Trustees

About The Churchill Fellowship
The Churchill Fellowship enables UK citizens from all parts of society to learn from leading practitioners and innovative projects around the world, exploring solutions to practical challenges of their choice. Fellows return with fresh insight, publish their recommendations and put their learning into action to create change across the UK.

Around 100 new Fellows are selected each year for their vision and potential to drive change in their communities or professional sectors. Fellowships are open to everyone, and Fellows are backed not simply for what they have already achieved, but for what they could go on to accomplish.

Today, the Fellowship comprises a diverse national network of 3,800 Fellows working across all areas of UK life, combining frontline experience with global learning to address current and emerging challenges.

The Fellowship was created following the death of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965 as his living legacy to the nation, funded through public donations and a small government grant. Today, it relies on donations to continue awarding Fellowships and expand the support available to Fellows as they turn their learning into action.

The Fellowship's impact
In its most recent survey, 67% of respondents said they had influenced senior management in their workplace, 40% policy-makers, 28% the UK government and 26% regulators and umbrella bodies. Some 26% had established an organisation related to their Fellowship project, 47% had delivered their findings through a service and 37% had created a workplace pilot.

Some 95% described their Fellowship as life-changing, while 86% believed its positive impact would continue throughout their lives and careers.

The Advisory Council & Team
The Board is supported by an Advisory Council of subject specialists covering the Fellowship's eight universal funding themes. Members help identify emerging trends and partners, develop programmes, contribute to Fellow selection and amplify Fellows' work.

The Chief Executive Officer and a team of 27 carry out the day-to-day business of the charity.

To learn more about The Churchill Fellowship, please follow this link.

The opportunity
his is an exciting time to join the Board as the Fellowship builds on its 60-year legacy and shapes its next phase of development. Priorities include an ambitious three-year project exploring how a charity can operate in a world where AI dramatically lowers the cost of building software, analysing information and delivering services, alongside a long-term fundraising strategy to strengthen the organisation's financial sustainability.

The Fellowship is seeking three new Trustees. Two will be appointed at the end of this process, with the third joining in March 2027.

Trustees will also be expected to contribute to one of the Board's committees: the Audit, Risk and Governance Committee or the Partnerships and Fundraising Committee.

Role specification
Trustees share collective responsibility for the stewardship, governance and long-term success of The Churchill Fellowship. Working with fellow Trustees and the executive team, they ensure that the charity remains focused on its purpose, financially resilient and well-governed. Trustees hold the charity in trust for current and future beneficiaries.

Core responsibilities

• Ensure the charity operates in accordance with its governing document, charitable objectives and legal responsibilities
• Contribute to the Board's strategic direction, including setting priorities and assessing organisational performance
• Oversee the charity's financial sustainability, effective use of resources and management of risk
• Safeguard the charity's reputation, values and long-term interests
• Appoint and support the Chief Executive Officer and hold them to account for organisational performance
• Provide robust scrutiny, constructive challenge and sound, collective decision-making
• Act as an ambassador for the Fellowship and champion its work and impact

Board and wider engagement

• Attend and contribute actively to Board meetings and serve on at least one committee
• Contribute to either the Audit, Risk and Governance Committee or the Partnerships and Fundraising Committee
• Participate, where appropriate, in the Fellowship selection process
• Maintain an informed understanding of the charity's external environment, opportunities and risks

Please find the person specification here: churchill fellowship trustee_person specification.docx

Board composition
Details about the current Board members can be found here.

Diversity
The Churchill Fellowship welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, belief or disability. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.

Terms of appointment
This is an unremunerated voluntary position, with reasonable expenses covered.

Trustees are appointed for an initial seven-year term, with the possibility of a further three years. Two appointments are expected to commence in November 2026 and one in March 2027.

The time commitment is approximately one day per month, including three Board meetings each year (usually March, July and November), membership of at least one subcommittee, and occasional engagement with the executive team, events and the Fellowship selection process.

The Churchill Fellowship is based near London Bridge, and Trustees should be able to attend Board and subcommittee meetings and other occasional engagements in London.

Further information on the role and statutory duties of Trustees is available in the Charity Commission's guidance, The Essential Trustee: What You Need to Know.

How to apply: Please click the 'Apply for this Job Now' button. The deadline for applications is 29th September 2026

Please mention ACEVO Jobs in your application.