Volunteer Trustee with Fundraising, Legal, 3rd Sector or Education Experience to Join Board

What will you be doing?

If you want to give something back to the community and young people or simply keep active with like-minded people, then we are interested in you. This can be fun and rewarding. We are a small organisation with big ambitions and would benefit from your expertise in law, the 3rd sector or education.  In return, you'll be joining a team that is laser-focused on helping young people make safe and healthy choices abount drugs, alcohol and other risky situations. We have a suite of programmes that can be delivered across a young person's academic lifetime; your help and expertise will ensure that our programmes are delivered and have a direct, positive impact to as many young people as possible. We would estimate the time commitment to be, on average, ½ a day per month or 6 days per year. Of course, you are welcome to do more, and we would welcome your contribution. Expenses can be claimed for business-related activities.

What are we looking for?

We are specifically looking for leadership experience within Fundraising, Legal, Education, or the third Sector to assist the charity in this role or the third Sector, for this role to assist the charity. We are specifically recruiting new trustees with a high priority given to female applicants and applicants from the BAME community.

What difference will you make?

Originally brought to Mansfield in 1995 under license from DARE America, over 10 versions of our Life Skills Primary programme have been delivered to over 500,000 young people throughout the UK.  Life Skills Education Charity believes that all young people deserve the right to lead safe and healthy lives and achieve their potential.  We do this by providing evidence-based, professional resources to schools, local authorities and community groups. As well as the Primary Programme, we have developed the Life Skills Game Modules, Web Warriors, and STARS, a Key Stage 1 and 2 suite of programmes for years 1 through 4.  In effect, a range of products that builds upon each other from age 6 through 16. In 2018, a randomised control sampled evaluation of a UK-based Life Skills programme, Nottingham Trent University involving 60 schools and over 1500 young people.  It showed that our work has a statistically proven positive impact on our learning outcomes in areas such as Communication, Knowledge around Drugs, Getting Help and Making Safe and Responsible Choices. In 2022 the Youth Endowment Fund evaluation (3881 young people) showed that impacts were shown on reducing children’s self-reported behavioural and emotional problems and a reduction in verbal aggression, substance use and the amount of physical attacks and threats they received. It had a high impact on reducing non-violent, low-level crime.  Pupils consulted perceived that their confidence, ability to resist peer pressure, decision making and communication skills had improved. As part of our board, you will support and shape our work and strategic direction, and help us achieve our purpose of ensuring all young people have access to well-developed and evaluated 'life skills' resources, ensuring they can make informed, healthy decisions.