Join the Board of Trustees in 2026

Action for Stammering Children (ASC) is looking to recruit two enthusiastic and suitably qualified people to join our Trustee Board – ideally one with a background in academic work in a field related to speech and language difficulties, and the other with experience in the policy world and/ or corporate sector.

You might have a personal connection to stammering but this is not required. Your interest, enthusiasm and experience are the most important.

Role description

ASC is governed by a board of trustees, comprising of:

• Chair
• Treasurer
• Company Secretary
• and up to a maximum of 15 trustees

Charity trustees are statutorily responsible under the charity’s governing document for controlling the administration and management of the charity.

The role of the trustee board is to receive assets from donors, safeguard them and apply them to the charitable purposes of ASC. The trustee board must always act in the best interests of ASC, exercising the same standard of duty of care that a prudent person would apply if looking after the affairs of someone for whom they have responsibility. The trustee board must act as a group and not as individuals.

In addition to being a registered charity, ASC is a company limited by guarantee, and ASC’s trustees are registered as directors at Companies House.

ASC takes good governance seriously and we have a regularly updated Code of Governance.

The duties of a trustee board member are to:

• ensure that ASC complies with its governing document, its Articles of Association, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations;
• ensure that ASC pursues its objects (purposes) as defined in its governing document;
• ensure ASC applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects;
• provide oversight and strategic direction to the organisation, both supporting and constructively challenging the charity and its staff;
• hold the Chief Executive accountable for the operational management of the organisation and makes sure there are proper arrangements in place for their appointment, supervision, support, appraisal, remuneration and, if necessary, dismissal;
• work collegiately and courteously with fellow trustees, staff, partners and external stakeholders.

In addition to the above, each trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the board of trustees reach sound decisions.

Trustees are expected to read the Charity Commission’s Guide CC3, The Essential Trustee, and to have knowledge of the Charity Governance Code.

Trustees shall ensure that it they understand these responsibilities and discharge them effectively and with integrity, acting to high ethical standards and avoiding conflicts of interest.