We are excited to be recruiting a new role on our Board of Trustees. We are committed to creating a more diverse Board that represents the young people we serve. We are only looking for people who are under 35 years old and have lived experience of receiving support or experiencing any of the following: homelessness, sofa surfing, care system, refugee/asylum seeking, criminal justice, drugs and alcohol, mental health (which has impacted your living situation), relationship abuse, young parent living on their own. As well as meeting the age and lived experience requirements, we also encourage applicants from ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTQ+ communities and from disabled people.
Are you passionate about fairness, opportunity, and strong leadership? If so, we'd love someone to join who understands the issues young people face (you do not need to have received a service from 1625IP). By joining our Board, you will be able to make a real difference to young people, helping to shape decisions that directly affect their lives. This is a voluntary role, but one with real impact.
If you need an adjustment to be made to any part of the recruitment process, please let us know as soon as possible.
The deadline for application submissions is 23:59, Tuesday 10th March 2026. Please find full details of how to apply via our website in the advert below.
Who are we?
We are a leading youth homelessness charity based in the Southwest, working with over 1,500 young people. At 1625ip we are driven by Social Justice and Passion: we strive to do something that matters and take pride in seeing the results of our work in social outcomes and improving young people's lives.
About the role
You don't need experience - we'll support you to learn. If you care about fairness, housing, wellbeing, or making systems work better for young people, we want to hear from you.
Our Board Members play a vital role in making sure the organisation is run responsibly and ethically, so you will help to make sure that 1625ip is:
* Staying true to its purpose and values
* Focused on achieving the best outcomes for young people
* Well-governed and financially sound
You don't need to have been a Board Member before. We're looking for people who:
* Can work well as part of a team
* Are good listeners and confident sharing their views
* Are willing to ask questions and challenge constructively
In return, you'll gain valuable leadership and governance experience, develop new skills, and have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact.
Time commitment
* 6 Board meetings per year (evening), plus an annual Board away day
* A couple of additional committee meetings (evening)
* Annual training (2-3 hours)
* Several events with young people who use our services - optional but are very informative and fun
What we offer in return
Our Learning, Engagement and Participation Team Leader, Tamsin, will support you throughout the first few months of your appointment. She will help you by:
* Inducting you into 1625ip
* Explaining how our Board structure works
* Walking you through Board papers, so you fully understand the topics that are discussed
* Staggering your introduction to Board meetings – so you can go at your own pace
* Organising a small amount of training for you (all new Board Members have this)
* Providing ongoing practical and pastoral support to you – gradually stepping back once you feel ready
If you're motivated to use your voice, experience or skills to help shape a better future for young people, we'd love to hear from you.
If you would like to know more – please contact us:
* We are holding an information evening from 5:30 – 6:30pm on Thursday 26th February. You can request a call back or an online meeting with us on this date by emailing our Learning, Engagement and Participation Team Leader [email protected] with your preference (& they will confirm on 25th February)
* To have an informal chat about the role, please contact our Operations Director [email protected]
* If you have any other queries, please email [email protected]
* For free careers advice or support with your application - Skills Connect's dedicated advisors can assist you.
* We are part of the Experts by Experience Employment Initiative. The network supports inclusive recruitment of people with lived experience of the UK asylum or immigration system. If this is your experience, you can find useful resources here.
Important dates:
* Application deadline closes: 23:59, Tuesday 10 March 2026
* If you have not heard from us by the end of the day on Monday 16 March 2026, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.
* Interviews are between 5 – 8pm on Wednesday 18 March 2026.
Application information:
* Please click here to access the role description.
* Please click here to download the application form.
* You will be asked to answer 5 questions at the top of the Word application form. These are required to ensure your application can be shortlisted.
* Please note the online e-application form cannot be saved so we recommend you prepare your Word application form before you start filling in the e-form.
* Please get in touch with us if a hard copy of the application form would be preferred. We will organise a time for you to collect it from and return it to Kingsley Hall (our main office in Old Market). An online application will then be created for you.
* If you prefer to submit your response by video or voice note, please send these to [email protected]. Please note that applicants choosing to submit by video or voice note are still required to upload a document to the online application; this can be a blank version of the application form.
* Decisions on applications are made at Board level.
How we work
At 1625ip our work is rooted in Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE) and Trauma-Informed Practice (TIP). Our Psychologically Informed Framework shapes how we build relationships, use our spaces, and support young people. This means we prioritise safety, trust, collaboration, and understanding the impact of trauma in every interaction. You don't need prior experience in PIE or TIP to apply - we'll support you to learn and develop these approaches in the role.
Equitable opportunities for everyone
We believe those with a criminal record should have an equal chance to become employees or volunteers and encourage applications.
As an organisation who safeguard and promote the safety and welfare of children, young people and adults at risk, any job offer will depend on a satisfactory DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check. Successful candidates will need to provide our organisation with sufficient documentation to prove ID. We comply fully with the DBS code of practice and undertake to treat all applications for positions fairly. For successful candidates with a criminal record, a risk assessment process will take place with the recruiting manager.
We also pride ourselves on being an equitable opportunities employer for everyone regardless of age, disability, gender identity, race, religion and beliefs, sex and sexual orientation. We have committed to being a Disability Confident Employer, and have made the Menopause Workplace, Mental Health at Work, and Bristol Equality Charter pledges.
Please see our Policies section on the website, for further information.