skills, experience, qualifications and achievements, and what interests you in becoming a No Limits Trustee.
Please also include details of two referees, including their name, job title, organisation, phone number and email address. They should have known you for at least two years. We will only contact your referees if you are offered and accept the role.
Please send your application to people@nolimitshelp.org.uk.
We’ll review applications on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to get in touch if you’re interested.