The JRSST Charitable Trust (JRSST-CT) is a democracy grant-making trust rooted in the liberal and Quaker values of Joseph Rowntree. Established in 1955, it works to strengthen democracy in the UK by addressing political inequality and supporting people who are underrepresented in politics to participate fully in public life.
In 2025, JRSST-CT entered an ambitious new phase, approving a 10-year spend-down strategy that will see its £4.6 million endowment released to fund voter engagement, democratic education, participation and diversity in political representation. Alongside this, the Trust will host the UK Democracy Fund, a pooled philanthropic fund driving voter registration and reform across the UK.
To guide this pivotal chapter, Peridot Partners was appointed to recruit a new Chair and two Trustees, working closely with the Board and Fiona Weir, CEO. The appointments would play a critical role in leading through change; strengthening governance, ensuring alignment between JRSST-CT and its non-charitable counterpart (the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust) and embedding the Trust’s commitment to equity, inclusion and democratic renewal.
Context.
This was a defining moment for the Trust. The new Chair would succeed Andrew Neal, who had overseen a major governance review, including the decision to incorporate as a charitable company and diversify the Board to increase independence and representation.
The Chair and Trustees needed to bring not only governance and strategic skills, but also a genuine belief in inclusive democracy. The ideal candidates would combine policy or grant-making experience with an understanding of democratic engagement, reform and participation. Crucially, a leadership style rooted in collaboration and curiosity.
Brief and search
Led by James Hunt and Ella Garfinkel, we partnered closely with Fiona Weir Andrew Neal and the Vice Chair to design a process that reflected JRSST-CT’s Quaker values and commitment to transparency, fairness and accessibility. We reached deeply across civil society, academia, the public sector, philanthropy and democracy-focused organisations to engage candidates with both lived and professional experience of political underrepresentation. Our focus was on balancing governance expertise with diverse insight and energy for the Trust’s renewed mission.
The process attracted a remarkable range of talent. Analysis of our equal opportunities data showed that the applicant pool was hugely diverse and far exceeded national benchmarks for trustee recruitment. These results reflect the inclusive design of the process and the trust candidates placed in JRSST-CT’s values-led culture.
Outcome.
We were delighted to support the appointment of Sarah Davidson as Chair and Esmat Jeraj and Craig Westwood as Trustees.
Craig Westwood is an experienced leader in the public sector, most recently serving as Chief Executive of the Legal Services Board. He is the former Director of Communications, Policy and Research at the Electoral Commission, offering exceptional expertise in democratic systems, regulation and public engagement. His experience in voter participation and public communication will be invaluable to JRSST-CT’s mission.
Sarah Davidson is Chief Executive of Carnegie UK, where she leads one of the UK’s most respected independent policy foundations. A former Director General in the Scottish Government, Sarah brings deep governance and policy experience, a strong focus on learning culture and an unwavering belief in democratic wellbeing. Her experience in values-based leadership and organisational transformation makes her ideally placed to lead JRSST-CT through its next phase.
Craig Westwood is an experienced leader in the public sector, most recently serving as Chief Executive of the Legal Services Board. He is the former Director of Communications, Policy and Research at the Electoral Commission, offering exceptional expertise in democratic systems, regulation and public engagement. His experience in voter participation and public communication will be invaluable to JRSST-CT’s mission.
Esmat Jeraj, Interim Executive Director of The Guardian Foundation and former COO of the Patchwork Foundation, brings over a decade of leadership in democratic engagement and social justice. She has worked across the charity, media and political sectors to advance equity and inclusion in public life and her insight into underrepresented communities enriches the Board’s understanding of systemic barriers to participation.
“Working with Peridot and specifically with Ella, was a thoroughly positive experience. Throughout the trustee recruitment process, Ella was supportive, flexible, communicative and highly professional. She took the time to ensure the entire process felt clear and well-managed. I appreciated the genuine care she showed and would happily recommend Peridot to others exploring similar roles.”
Esmat Jeraj's comment on the Peridot process.
James Hunt reflected: “This recruitment marked an important moment in JRSST-CT’s evolution. It brought together extraordinary people who share a deep commitment to democracy, participation and equity. Working with Fiona Andrew and the team to shape a process that lived the Trust’s values was a real privilege. The appointments of Sarah, Esmat and Craig position the Board with outstanding leadership for the decade ahead.”
“What I appreciated practically was a smooth process that ran to schedule, the right level of detail and frequency of updates and quick responses to queries. James and team were selective about when to check in – seeking steer when needed while respectful of our time constraints. They reassured us that they were confident they were talking to people who were a strong fit for what we needed. It was evident from the candidates they brought forward that they had truly listened and had a strong grasp of the brief.”
Fiona Weir's comment on Peridot partnering with JRSST-CT.
