Athlete Representative Trustee

Organisation: Switch the Play Foundation
Salary: 0
Location: Home based with occasional travel for Board meetings
Contract type: Volunteer (Part time)
Closing date: 30 November 2026
Interview date: 10 December 2026
Job Description: We are looking for a current or recently retired (last 2-3 years) elite athlete to join our Trustee Board who will:

> Bring lived experience of elite sport to Board discussions, helping Trustees understand the opportunities and challenges athletes face during their careers and as they transition beyond sport.
> Champion athlete voice in the charity’s strategy, priorities and decision-making, ensuring athletes’ needs and aspirations remain central to our work.
> Help the charity listen to a broad range of athletes, drawing on perspectives beyond your own sport and experience, including those whose voices are less often heard.
> Provide an athlete perspective on programmes and services, offering constructive challenge on their relevance, accessibility and potential to make a meaningful difference.
> Support the Board to assess impact, helping identify what successful outcomes look like for athletes and whether the charity’s work is achieving them.
> Highlight emerging needs and barriers to support, helping the charity anticipate and respond to changes in athletes’ experiences.
> Act as an ambassador for the charity, using your networks, where appropriate, to raise awareness, build connections and encourage athletes to access support.
> Contribute fully as a Trustee, preparing for and participating in Board discussions, exercising independent judgement and acting in the interests of the charity as a whole, while respecting confidentiality and declaring conflicts of interest.

This is an exciting new role developed with the purpose of ensuring that athlete voice is at the heart of our governance as a charity in line with our values. The role will be appointed for a term of 24 months. As well as playing a vital role in helping the charity achieve its mission, this role provides an ideal opportunity for a current/former athlete looking to gain valuable boardroom experience, with a commitment from our Trustees to provide mentoring support for the individual’s role as a Trustee.

Person Specification:

Essential:

> Relevant lived experience: A current elite athlete, or someone who has retired within the last two to three years, with an understanding of the demands of elite sport and the challenges of preparing for life beyond it.
> Commitment to the charity’s purpose: A genuine interest in supporting athletes’ personal development, wellbeing and transition beyond sport.
> Ability to represent wider athlete perspectives: Willingness to listen to and consider experiences beyond their own sport, recognising that athletes have different backgrounds, needs and circumstances.
> Communication and collaboration: Ability to express views clearly, listen respectfully and contribute constructively to discussions with fellow trustees.
> Independent judgement: Confidence to ask questions, consider information and offer constructive challenge, while acting in the best interests of the charity as a whole.
> Integrity and discretion: Commitment to confidentiality, openness and recognising and declaring potential conflicts of interest.
> Commitment and willingness to learn: Capacity to prepare for and attend Board and relevant subcommittee meetings, and willingness to develop an understanding of charity governance through induction, training and mentoring.

Desirable:

> Athlete engagement experience: Experience contributing to an athlete forum, player association, advisory group, mentoring scheme or similar initiative, with connections that could help the charity hear a wider range of athlete voices.

Previous trustee or board experience is not required; induction and mentoring support will be provided.

For full details about the role please see our Trustee Candidate Pack via - https://switchtheplay.com/news-and-blog/join-switch-the-play-foundations-trustee-board
How to apply: To apply, please email your CV, covering letter and a copy of our Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form to recruitment@switchtheplay.com. Your covering letter should clearly state which role you are applying for – Athlete Representative Trustee or General Trustee – and explain your motivation for joining our Board. Please outline your relevant skills, knowledge and experience, using examples to demonstrate how you meet the person specification for your chosen role. If you are applying for a General Trustee role, please highlight which of our priority areas you would bring expertise in: safeguarding, legal, HR or knowledge of the UK sports system. You will also be asked to complete a short equal opportunities form.

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Athlete Representative Trustee