Support SPEAR’s mission to end homelessness through strong governance and collaborative leadership as Chair of Trustees.
SPEAR works towards a clear, ambitious vision: communities where anyone facing or experiencing homelessness can quickly move into secure accommodation, receive effective support and work towards their hopes and aspirations.
For over 35 years, SPEAR has supported people across South West London who are experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness; particularly people with experience of rough sleeping. Their work enables people to move from crisis to stability by providing secure accommodation, holistic support and the opportunity to work towards a positive future. Its work spans outreach to people sleeping rough, accommodation and tenancy support, health and well-being services and longer-term interventions that address the underlying causes of homelessness.
Led by an experienced executive team and supported by a committed Board of Trustees, SPEAR works closely with local authorities, health services and other partners and continues to adapt its approach in response to rising need and a changing external environment.
They now seek a new Chair of Trustees to provide strong, values-led governance and to help guide the Board as it continues to develop its effectiveness. Working in close partnership with the Chief Executive, you will support clear decision-making, constructive challenge and a collaborative Board culture, ensuring SPEAR remains well-governed, ambitious and true to its mission.
Who we are
SPEAR was founded in the borough of Richmond and has grown into a multi-service homelessness charity working across Richmond, Kingston, Wandsworth, Merton, Sutton and Tower Hamlets, with ambitions to extend its reach further. Throughout its history, SPEAR has remained focused on enabling people experiencing homelessness to find secure accommodation and work towards a positive future.
They recognise that homelessness is rarely a single issue. Many of the people SPEAR supports face complex challenges linked to health, trauma, isolation and inequality. SPEAR responds by working alongside individuals, partners, staff and volunteers to provide services that meet people where they are and support long-term change.
Shaped by clear values, the organisation has a culture of collaboration, aiming high for the people it supports, treating everyone with respect, staying determined in the face of challenge and remaining open to learning and innovation in pursuit of better outcomes.
About the role
As Chair of Trustees, you will lead SPEAR’s Board and play a key role in ensuring the organisation is governed with integrity, clarity and purpose. This non-executive role focuses on governance leadership. You will help the Board work together effectively, creating the conditions for thoughtful discussion, shared responsibility and well-judged decisions. In line with core principles of effective Charity governance (e.g. as set out in the Charity Commission Governance Code) and Nolan Principles, you will promote high standards of accountability, openness and collective leadership, ensuring trustees understand their role and contribute at a strategic level.
Working closely with the Chief Executive, you will provide support and constructive challenge, maintaining clear boundaries between governance and management while fostering a strong, trusting partnership.
Your contribution will centre on:
- Leading the Board in line with best practice in charity governance and the Nolan Principles.
- Creating a respectful, inclusive Board culture that reflects SPEAR’s values.
- Supporting Trustees through an annual review of their contribution, encouraging reflection, development and effective participation
- Supporting clear decision-making, accountability and effective use of delegated authority.
- Helping the Board focus on strategy, risk, impact and long-term sustainability.
- Encouraging continuous learning and development at Board level.
This is an opportunity to help shape how the Board works together, supporting SPEAR to remain aspirational, determined and well-governed as it delivers its mission.
Who we are looking for
SPEAR is seeking a Chair who brings strong governance experience and a leadership style that reflects the organisation’s values.
You will bring:
- A deep understanding of charity governance and the responsibilities of a Board and Chair.
- A clear working knowledge of principles of effective Charity governance and/or Nolan Principles and how to apply them in practice.
- Experience of leading boards in a way that is inclusive, calm and effective.
- The ability to chair meetings that encourage open discussion, respectful challenge and shared ownership.
- Sound judgement, integrity and a strong sense of accountability.
- A commitment to values-led leadership and to supporting others to contribute at their best.
Above all, you will demonstrate your ability to work collaboratively, listen carefully, ask good questions and help a board operate with confidence and clarity.
The Chair role involves a manageable but meaningful time commitment, averaging around one day per month.
This includes:
- Four Board meetings, plus a short AGM per year.
- Membership of committees, with three committees meeting three to four times annually.
- One half-day (currently Saturday) strategy away day.
- Regular meetings with the Chief Executive, as needed, to support agenda planning, oversight and structured governance support.
To view the role description and person specification, please go to the ‘How to Apply’ tab above, fill in your details and download the candidate pack.
For further information about the role or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners:
Clare Chesworth | clarec@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07904 158737
Ella Garfinkel | ella@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07432 859534
Welcome from the Interim Chair
Dear Applicant,
Thank you for your interest in the Chair of Trustees role at SPEAR. SPEAR is supported by an excellent Executive Management Team and a hugely committed and compassionate staff group, who work tirelessly to deliver our mission and support people experiencing homelessness to achieve lasting change.
As Chair, you would be joining SPEAR at an important and pivotal point in our development. We remain firmly focused on our vision to End Homelessness and are fortunate to have both revenue and capital funding in place to support the creation of new homes for people experiencing homelessness across South West London and beyond.
At the same time, the environment in which we operate remains challenging. Rising homelessness across London, increasing pressure on public services, and a changing funding landscape mean strong leadership, effective governance, and collaborative partnerships are more important than ever. We must continue to work closely with local authorities, health services, commissioners, funders and our wider partners to ensure that our resources are used effectively and that our services continue to respond to the changing needs of the people we support.
As Chair, you will lead the Board and work closely with our Trustees and Executive Team to shape SPEAR’s strategic direction, support strong organisational performance and financial sustainability, and ensure the highest standards of governance. You will play an important role in providing both constructive challenge and support, while fostering a positive, collaborative and ambitious Board culture.
We would be delighted to receive your application and learn more about the skills, experience and perspective you could bring to SPEAR.
If you share our commitment to ending homelessness and are inspired by the opportunity to help lead SPEAR through the next stage of its development, we warmly encourage you to apply.
Yours sincerely,
Duncan Richford
Interim Chair
Message from the CEO
At SPEAR, our passionate front-line teams and managers work tirelessly to support every homeless person we meet, helping them rebuild their lives with dignity, purpose and hope.
But our mission goes further. We’re determined not just to manage homelessness, but to end it.
Our Trustees play a vital role in making that vision a reality. They guide and support the charity, working closely with my team and me to ensure that SPEAR is as effective, ambitious and compassionate as it can be.
Whatever your background, if you have skills, experience, or insights that could help drive real change — and the time and commitment to make a difference — we’d love to hear from you.
Together, we can help end homelessness for good.
Tim Fallon
CEO
About SPEAR
SPEAR has more than 35 years’ experience supporting people who are experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness across South West London. What began as a local response to rough sleeping in Richmond has grown into a multi-borough charity working across Richmond, Kingston, Wandsworth, Merton, Sutton and (from Apr 25) Tower Hamlets, with ambitions to extend its reach further.
They work across the full journey from street outreach to long-term independence. Services include rough sleeper outreach, supported accommodation, tenancy sustainment and resettlement support, independent living skills and health-led interventions through their Homeless Health Link Service.
This integrated approach reflects the reality that homelessness is rarely caused by housing alone and that lasting outcomes depend on addressing health, well-being, trauma and social isolation alongside accommodation.
In 2024, they supported 804 people experiencing homelessness, including 466 people found sleeping rough, 119 supported to move off the streets into accommodation and 46 people supported through Housing First. Alongside this, they supported hundreds of people to improve their health and well-being, delivered 17 Health and Well-being Days and worked with people in accommodation and floating support to help sustain tenancies and build independent lives.
Operating in a context of rising demand, growing complexity of need and increased funding uncertainty, high levels of rough sleeping across London continue to rise and many of the people they support face multiple and intersecting challenges, including mental ill health, substance use and exploitation.
In response, they have continued to adapt their services, strengthening health-led prevention, specialist outreach and multi-agency approaches designed to reach people who are most excluded from support.
SPEAR has an annual income of around £4.7 – £5 million from commissioned services with local authorities and the NHS, complemented by fundraising from trusts, corporates and individuals. They are in a strong position financially, while remaining alert to the risks and volatility inherent in the current policy and commissioning environment.
Looking ahead, they are focused on deepening their impact, strengthening outcomes and ensuring their services continue to reflect the needs of the communities they serve.
They are also considering how they can play a broader role in prevention, partnership working and system-wide responses to homelessness, while maintaining a strong, values-led culture and a sustainable operating model.
Learn more about SPEAR
The Gov published a National Plan on 11th December. On 18th December, it announced funding allocations to LAs to implement the Plan. SPEAR and its LA partners are currently assessing the impact of both documents.
- A National Plan to End Homelessness – GOV.UK
- Allocations tables for all consolidated grants from 2026-2027 to 2028-2029 – GOV.UK
Nuno’s Story: turning lived experience into lifesaving support
Nuno, 45, had extensive experience in hospitality and warehouse logistics and was working at Heathrow Airport in 2020 when lockdown hit. With most air traffic suspended, Nuno’s job vanished overnight, plunging him into homelessness.
With no work, he lost his home and experienced various forms of homelessness: rough sleeping on the streets of Richmond, sofa surfing and living in squats. During this period, Nuno’s dependence on drugs and alcohol increased, and he describes it as “a blur,” marked by fear, hopelessness and the daily challenges of survival.
Finding support and hope with SPEAR
During a period of rough sleeping in Richmond, Nuno was approached by Rebecca from SPEAR’s Outreach team. At first, he felt apprehensive, but this outreach marked the start of his engagement with services that would ultimately support his recovery and rebuilding.
Gradually, with SPEAR’s support, he secured accommodation and was encouraged to rebuild an independent life. Nuno credits SPEAR’s human, caring approach with helping him feel seen as a person, not just a statistic — a foundation that proved vital to his recovery and growth.
Through peer-to-peer support, Nuno’s lived experience has become his greatest strength. With SPEAR’s support, Nuno accessed support for addiction, has remained clean for almost five years and developed confidence in his ability to stay in recovery.
The transformative role of volunteering
Volunteering has played a pivotal role in Nuno’s journey. He has volunteered with SPEAR and the NHS, supporting people affected by homelessness and substance misuse; advocating for individuals who face barriers to accessing care; and working alongside addiction services, using his own experience to relate to and support clients.
He describes seeing clients regain self-respect and hope as “hugely rewarding.” By offering both emotional reassurance and practical help, he has enabled others to start their own journeys of recovery and stability.
The impact: growth for himself and others
Volunteering has been transformative for Nuno’s well-being, helping to cement his recovery and rebuild his self-esteem. Sharing his story, offering guidance and witnessing positive change in others has given him renewed purpose. He has also developed professional skills which have fuelled his aspirations for further work and study in the sector.
For the people Nuno supports, his empathy and practical assistance make an immediate difference. Clients benefit from his understanding of the system and his encouragement to engage with services, take small steps forward and envision brighter futures. Nuno’s work proves that with the right support and the courage to give back, recovery can be contagious.
A new chapter for Shane
When Shane first came to SPEAR, he had been experiencing the toughest realities of homelessness. For years, he lived in a tent, facing each day with uncertainty and struggling to navigate the maze of support services that can often feel overwhelming without guidance. Despite these challenges, Shane never gave up hope. With the right support and his own determination, he began to turn things around.
Shane moved into Penny Wade House, SPEAR’s Richmond hostel, giving him the stability and safety of a roof over his head. This step was transformative. It gave him breathing space and the opportunity to focus on his next chapter. He made the most of every chance to get involved, build new skills and take positive steps towards recovery and independence.
His journey has been one of resilience, courage and growth. Step by step, Shane rebuilt his confidence, reconnecting with services, rediscovering his strengths and ultimately shaping a brighter future for himself.
Now living in a housing association flat, Shane’s life has taken an inspiring turn. He has recently joined SPEAR as a Peer Advocate Worker. In this new role, he draws directly on his lived experience to support people who are trying to overcome the very challenges he once faced.
As a Peer Advocate, Shane works alongside clients on their own journeys, helping them access health services, linking them to vital community support and offering the kind of empathy and understanding that only someone who has “been there” can truly give. His presence is both a source of reassurance and a reminder that change is possible.
Reflecting on his new role, Shane said:
“Working for SPEAR has given me the chance to give something back. I know first-hand how isolating and tough life can get, but I also know that people can turn things around when the right help is there. It’s a privilege to help others believe in themselves again.”
Shane’s story shows the transformative impact that safe housing and the right support can have – not only in helping someone rebuild their own life, but in empowering them to inspire change in others. From a tent to a home to now supporting others as a valued member of SPEAR’s team, Shane’s new chapter is one of hope and possibility.
Accessibility information
We are committed to fostering an environment that values and respects the diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives of all individuals. We believe that equity, diversity, and inclusion are essential to achieving our mission and making a meaningful impact in the communities we serve.
As part of our commitment to EDI, we are actively seeking to diversify our Board of Trustees. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, particularly those from underrepresented groups and those with lived experience of homelessness, as we believe that a diverse board will better serve our organisation and its beneficiaries.
We understand that different community members have different access needs, and we have made modifications to how we do business to accommodate people from diverse communities and abilities.
We offer the following amenities:
- Step free access to the building, all key meeting rooms and bathrooms and an accessible workstation.
- Accessibility dogs are welcome.
- Papers and materials can be presented in different formats.
- A sign language interpreter can be accessed for interview.
- Working patterns and locations can be adjusted.
Further Information:
- Disability Confident Employer
- Living Wage Employer
- Mandatory EDI training for all staff/trustees
- Mandatory Unconscious Bias training for all staff/trustees
- Cultural awareness talks and regular celebration of key cultural events (Pride month, Black History Month etc.)
- Mental Health First Aiders
- EAP
To arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners:
Clare Chesworth | clarec@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07904 158737
Philippa Fabry | philippa@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07772 902071
Thank you for your interest in this role. Please download the Role Description and Person Specification and Job Pack.
To formally apply, please submit a CV and supporting statement (ideally maximum 2 sides of A4 each) that clearly outlines your suitability for the role against the criteria provided in the person specification, including your interest and motivation in applying for this position.
Please include your home address, contact email and mobile.
Please ensure that your application is emailed to response@peridotpartners.co.uk, inserting “Application: SPEAR—Chair” into the subject field. You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt within 2-3 days. If you do not receive an acknowledgement, please contact our admin team.
For further information about the role or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners:
Clare Chesworth | clarec@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07904 158737
Ella Garfinkel | ella@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07432 859534
As a sector-leading executive search consultancy, we know the importance of creating recruitment processes that are fair, inclusive and free from bias. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a process that values differences.
If you require any job information in an alternative format (e.g. large print), please contact the lead consultant. Please also let us know if you would like to submit your application in an alternative format.
Applicants with disabilities are welcome to contact us in confidence at any stage of the recruitment process to discuss any reasonable adjustments or support that may be required to ensure fair and equal participation.
Recruitment selection processes are based on evidence of competence stated in the person specification and in relation to our values.
Timetable
Closing date: 9 a.m. Monday 5th October
Candidates informed of outcome: Monday 12th October
First stage interviews (online): Wednesday 14th and Thursday 15th October
Second stage interviews (in person): Wednesday 21st October
Equal Opportunities Monitoring
Peridot and SPEAR are committed to promoting equality and diversity. To help us raise awareness and support a culture that is diverse and recognises and develops the potential of all, we need to appreciate the profile of candidates who apply for positions. We will send you an equality monitoring survey at the point of receiving your application and at the time of placement. This ensures that our processes remain inclusive and equitable throughout and provides us with important data to help us showcase our impact.
The information will be treated confidentially and anonymously and will help us to support our commitment to fair recruitment practice. All information provided will be held in the strictest confidence and will not be shared with anyone, in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 launched on 25 May 2018.
The information provided does not form part of the decision-making process and will not affect your application. Learn more about why we collect this data here.
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