If you’re reading this, you’re already curious about a company that doesn’t wait for permission to imagine new futures...
Upswing is looking for new Trustees to join our board. You don’t need a background in circus. You don’t need to know everything. You just need to bring commitment, courage and a willingness to learn and share.
What does being a Trustee involve?
As a registered charity, we are governed by a board of trustees. Trustees are the people who lead the charity and decide how it is run. Being a trustee means making decisions that will impact on people’s lives, and using your skills and experience to support us to achieve our aims. Our trustees help guide Upswing with their insight to make a difference to local communities and wider society.
Our board meets four times a year, plus an annual away day. Trustees should expect to contribute around six to eight days a year in total. We need people who can think boldly and act with clarity – guiding our direction, keeping our ambitions grounded, and helping us plan for the future with confidence.
Trustees board meetings are hybrid (in person in Stoke-on-Trent/London or online via Zoom). Expenses, such as travel and accommodation, are covered, and all new trustees receive a full induction including governance support and optional training. We’re happy to discuss any adjustments that would help you participate fully.
Who we want to hear from
We’re particularly interested in people with skills in governance, producing or cultural sector leadership, community and creative health work, fundraising, digital strategy, or IT and cyber security. We also want to hear from people who bring strong lived experience, a connection to Staffordshire or the Midlands, or a non-traditional route into leadership. We especially welcome applications from the Global Majority, disabled people, neurodivergent people, and LGBTQIA+ communities.
You can read more about who we’re looking for on the recruitment pack below.
How to apply
Applications close 8 June 2026.
We want to hear from you in a format that feels natural. We assess what you say, not how you present it. You can apply with a written statement, a short video, or an audio message – two pages or five minutes, whichever feels natural. Include a brief CV and tell us: why Upswing, why now, and what you’d bring.
Send applications to camille@upswing.org.uk. If you’d like an informal conversation first, reach out to the same email.
Photo courtesy of XR Circus