Trustee youth sport & education charity

What will you be doing?

Our board is currently comprised of dedicated individuals with backgrounds in finance, sports development and charity operations. We have strong governance foundations but are now looking to deepen our expertise where it matters most: directly in programme delivery for young people.

Our biggest challenge is developing and scaling the impact of our education, mentoring and life skills programmes to meet the needs of youth in North West London, while maintaining the personal, high-quality engagement that defines Track Academy. Our goal is not just to expand, but to evolve - ensuring our programmes are as resilient, relevant and transformative as the young people we serve need.

This is where you come in. We are seeking a new Trustee who will play a pivotal role in bridging board strategy with frontline delivery. Your primary focus will be to provide expert insight and oversight for our core programme pillars: Education, Mentoring, Life Skills, Enrichment and Holiday Programmes.

Specific responsibilities will include:

• Acting as the board’s lead advisor on youth programme strategy, content and impact measurement.
• Participating in a new youth development subgroup, tasked with reviewing delivery models, evaluating outcomes and ensuring our activities align with our mission and theory of change.
• Providing a critical link between the board and our delivery team at Willesden Sports Centre, offering guidance and helping the team on any operational challenges.

This role is far more than a governance checkbox. It is an opportunity to directly influence the opportunities and support for young people in our community.

By joining us, you will help turn strategic plans into tangible experiences that build confidence, skills and pathways for young people. Your contributions will be visible in the growth of our participants and the strengthened fabric of our community. We are at a crucial point of development and your expertise will be instrumental in shaping what Track Academy becomes next - making this a uniquely impactful and rewarding trustee role.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for a strategic thinker with a passion for youth development and hands-on experience.

Essential Experience:

• Direct youth development or social work: You have professional or significant voluntary experience in designing, delivering or managing programmes for young people. You understand the realities of frontline youth work, mentoring or educational support.

Desirable:

• Education or mentoring sector insight: You experience in formal education, alternative provision, coaching or structured mentoring. You grasp the challenges and opportunities in helping young people engage, learn and grow.
• Strategic oversight: You can translate frontline experience into board-level strategy. You have contributed to planning, quality assurance or impact measurement in a relevant setting.

Key personal qualities:

• Collaborative: You are a confident and respectful team member who can listen and challenge thoughtfully. You can bridge the gap between strategic vision and practical delivery.
• Analytical: You have the ability to absorb complex information, assess risk and contribute to sound, timely decisions that align with our mission and values.
• Passionate: You are driven by a genuine belief in social change and the power of sports, education and mentoring to transform lives. You are an ambassador who will champion our work.

Highly desirable:
While not essential, any of the following would be a significant asset:

• Insight into local government policy making or charity governance.
• A background in sports (ideally athletics) or schools.
• Lived experience or deep cultural understanding of the communities we serve in Northwest London. We are committed to building a board that reflects the diversity of our participants, and we particularly welcome applications from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds.

Above all, we are seeking someone who is committed, curious and happy to help. The most important quality is a shared conviction that, with the right support, every young person can define and achieve their own version of success.

What difference will you make?

Your guidance will directly shape how we deliver crucial services for youth.

Your impact will be felt in three key ways:

1. Stronger programmes: Your insight will ensure our mentoring, life skills and holiday programmes are not only engaging but evidence-based and responsive to the real needs of young people. You'll help us refine our approach according to what our athletes say they need, our budget, our capacity and our partners.
2. Greater resilience: By supporting our monitoring, evaluation and learning, you will empower the charity to demonstrate its value clearly, secure future funding and make informed decisions that ensure our long-term sustainability. Your role safeguards the quality and continuity of our work.
3. Deeper community impact: Ultimately, your contribution strengthens our ability to break cycles of disadvantage in a borough with a child poverty rate of 41%. You will help create more reliable pathways for young people - boosting educational engagement, employability skills and fostering well-being. The success you help build is measured in the confidence of our participants and the stronger, more hopeful community we serve together.

By joining our board, you won't just be overseeing governance; you will be directly enabling us to reach more young people, support them more effectively, and change more lives. Your input will ensure that Track Academy remains a vital and transformative force, turning potential into progress for the next generation.

Before you apply

Please apply via Reach. We will look to do initial interviews online in w/c 15th March.