TRUSTEE

TRUSTEE

Your Information Pack

British Exploring Society
1 Kensington Gore
London, SW7 2AR
Charity No: 802196

For further information visit
www.britishexploring.org or call
+44 (0)20 4534 0777

ABOUT BRITISH
EXPLORING SOCIETY

British Exploring Society is a world-class youth development charity with a unique heritage
founded on the belief that challenging experiences can transform lives, empowering and
equipping young people with the courage, integrity, skills, resilience and motivation to make
the most of their future.

We prepare young people for adventures and expeditions virtually, and in remote locations in the UK
and overseas where they face challenges, acquire outdoor skills and learn about themselves - as well as
undertaking projects with content relevant to their lives and to the fragile environments that they explore.

The results are transformative – not just in terms of practical skills and resilience, but in a new-found
confidence and self-belief which they carry forward to their future life. More than this, through their
adventure together, our young people forge friendships for life and become part of a unique supportive
and continuing community of explorers with shared experiences, values and perspectives on the world.

Purpose: To help young people unlock self-belief - to Find their Fire.

Vision: For all young people to be able to contribute confidently in the world. We want equal access to
challenging learning and adventure in the wilderness as an unbeatable preparation for adult life.

Mission: To grow and celebrate a diverse, inclusive community of young people with the skills, resilience
and determination to make lasting positive decisions in their own lives, and to deliver community benefit
and positive environmental change.

Values: Courage, Challenge, Community and Self-Belief.

79% of British Exploring Society’s Members
agree or strongly agree that their expedition
“changed the course of [their] life”

APPROACH AND IMPACT

British Exploring Society provides young people with challenging expeditions and adventures
to remote and wild environments in the UK and Overseas to foster resilience and confidence.
Over its history it has run 229 expeditions across six continents and more than 99 locations,
including the Arctic, the Amazon, the Himalayas, and deserts across the globe. Today, the
charity continues to combine adventure with learning, empowering young people to develop
confidence, teamwork, and environmental awareness.

The charity still works with young people aged 14-25 years from across the UK, but the demographic of
those beneficiaries has transformed over the past decade. In 2024, 54% of young people who went on
expedition declared total household income below £23,000. While any young person can apply to join a
programme, British Exploring Society is focused on finding and supporting those from communities lacking
access, or the confidence to access, learning opportunities outside the classroom, as well as individuals with
poor educational and employment prospects, and young people facing personal, emotional and social
difficulties.

Widening access to its programmes has been facilitated by closer working with a variety of other youth
organisations, schools and charities, who make referrals and work in partnership with the charity.

Catering to this more diverse demographic has
required the charity to think creatively about
its processes, financial model, and approach.
But the core idea - young people preparing for
life by developing resilience and confidence
through adventure and learning in a remote
wilderness in small self-contained groups
- remains the unchangeable heart of the
charity’s work.

There are three stands to British Exploring
Society’s approach, reflected in the three
colours of its logo.

The results of this approach remain
transformative – not just in terms of practical
skills and resilience, but in new-found
confidence and self-belief. Through their
adventures together, the charity’s young
people forge friendships for life and become
part of a unique supportive and continuing
community with shared experiences, values
and perspectives on the world.

“Having that space to share my feelings with my team and
Leaders every day has given me encouragement in the
future to express my feelings with friends and family.”
- Young Explorer Naffie

TRUSTEE: JOB
DESCRIPTION

Reporting to: Chair

Liaison with: Members of Council (trustees), staff, multiple
partners and stakeholders

Term of office: 4 years, may be extended for a second term

Salary: Unremunerated

Usual hours: 4 board meetings a year, AGM, possible sub-committee
meetings, discretionary attendance at some evening and fund-raising
events

Location: West London

Our trustees

Our trustees play a vital role at British Exploring Society. They have independent control over, and legal
responsibility for, our management and administration. Since 1932 we have always relied on the time
individuals donate to us, and our trustees are a cornerstone of that culture of professional volunteering. We
want our trustees to enjoy the time they give to us, and to feel motivated and uplifted by the work we do.
We do everything we can to involve our trustees in the life of the organisation, to visit and get involved in
our activities and to feel the positive impact of their contributions.

Our trustees ensure that we comply with the law, with our Articles, and that we continuously strive to
fulfil our charitable purpose. This includes a proactive duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of our
beneficiaries and a duty of care to ensure beneficiaries and others the charity comes into contact with do
not come to harm.

What we expect of our trustees

The cornerstones of good governance at British Exploring Society are financial sustainability and the well-
being and safety of the young people we serve.

Our trustees help support and shape the culture of the organisation and to foster an atmosphere of
openness and trust. This helps ensure that people feel able to report concerns in any area of activity.
Protecting people and safeguarding responsibilities are a priority. We expect all our trustees to make sure
that protecting people from harm is prioritised and that the policies we have in place are appropriate and
are being followed by all trustees, staff, volunteers and beneficiaries.

Protecting people and safeguarding responsibilities are a priority for us. We expect all our trustees to make
sure that protecting people from harm is prioritised and that the policies we have in place are appropriate
and are being followed by all trustees, staff, volunteers and beneficiaries.

You can find out more guidance about becoming a trustee on the Charity Commission’s website.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to see the
progress in the Young Explorers from the
start to the end of the expedition, and to
have played a part in supporting them
through their journey… it’s brilliant to know
we have such well thought out safety and
knowledge available to us should we need
it.”

- Anonymous feedback, volunteer Leader

“After the expedition I really do feel that I have a greater sense
of self-confidence. The expedition has made me happy with
who I am and confirmed the journey I want to embark on.”
- Young Explorer Nye

Key responsibilities

Planning

•  Approve our mission statement and review the team’s performance in achieving it
•  Annually assess the changing environment and approve the charity’s plans
•  Annually review and approve the organisation’s strategy
•
Review and approve our financial goals
•  Annually review and approve our budget
•  Approve and review major policies, including all those relating to financial procedures, health and

safety, risk, data protection and safeguarding.

Organisation

Recruit, appraise, advise, support and if necessary change the CEO of the charity
Be assured of management succession

•
•
•  Approve appropriate salaries, terms and conditions of service for staff
•
•

Support sub-committees and fill vacancies as needed
Regularly audit the performance of Council and approve plans to improve its performance.

Operations

Review results achieved by our team in relation to aims and objectives, annual and long range goals
Be certain that the financial structure of the charity is adequate for its current needs and strategy
Provide open and constructive criticism, advice, comments and support

•
•
•
•  Approve major actions of the charity, such as expenditure on items over authorised limits and major

shift in activity.

Audit

•

•

•

Ensure accountability within the charity, particularly where trustees delegate responsibility for particular
tasks or decisions to staff or volunteers
Be assured that Council is adequately and currently informed of the condition of the charity and its
operations
Be assured that published reports adequately reflect the nature of services and the financial condition
of the charity

•  Ascertain that the CEO has established appropriate policies to define and identify conflicts of interest

throughout the organisation and is administering and enforcing those policies

•  Appoint independent auditors
•

Review and assure compliance with statutory accounting, reporting requirements, relevant laws and
standards affecting the charity

“It smashes down barriers, builds
resilience, boosts confidence and
self-esteem.”
- Chloe Moul, Senior Social Leader

HOW TO APPLY

Equal opportunities

British Exploring Society is committed to equal opportunity and to building an executive and volunteer team
that together represent a diverse variety of backgrounds, skills and perspectives on the world. The more
inclusive we are, the better we think we’ll be at delivering our chartable aims.

What’s next?

To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter of no more than 2 sides of A4 explaining your
suitability for the role to Chair@britishexploring.org copying ChairAdmin@britishexploring.org.

In your application, please let us know if you have any accessibility requirements, or if you need us to
make any adjustments to the interview process.

If you would like to speak to someone about the role, please contact ChairAdmin@britishexploring.org
and we will make arrangements with you to give you a call.

“It truly has been his own experience and
one which I know he will remember for
ever. He’s been challenged and pushed,
and made friends that he will keep
for many years, and I’m sure that the
confidence and resilience that he’s
built through the experience will stand
him in good stead for when he leaves
home for university in the next
couple of years.”

- Sheila, Young Explorer Guardian