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Are you passionate about supporting children to live healthier and more sustainable lives? 

The Role

Wonderseekers has a clear and important mission - to create a more equitable world where all children can treasure science and are equipped and empowered to improve lives and protect and heal our planet. Our strategy, For People and Planet 2030, sets out a clear vision for Wonderseekers and the outcomes we aim to influence for children and nature. While our impact is already significant, we know that, through the delivery of this ambitious strategy and masterplan, we can achieve even more.

If you share our values, ambition and commitment to our charity’s mission, we would love to hear from you.

We value diversity on our Board of Trustees and the unique contributions each trustee brings through their lived, loved, laboured and learned experiences. In addition to ensuring the Board has the key skills needed to effectively govern the charity, we aim to reflect the communities we serve across all levels of the organisation.

Our Board of Trustees provides strategic leadership and governance to ensure Wonderseekers delivers on its mission, always aligned with Our Promise to Children and our regulatory obligations.

This is a unique and rewarding opportunity. As a trustee, you will help shape our strategic direction, oversee the financial sustainability of our charity, influence future projects, and support good risk management. You will bring your financial expertise to advise the Executive Team and play a key role in setting the charity’s long-term future.

Thank you for your interest in becoming a trustee of Wonderseekers - we look forward to receiving your application.

What We’re Looking For

General Responsibilities (All Trustees):

  • Engage effectively and constructively in Board and Committee discussions
  • Develop strong working relationships with fellow trustees and the executive team to constructively challenge and support our work
  • Understand the voluntary sector and the legal responsibilities of a trustee, including risk management and safeguarding
  • Think creatively and innovatively - Wonderseekers is a forward-thinking organisation and we value ambitious thinking
  • Commit time to the charity by attending meetings, reviewing papers, and engaging with the team as needed
  • Analyse proposals and assess their impact on our mission and operations
  • Be passionate about using science to inspire children to live healthier, more sustainable lives and build a better world

 

Specific Responsibilities – Development Trustee:

We are particularly seeking a trustee with experience in strategic development, income generation and fundraising ideally within the charity sector.  In this role, you will:

  • Work closely with the Board and Executive Team to maintain strategic oversight of Wonderseekers' forward plans, major initiatives and campaigns.
  • Guide and advise trustees on building external relationships with funders, partners, and stakeholders to increase the visibility and credibility of Wonderseekers
  • Support the Development Team in developing and evolving strategies to identify and cultivate new fundraising opportunities, including individual giving, grants, trusts, and corporate partnerships
  • Help shape and review strategies for income generation, sponsorship, and donor stewardship
  • Contribute insight and strategic thinking to our work in public relations, communications, and marketing
  • Champion Wonderseekers’ mission and work to connect new supporters with our vision
  • Serve and Chair the Fundraising Committee, and contribute to other strategic working groups where appropriate

We welcome candidates with experience in one or more of the following:

  • Fundraising strategy and donor engagement
  • Charity or museum development
  • Marketing and communications
  • Public relations and brand visibility
  • Partnership building and stakeholder engagement

 

Trustee Requirements

In addition to your specific expertise, all trustees should:

  • Be committed to the purpose, values, and objectives of the charity
  • Be constructive and respectful of other trustees’ and staff members’ contributions
  • Act reasonably and responsibly in carrying out duties
  • Maintain confidentiality on sensitive issues
  • Understand the importance of meetings and be prepared and present
  • Analyse information effectively and constructively challenge when necessary
  • Participate in collective decisions and support agreed-upon outcomes

Trustee Arrangements

Wonderseekers is governed by a Board of up to 12 trustees who share collective responsibility for the charity’s strategy and governance. Trustee roles are voluntary. Once elected, trustees can serve a maximum of three terms of three years each.

  • Board meetings: Held quarterly (January, April, July, and November), with a mix of day and evening sessions
  • Committees: Trustees are expected to sit on at least one (ideally two) committees, which meet up to four times a year
  • Strategy Day: An annual planning day is held each September
  • Time commitment: Attendance at Board/committee meetings, preparation time, informal engagement with the team, and attendance at key events

Board meetings take place in person. All committee meetings take place online. Reasonable expenses can be claimed in accordance with our trustee expenses policy.

Trustee induction and ongoing training are provided, and we encourage and support the continued development of our Board members.

Board Diversity

We are committed to building a Board that reflects the diversity of the children and communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, particularly those who bring lived experience and perspectives that are currently underrepresented on our Board. We believe that diverse leadership strengthens our decision-making and helps us better serve our mission.

Vice-Chair (Optional Additional Opportunity)

In addition to this role, we’re looking to appoint a Vice-Chair (or two Co-Vice Chairs). If you are interested in taking on this role alongside a trustee position, please state this in your application. A full Vice-Chair role profile can be emailed upon request.

Ready to apply?

To apply, please send your CV and cover letter to Meika Young, Executive Assistant on  meikayoung@wonderseekers.charity. We are operating a rolling deadline – please apply as soon as possible.

If you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to this application process please do not hesitate to get in touch. If you would like to arrange an informal conversation prior to submitting an application, please contact us using the details above.

We will organise interviews on a rolling basis. The panel will include existing Trustees and the CEO, and candidates will also have the opportunity to meet the leadership team and some staff. There will be an induction session for the successful new Trustee.

We look forward to hearing from you!

About Wonderseekers

Wonderseekers is a children’s charity that uses science engagement to empower children to improve lives and protect and heal our planet. Its purpose is to raise children’s aspirations and confidence when it comes to big topics such as climate change, as well as promoting diversity and inclusion, so that all children have the ambition and freedom to improve their own lives, the lives of others and ultimately life on Earth.

Set up in 1986, and renamed as Wonderseekers in 2022, the Charity has always focused on delivering hands-on science experiences for young children. Through fun, immersive andaccessible experiences in schools, communities, online and at its science and discovery centre in Winchester, the Charity is able to spark curiosity when it comes to science. As part of it’s For People and Planet strategy, launched in 2023, it will continue to use these interactive science experiences to positively engage children, through all disciplines of science, with the natural world to enable them to take action against climate change.