Chair, UK Board of Trustees, The True Athlete Project

Organisation: The True Athlete Project
Salary: 0
Location: Remote
Contract type: Volunteer
Closing date: 16 October 2026
Job Description: We are looking for a new Chair of our UK Board of Trustees!

Deadline: We will close the position when the suitable candidate has been found, so please apply as soon as possible.

We are committed to nurturing a diverse and inclusive environment, and we encourage applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of race, colour, gender, gender identity or expression, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.

About The True Athlete Project

We are a registered charity in both the United Kingdom and the United States. We’re a community of athletes, coaches, mindfulness teachers, researchers, and sport for change pioneers, and our mission is to build a more compassionate world through sport.

Our unique approach - which revolutionizes sport through mindfulness - is making waves in the sporting sector, and is truly changing lives.

Our 2030 strategy especially focuses on two specific U.N. Sustainable Development Goals:
- Goal 3.4: Improved mental & physical health for people from all backgrounds
- Goal 4.7: Transformative Education: Empowering global citizens

The Opportunity

We have grown significantly year-on-year, and we now are in a strong position to begin the next phase of our journey, ensuring that we make good long-term decisions so that we can make a difference to the people who need us most.

If selected, you will be part of a world-class team of professionals who believe in the transformative power of sport, and who are determined to make a meaningful difference. You will expand your network, form deep connections, develop a wide variety of skills, and be part of a powerful community.

The Ideal Candidate

As with other trustees, it is essential that you:
- appreciate and deeply understand the need for our holistic approach;
enthusiastically fundraise for our charity;
- have a strong network relevant to our strategic ambitions (i.e. the sport, health, education, finance, sponsorship and/or fundraising sectors) that you will be comfortable drawing upon for the benefit of TAP;
- are highly motivated to find the time to actively support the charity beyond the quarterly board meetings;
- bring a rich perspective to the position, which complements the existing team;
- can show demonstrated engagement with diverse groups;
embody acceptance and kindness, professionally and personally;
are passionate about mental health.

The specific Chair role also brings additional responsibilities. The new Chair will need to:

- take the time to personally understand TAP’s work in depth, and keep TAP’s founding spirit front and centre of decisions.
- build an excellent relationship with our CEO; actively engaging with Sam between board meetings, supporting on strategic and general matters. They will embrace a journey of learning together in regards to how to build an effective CEO-Chair relationship. This could include CEO-Chair training workshops/courses or mentoring from other successful pairs. It will include transition conversations with Juls (current UK Chair) and Sam (CEO).
- build productive relationships with board members; the new chair will skilfully and compassionately engage and leverage the strengths of each board member, creating the environment for a high performing team.
- chair board meetings - keeping them on track, whilst enabling balanced discussion and remaining flexible to the conversations that emerge.
- be available at short notice - respond quickly to administrative requests from Sam (e.g. scanning and signing documents) and on important matters that require quick decision making for the safe and effective running of TAP.
- be a responsible trustee - the new chair will have all the same legal responsibilities as any other board members in addition to having an advanced understanding of TAP’s constitution to ensure TAP is compliant with the Charity Commission and Companies House regulations. They will take the time to fully understand the relationship between TAP UK and TAP US. The new chair will manage potential conflicts of interest, will have a good understanding of risk so as to identify risks and key decisions to be made in good time. They will simultaneously be able to hold a “short horizon” and a “long horizon” in relation to our strategic planning.
- champion TAP externally - the new chair will be our chief cheer-leader, engaging with key backers, key contacts, media, etc.
- attend meetings and events - the new chair will regularly attend quarterly board meetings, strategy days, and other infrequent activities such as major fundraising events. Ideally the new chair would also visit a TAP programme or two in person.

The Commitment

Board members are expected to attend quarterly board meetings (2hrs) in addition to preparing fully for meetings (e.g. reviewing documents), as part of a total contribution of 3 days per quarter.

Within this commitment, the successful candidate will be expected to provide advisory support to the executive team, for example through attending subgroup meetings. We also expect board members to participate in 1-2 in-person fundraising events per year.

The majority of board and subgroup meetings are held online, on weekday evenings.

Prospective board members will be subject to the necessary background checks in line with best practice guidance.

Next Steps

Interested candidates should submit a C.V. and a statement of interest (no more than one page) to TAP Founder & CEO, Sam Parfitt (sam.parfitt@thetrueathleteproject.org).

Please also provide links to your social media profiles.

We will end the application period once we have a suitable shortlist of candidates to move to the interview stage.

Please contact Sam Parfitt (sam.parfitt@thetrueathleteproject.org) if you have any questions. Please note that applications submitted through Linked In will not be reviewed. Please follow the instructions above to apply.

We will arrange initial calls with shortlisted candidates and then have a panel interview for the final candidates with Sam and two board members.

If you require any accessibility assistance please let us know by emailing sam.parfitt@thetrueathleteproject.org and we will be glad to provide support.

View our website: www.thetrueathleteproject.org
Our portfolio of projects: www.thetrueathleteproject.org/impact-portfolio
Our recent press: www.thetrueathleteproject.org/press--praise

The True Athlete Project is formed of two independent legal entities: The True Athlete Project (US), which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organisation under US federal tax guidelines (EIN: 81-1063080), and The True Athlete Project Ltd (UK), which is a UK charity (charity no. 1198569).
How to apply: Interested candidates should submit a C.V. and a statement of interest (no more than one page) to TAP Founder & CEO, Sam Parfitt (sam.parfitt@thetrueathleteproject.org). Please also provide links to your social media profiles. We will end the application period once we have a suitable shortlist of candidates to move to the interview stage. Please contact Sam Parfitt (sam.parfitt@thetrueathleteproject.org) if you have any questions. Please note that applications submitted through Linked In will not be reviewed. Please follow the instructions above to apply. We will arrange initial calls with shortlisted candidates and then have a panel interview for the final candidates with Sam and two board members. If you require any accessibility assistance please let us know by emailing sam.parfitt@thetrueathleteproject.org and we will be glad to provide support.

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Chair, UK Board of Trustees, The True Athlete Project