Chair of Trustees – Friends of Rowntree Park

To support the strategic leadership of The Friends of Rowntree Park, we are looking for new trustees.

Are you passionate about nature and about community?

The Friends of Rowntree Park is looking for a new Chair of Trustees. Are you passionate about nature, community and volunteering? Do you enjoy bringing people together, seeing the bigger picture and helping organisations thrive? If so, we’d love to hear from you.

Rowntree Park is one of York’s most cherished public green spaces. Friends of Rowntree Park is the registered charity that helps care for, improve and champion the park for everyone who uses it. Working alongside volunteers, the local community and City of York Council, we’ve grown significantly over the last few years and are now looking for someone to lead our trustee board as we continue to develop.

About the role

The Chair provides leadership to our Board of Trustees, helping ensure the charity is well governed, financially sustainable and focused on its long-term aims.

This is not a hands-on operational role. The day-to-day running of the charity is led by our Charity Manager, supported by volunteers, freelance coordinators and project leads. Instead, the Chair works alongside the Charity Manager and trustee board to provide strategic leadership, support and oversight.

The Chair helps create an environment where trustees can contribute effectively, discussions are constructive and decisions are made in the best interests of the charity and the community.

About Friends of Rowntree Park

The Friends became a registered charity in 2019. Since then we’ve grown significantly, with over 1,300 members, an expanding volunteer programme and an increasing range of projects and activities.

Our volunteers help care for and improve the park through gardening, conservation and wildlife projects, while our charity also delivers community events, Forest School, educational activities and wellbeing programmes. We also lead the award-winning Make Space York project, working with teenage girls to make parks more welcoming and inclusive, alongside a range of activities for children, families and adults.

The Friends are also an important link between the community and the City of York Council. As local authority budgets for parks have reduced over time, our role in supporting, improving and advocating for Rowntree Park has continued to grow.

Who we’re looking for

You don’t need previous Chair experience, or even previous trustee experience. We’re looking for someone who:

-Is passionate about community and green spaces
-Enjoys bringing people together
-Can think strategically and see the bigger picture
-Has good judgement and is comfortable helping guide discussions and decisions
-Is supportive, approachable and collaborative
-Wants to make a positive difference in their local community

Experience in areas such as governance, leadership, finance, education, environment, community development, fundraising, communications, planning, youth work or local business would all be valuable, but lived experience and enthusiasm are just as important.

We are committed to improving the diversity of our trustee board and warmly welcome applications from people who may not traditionally see themselves represented in charity governance. We particularly encourage interest from people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ communities and people from ethnic minority backgrounds.

What you’ll do

The Chair will:

• Lead and chair trustee meetings (typically 4-6 each year)
• Work closely with the Charity Manager, providing support, guidance and a sounding board between meetings
• Help shape the charity’s long-term vision and priorities
• Ensure the board fulfils its governance and legal responsibilities
• Support the development of funding opportunities, partnerships and future projects
• Represent the charity at key meetings and events where appropriate
• Encourage an open, collaborative and positive culture within the trustee board

What do trustees do?

Trustees guide the overall direction of Friends of Rowntree Park. They focus on strategy, governance and long term sustainability rather than day to day delivery. Together, trustees:

• Set the vision and priorities for the charity
• Ensure good governance and financial responsibility
• Support funding applications and project development
• Work in partnership with the council and other organisations
• Help ensure the park remains welcoming, inclusive and environmentally responsible

Time commitment

The board meets around 4-6 times each year, usually in the evening.

The Chair would also have occasional catch-ups with the Charity Manager between meetings and attend two public Friends meetings each year.

Overall, the role is flexible and typically averages just a few hours each month, with occasional busier periods around major projects or governance matters. We understand people balance work, caring responsibilities and other commitments and aim to be flexible wherever possible.

Payment and expenses

This is an unpaid voluntary role. Reasonable expenses will be reimbursed in line with our expenses policy, including travel and, where appropriate, childcare, carer costs or other accessibility requirements that enable participation.

Why become Chair?

This is a chance to play a leading role in one of York’s most active community charities. You’ll help shape the future of an award-winning organisation that improves a much-loved public park, supports hundreds of volunteers and members, and creates opportunities for people of all ages to connect with nature, each other and their local community.

Interested?

To apply, please email a letter of no more than two sides of A4 by 14th September 2026
In your letter, please include:

• Your interest in Friends of Rowntree Park
• The skills and experience you can bring to the board and the role
• Details of two character references
You may also include a CV if you have one.

Please send your application to hello@rowntreepark.org.uk

If you would like an informal chat about the role before applying, please email hello@rowntreepark.org.uk and we will be happy to arrange a conversation with another trustee.