Founded in 1941, The Outward Bound Trust is an educational charity which helps young people to defy limitations through its unique approach to learning and adventure in the wild. Since then, it's helped over 1.2 million young people to unlock their full potential by challenging them to never give up, to change their perspective and to learn the most important lesson: to believe in themselves. Its founding mission was to give young seamen the ability to survive harsh conditions at sea by teaching confidence, tenacity, perseverance and to build experience. Now, its mission is to inspire young people to defy their limitations so they become strong, resilient and curious, ready for the challenges of life.

The Trust provides courses for young people to develop their social and emotional skills at every stage of their education from the end of primary school through to university, as well as during the early stages of employment. The skills that they develop are those that will play a pivotal role in how successfully they navigate the challenges of adolescence and early adulthood: helping them to flourish and thrive in many different ways throughout their lives. It partners with over 500 schools and colleges across the UK, as well as employers and youth groups.

The Trust is also committed to ensuring the outdoors is a space for everyone and is working to create greater representation within the charity. More information about its action towards diversity in the outdoors can be found here. Outward Bound was fortunate to enter the pandemic in a state of unparalleled financial strength. Despite the closure of its residential centres for over a year, the sustainability of the charity is not in doubt. Key features of this are:

• The creation of a Resilience Fund as a result of repurposing existing reserves. This was an exercise that took place in the early stages of the pandemic. As of December 2021, the charity holds £10m in unrestricted reserves.
• Fundraising has been remarkably successful over the last two years, with existing donors staying loyal to the charity. In December 2021, Outward Bound is one of the three beneficiary charities of The Times / Sunday Times Christmas Appeal and there are other fundraising initiatives planned for 2022.
• Outward Bound was able to re-open all of its centres in June 2021 and is once again operating, albeit at reduced capacity due to staff shortages. This is being addressed.
• The demand from schools and corporate clients to come back to Outward Bound is huge, far greater than the charity is able to respond to. Outward Bound has never been more relevant nor needed and expects to be fully operational by the summer of 2022, with unrestricted reserves of more than £8m.

As part of succession planning, the Outward Bound Trust seeks a new Trustee & Audit Committee Member who will be able to provide insight and scrutiny in setting and overseeing the strategic direction of the organisation.

The role of the Board of Trustees is to oversee the receipt of assets from donors and other sources, safeguard them and apply them for charitable purposes. The Board must always act in the best interests of the charity by understanding how the charity benefits those it intends to, and by carrying out its purposes and making balanced and properly informed decisions. The Trustee Board must act as a group and not as individuals.

The Audit Committee supports the Board of Trustees and senior members of the Trust in their responsibilities for maintaining sound risk management, control and governance arrangements. Members of the Committee contribute to the strengthening of the current charity's framework and financial strategic decision-making. Their responsibilities also include monitoring the integrity of the financial statements and any formal announcements relating to the charity's financial performance.

Members oversee both internal and external audit functions and review their effectiveness. They also give assurance to the Board that the charity’s financial operations are being managed and operated in accordance with the charity’s governing documents and in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards.

The Outward Bound Trust is seeking a new Trustee & Audit Committee Member. They will have strong business acumen and will be able to offer strategic guidance on best practice with regard to audit, risk, compliance and assurance frameworks. They will also have experience of developing, reviewing and reporting risk management systems, as well as business planning and financial modelling.

Given the Trust is currently going through a large-scale digital transformation, it is interested in hearing from individuals with experience in a senior leadership role of overseeing IT and digital strategy and who will be able to advise on the charity's response to IT and information challenges and digital innovation. Ideally, candidates will be able demonstrate knowledge of best practice in digital infrastructure and cybersecurity, and have familiarity with industry trends and developments.

The Trust is very open to those seeking their first non-executive role, provided they can demonstrate a strategic and forward-looking vision in relation to the charity’s objects and aims and can exercise good, independent judgement, political impartiality and the ability to think creatively in the context of the charity and external environment. 

The Outward Bound Trust particularly welcomes applications from under-represented groups. All applicants will be committed to unlocking the potential of young people through learning and adventure in the wild, and be personally aligned to the values of the Outward Bound Trust.

Please note: candidates must be UK-based.

This role is unremunerated, but reasonable, pre-agreed travel expenses will be reimbursed. There are four Board meetings per year, one of which is a 24-hour residential at one of the centres, the rest in London and lasting three hours. There are also approximately three Audit Committee meetings a year, these days mostly conducted via Zoom and lasting about 90 minutes. Trustees have the opportunity to get further involved particularly in specific projects where their role can be to advise the senior management team, but this is less structured and depends on any given Board member’s availability and inclination.