Trustee (Public Policy and Government Relations)

Join the Board of Catch22 and build a stronger society, transforming lives and reforming services.

• Location: 27 Pear Tree Street, London, EC1V 3AG
• Salary: Reasonable expenses paid
• Closing date: Rolling applications

Who we are

Catch22 is a charity and a social business. We have more than 100 services across England and Wales, delivering public services in a range of areas: employability and skills, justice and alternative education and young people and families. Our Public Service Reform agenda is deeply embedded in our history and central to our mission. We don’t just deliver services; we use frontline learning to drive policy change. We take insights from our delivery, the experiences of practitioners and the people we work with to advocate for systemic reform.

We operate over 100 services across England and Wales, touching the lives of more than 160,000 people annually. Our work spans key areas: justice services, employability and skills, alternative education and support for young people and families. We employ over 1,500 people who share our values and reflect the diverse communities we serve.

Our Mission 2030 strategy sets ambitious goals and to achieve this, we’re ensuring we remain financially responsible, people-centric and technology-enabled. We’re investing in data and digital infrastructure, alongside developing our workforce to be future-ready and we’re growing our income streams, diversifying funding sources and generating income to support innovation. This is an exciting time to join Catch22.

About the role

We require someone with a deep understanding of government operations and policy development. You will have senior experience in government, civil service or public affairs with a demonstrable track record of policy development and influencing across Whitehall.

Strong networks across government departments, particularly Education, Justice, Work and Pensions and the Home Office, are valuable. You will understand the commissioning landscape, appreciate the complexities of devolution and local government and have the expertise to help us translate frontline insights into policy influence.

We’re gaining traction with policymakers on youth violence, employment support reform and justice system change. With the right expertise on our Board, we can significantly accelerate our impact on public service design and delivery at national and local levels.

Beyond specialist expertise, we need someone with sound judgment combined with the highest professional standards and integrity. You will have strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively, including the capacity to constructively question and challenge while maintaining collegial relationships.

Cultural and political sensitivity is essential given the diverse communities we serve and the politically complex environments in which we operate. Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion is fundamental. We need a Trustee who understands what Catch22 is and is passionate about our work and ambitious strategy.

We move quickly while maintaining robust governance. We are seeking someone who is comfortable with complexity and who can hold multiple perspectives simultaneously.

Time commitment

The Board meets four times annually. Meetings are held at our London head office at 27 Pear Tree Street. We also hold one annual strategy day, usually in May, which provides extended time for strategic discussion and planning.

Each Trustee serves on at least one of our three Board committees:

• Finance, Growth & External Audit
• People, Performance & Remuneration
• Governance, Risk & Internal Audit

These committees meet at least four times annually for two or so hours. Meetings can be attended online, though in-person attendance is encouraged where possible.

Overall, we expect the time commitment to be the equivalent of a day a month on average. This includes preparation time, meeting attendance, ad hoc conversations, induction activities and service visits.

Trustees are invited to undertake service visits throughout the year, as these are essential for understanding the reality of our work. As an example, you might visit a prison to observe our rehabilitative services or meet our youth workers in a hospital setting.

These visits inform better governance decisions and demonstrate commitment to staff and service users. Trustees are also encouraged to participate in key organisational events such as our annual InspirEd staff conference, Staff Awards and strategy sessions. Serving as a Catch22 Trustee offers the opportunity to make a genuine strategic impact on an organisation delivering measurable outcomes for 160,000 people annually.

If you have the expertise, the commitment, and the passion to help Catch22 achieve its Mission 2030, we want to hear from you.

To view the role description and person specification, please go to the ‘How to Apply’ tab above, fill in your details and download the candidate pack.

For further information or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:

Jennifer Horan | jennifer@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07519 070497