Shape Young Futures — Join Our Board

What will you be doing?

As a trustee at ESS, you'll play a vital role in shaping the strategic direction of our growing charity — helping us reach more vulnerable young people across Somerset and the South West.

ESS Education and Support Service supports young people aged 10–25 through school support, SEMH behaviour programmes, and personalised provision for those not in education, employment or training (NEET). We work closely with families, carers and schools to give young people the best possible chance of a positive future.

This is an exciting time to join our board. We are developing and expanding our services, and trustees will be central to the decisions that shape that growth — from overseeing funding and resources to ensuring our work remains focused, sustainable and true to our values.

As a trustee you will work collaboratively with fellow board members and our senior leadership team to provide governance, strategic oversight and challenge. Our board is friendly, committed and values diverse perspectives — we want people around the table who think differently and bring fresh ideas.

We are particularly keen to hear from individuals with experience in areas such as finance, law, education, health, or business — but we welcome anyone who shares our passion for making a difference to young people's lives. You do not need prior trustee experience; we will support you to grow into the role.

If you care about the futures of vulnerable young people and want to contribute your skills and energy to a cause that truly matters, we would love to hear from you.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for passionate, committed individuals who care deeply about the futures of vulnerable young people and want to use their skills and experience to make a real difference.

You don't need to have been a trustee before. What matters most is that you are willing to engage actively with the work of the board, bring your own perspective and challenge thinking constructively — all while keeping the best interests of the young people we serve at the heart of every decision.

Personal qualities We are looking for someone who is a good listener and a clear communicator, who can think both creatively and strategically, and who is comfortable working as part of a team. You will need to be reliable, committed and willing to give your time to the role. A genuine enthusiasm for our vision — and a strong personal commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion — are essential.

Skills and experience We are actively seeking trustees with experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Finance — to help the board oversee budgets, funding bids, and financial planning as we grow
• Legal — to support governance, contracts, and compliance as we expand our services
• Education — to bring sector insight and help shape programmes that truly meet the needs of young people
• HR — to support workforce planning and help ensure ESS remains a well-governed, values-led organisation
• Retail or hospitality management — to provide commercial expertise in support of our café operation and wider sustainability

While all of these are valuable, we would particularly welcome applications from people with finance or legal experience at this stage of our development, as we pursue new funding opportunities and navigate the responsibilities that come with growth.

Lived experience We also warmly welcome applications from individuals with lived experience of the issues affecting the young people we support — whether that is experience of the care system, mental health challenges, barriers to education, or navigating life as a young person without adequate support. This kind of insight is just as important to us as professional expertise, and we are committed to building a board that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve.

Most importantly If you are enthusiastic, willing to learn, and genuinely motivated by the idea of helping vulnerable young people build better futures — we want to hear from you. We will support new trustees to settle into the role and develop their confidence in governance, so please do not let a lack of experience put you off applying.

What difference will you make?

Whatever your background, joining the ESS board means playing a direct role in helping more vulnerable young people access the education and support they need. This year we are actively pursuing new funding bids to extend our reach across Somerset and the South West, and every trustee will have a real part to play in making that happen.

If you have a finance background, your expertise will be invaluable in helping the board scrutinise financial plans, assess risk, and ensure our resources are managed wisely as we grow.

If you have legal experience, you'll help us navigate funding agreements, contracts, governance and compliance — giving the board greater confidence as we expand our services.

If you work in education, you'll bring insight into the challenges young people face that will shape our strategic decisions and make our funding bids more compelling.

If your background is in HR, you'll help us oversee workforce planning and ensure ESS remains a well-governed, values-led organisation as we take on new opportunities.

If you have experience in retail or hospitality management, you'll bring vital commercial expertise to support the sustainable running of our café — contributing directly to the resources we need to reach more young people.

We welcome applications from anyone who genuinely cares about the futures of vulnerable young people — no prior trustee experience is needed.

Additional information

You can download the following documents:

Before you apply

We are delighted you are considering applying to become a trustee with ESS. Here is what to expect from our recruitment process.

What we would like to see When you apply, please tell us a little about yourself and your motivations for joining our board. We are particularly interested in any experience you have of SEN or special educational needs settings — but if you don't have direct experience, please don't let that put you off. We'd love to hear your thoughts on how you feel your skills and background could contribute to the work we do.

Our process Applications will be reviewed by the board. If you are shortlisted, we will be in touch to arrange an informal interview. All interviews will be conducted in line with our safer recruitment policy.

Key dates We are currently reviewing applications on a rolling basis. We will confirm interview dates directly with shortlisted candidates as soon as these are arranged.

In the meantime If you have any questions about the role or the organisation before applying, please don't hesitate to contact us.