Find your place in the field of good food

Our goal is to connect good people with good food. We advertise sustainable food jobs and training opportunities to help jobseekers and employers find each other.

Roots to Work is a project of Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming.

Job description

Finance Trustee and Sub-Committee member

Bankside Open Spaces Trust (BOST) Voluntary role | Reasonable expenses reimbursed

 

About Bankside Open Spaces Trust

Bankside Open Spaces Trust (BOST) brings people together through nature. We work closely with local communities to create and care for award‑winning, inclusive and sustainable green spaces in some of the most densely populated parts of London.

We manage 16 parks and gardens, welcoming over one million visitors each year. These spaces offer vital places to learn, grow, play and connect, particularly in an area where 90% of homes are flats, access to private gardens is limited, and communities experience high levels of inequality and environmental pressure.

Alongside managing green spaces, we deliver and support projects that strengthen community connections, develop skills and confidence, and promote healthier, more active lives. Our work sits at the intersection of climate justice, health equity, and community wellbeing.

 

The Role

We are seeking a Trustee with financial skills and insight to join our Board and become a member of our Finance Sub‑Committee, working closely with the Treasurer and fellow trustees.

This role is central to helping BOST remain financially sustainable, well‑governed, and able to use its resources effectively in service of local communities and green spaces. We are due to start our multi million capital project involving both external works and a new sports hub at the Marlborough Sports Garden. The successful candidate will be a key member of the Steering Group, meeting fortnightly.

We are particularly keen to hear from people who bring lived experience of the communities we serve, including applicants from the Global Majority, and those who may be under‑represented on charity boards. You do not need previous trustee experience to apply.

 

Key responsibilities

As a Trustee, you will:

• Act in the best interests of BOST, ensuring the charity delivers its charitable objectives and complies with legal and regulatory requirements
• Contribute to strategic decision‑making as a member of the full Board
• Uphold good governance and risk management practices

As a Finance Committee member, you will:

• Support the Treasurer in overseeing BOST’s financial management
• Review budgets, management accounts and financial reports
• Contribute to financial planning, forecasting and cashflow oversight
• Support oversight of reserves, financial controls and risk
• Assist with annual accounts, audit/independent examination processes and financial policies
• Provide constructive challenge and advice to support sound financial decision‑making

Trustees are expected to attend:

• Board meetings (typically 4–6 per year)
• Finance Committee meetings (typically quarterly)
• Attend fortnightly Marlborough Sports Garden meetings
• Occasional strategy sessions or events

 

Person specification

Essential

• Experience or understanding of financial management, budgeting or accounting (professional or voluntary), ideally within the charitable sector
• Ability to analyse financial information and present it clearly to non‑financial colleagues
• Commitment to BOST’s mission and values, including community engagement, inclusion and environmental sustainability
• Willingness to take on the legal responsibilities of charity trusteeship
• Good judgement, integrity and a collaborative approach
• Ability to contribute strategically

Desirable

• Understanding of funding, grants or local authority finance
• Interest in urban green spaces, community development or environmental projects

What BOST offers

• The opportunity to make a meaningful impact on local green spaces and community wellbeing
• A supportive, friendly Board with a strong sense of shared purpose
• Induction, training and ongoing support
• Reasonable expenses reimbursed

 

Our Commitment to Inclusion

BOST is committed to building a Board that reflects the diversity, lived experience and voices of the communities we work with. We strongly encourage applications from people from the Global Majority, people with lived experience of inequality or limited access to green space, and those who may not have previously considered trusteeship.

If you are unsure whether your experience fits the role, we warmly encourage you to get in touch for an informal conversation.

Application information

Expressions of interest

If you have questions or would be interested in this role, please contact the BOST CEO, Charlotte Gilsenan at charlotte@bost.org.uk

The deadline for applications is Friday 26th June, with interviews being held on Thursday 16th July.

Applicants are asked to include:

1. A cover letter illustrating why you are interested in becoming a trustee and how your skills and experience could contribute to the role of a Trustee at BOST.
2. An up to date CV

The process will subsequently include;

• An informal interview with the Chair, CEO and Trustees; and
• An opportunity to observe a Board meeting.

Please mention Roots to Work when applying for these jobs