Inclusive Boards is delighted to be supporting Oaklea Trust in their search for their next Chair of Trustees.

About Oaklea Trust

The Oaklea Trust is a charitable organisation whose purpose is to give vulnerable people the opportunity to live and work as independently as possible within their community. Established in 2002 and based in Cumbria, County Durham and Northumberland, we support disabled, disadvantaged and vulnerable children and adults. Our charitable work supports people of all ages who have Learning Disabilities, Physical Disabilities, Mental Health needs, and/or Dementia.

The Oaklea Group is made up of the charity, Oaklea Trust, and its commercial arm, Right2Work. Together, they support people and communities to learn, develop and thrive through person-centred care and support, learning opportunities, and pathways into employment.

This is a unique opportunity to help lead a values-driven organisation that supports people and communities across the North of England to learn, develop and thrive.

About the Chair opportunity

As Chair, you will energise and empower the Board and the Group as a whole. You will foster a culture of openness, collaboration, and constructive debate. You will inspire confidence and ensure the highest standards of governance, integrity and accountability.

You will also help shape the Group's future impact, supporting our mission to reduce inequality and create opportunities for people and communities to thrive. Through your strategic insight and advocacy, you will help extend our reach, strengthen partnerships and ensure more people can access the care, support and opportunities they need and deserve.

The Chair of the Oaklea Board of Trustees will:

Ensure the Board functions effectively
Guide Oaklea Trust’s strategic direction
Ensure governance oversight
Represent Oaklea Trust internally and externally
Evaluate and support the Chief Executive
Champion the leadership of Committees

We are seeking a new Chair of Trustees who can bring the following experience and capabilities to the role. We recognise that lived experience can offer valuable insights that greatly enhance a role like this, especially when combined with professional expertise.

Experience/Background:

Experience of strategic leadership and governance within an organisation of equivalent size and complexity to Oaklea Trust, ideally within a Group structure.
A track record of driving growth and innovation, with the ability to apply insight to support the achievement of Oaklea Trust’s strategic objectives.
Understanding of the challenges associated with leading and delivering regulated services and the management of the associated risks.
Ability to constructively challenge and hold space for compassionate and constructive conversations.
Financial and commercial acumen, including experience in financial planning, oversight, risk management, and the establishment and monitoring of systems of control and accountability.
Ability to scrutinise and manage financial risk, ensuring long-term financial sustainability and safeguarding against fraud.
Ability to open doors, build networks and maximise opportunities with a range of stakeholders, funders and partner organisations.
Previous trustee and/or Chair/Vice Chair experience is desirable.

For more information, please downloard the Candidate Pack via the links on this page.

How to apply

The recruitment process is being undertaken by Inclusive Boards on behalf of Oaklea Trust. If you wish to apply for this position, please supply the following by 11.59pm on 27/09/2026:

A detailed CV, setting out your career history, with responsibilities and achievements;
A cover letter (maximum two sides of A4) highlighting your suitability for the role for which you’re applying and how you meet the person specification. Please note that the cover letter is an important part of your application and will be assessed;
Details of two professional referees together with a brief statement of their relationship to you and over what period of time they have known you. Referees will not be contacted without your prior consent

Please also complete our diversity monitoring form found here. The information you provide will stay confidential, will be reviewed and processed separately from the application you make, and is not assessed as part of your application.

To find out more, request support when applying, or have an informal confidential discussion before applying, please get in touch with one of our consultants by emailing Oaklea@inclusiveboards.co.uk or calling 0203 963 8802.