Making The Leap is an innovative grassroots societal change charity which aims to make a big difference. From direct delivery, to advocacy and leadership, it refuses to stay in its lane and believes passionately that those it exists to serve have the right to be anything they want to be.

Founded in 1993, Making The Leap works to drive social mobility by raising the aspirations of, and increasing opportunities for, young people between the ages of 11 and 25, through its ACE (Aspirations, Careers and Employability) Programme and other means. It believes every young person should have the chance to fulfil their potential. Its mission is to transform the futures of young people from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds by providing training to raise their aspirations and develop their skills, behaviours and confidence to succeed in a career. It does this by:

• Developing young people’s essential skills – including confidence, communication, motivation and teamwork
• Equipping young people with employability skills – including tailoring CVs, effective job applications and interview techniques
• Bridging the gap between school and work through insight days and work experience
• Informing young people about a wide range of careers, as well as supporting them into employment and through ongoing mentoring, pastoral support and career coaching

In 2020-21, the charity reached 2,380 pupils and young adults, with 93% of the latter group being from racially minoritised groups.

Making The Leap also holds a growing role as an advocate for social mobility issues. In 2017, it launched the UK Social Mobility Awards, a nationwide leadership initiative encouraging employers and educators to advance social mobility across the UK. In 2019, it started the Social Mobility Podcast, which aims to raise awareness of social mobility through interviews with senior executives from major UK employers. In 2021 it launched the first Social Mobility Awareness Day, also known as Social Mobility Day, which exists to promote wider conversations about social mobility and to encourage action that brings about positive change.

With the charity's income having more than doubled in the past three years, it is a strong position as it celebrates its 30th anniversary and looks to further its impact across the UK.

The new Chair will take up a vacant position which has been covered in the interim by long standing Vice Chair, Andy Boucher.

The Chair will hold the Board and Senior Management Team to account for the charity’s mission and vision, providing inclusive leadership to the Board of Trustees, ensuring that each Trustee fulfils their duties and responsibilities for the effective governance of Making The Leap.

They will also support, and, where appropriate, challenge the Chief Executive and ensure that the Board functions as a unit, working closely with the charity's executive team to achieve agreed objectives. They will act as an ambassador for the charity to external stakeholders, as appropriate.

With a backdrop of recent rapid income growth, and huge potential to develop the charity's physical and social footprint over the coming years, including property development plans and an increased research offering, the new Chair will be joining at an exciting time. Building on strong foundations, they will guide the charity as it looks to the next 30 years and the next generation of leadership. In five years' time, it is likely that a successor will be sought for Chief Executive and Founder, Tunde Banjoko OBE.

Making The Leap is looking for an outstanding Chair who will bring non-executive experience and have credibility with the private sector employers which the charity seeks to influence for the benefit of young people.

Candidates will currently hold, or have previous experience in, a non-executive role, and therefore bring a strong understanding of the difference between a governance and operation role. They will come from a private sector background, be well-connected and be able to support as Making The Leap continues to develop a broad range of supporters and advocates. Given the proportion of the charity's beneficiaries who come from Black and other racially minoritised groups, applicants will bring a strong understanding, and perhaps lived experience, of the obstacles facing these young people.

The successful candidate will be excited to be part of an organisation which is a thought leader in social mobility issues, and be committed to the idea that anyone, irrespective of background, has the right to be anything they want to be.

You can find out more about Making The Leap's staff and Board here.

This role is unremunerated. The Board meets four times per year, usually at 8.30am for two hours, one of which is an awayday. The Chair will also sit on one Committee, each of which meets quarterly for an hour. Beyond meetings, they will engage regularly with the CEO and are strongly encouraged to attend Making The Leap's events in an ambassadorial capacity, including the UK Social Mobility Awards and Social Mobility Business Seminar. All Trustees appointments are for a two-year term, which can be renewed twice at the discretion of the Board.

This organisation is based in London and meetings will take place in person or virtually. Candidates will therefore be UK-based.