Board Directors x3

Join Hackney School of Food Board of Directors

We are looking for 3 new Directors to join our Board at Hackney School of Food. This is a chance to shape a dynamic, community-driven social enterprise that’s building skills and healthy habits through food education.

Who We Are

Hackney School of Food is a food education hub in Clapton, founded in partnership with the LEAP Federation of Schools and the charity Chefs in Schools. We are on a mission to provide children, families, and our local community with the tools to improve their diets and well-being. We do this by building knowledge and confidence in growing and cooking nutritious food, from seed to spoon. Our programmes include curriculum-linked lessons, after-school and holiday clubs, family cooking and growing projects, and adult workshops.

We transformed a former caretaker’s house on the site of Mandeville Primary School into an award-winning teaching kitchen and turned tarmac into a flourishing garden. A once-disused classroom is now our Garden Room, where we host educational workshops and dining events for our community.

In 2023, we became a Community Interest Company (CIC) meaning our work is driven by the needs and interests of our community. Since opening, we’ve welcomed thousands of people through our doors, working with schools, community organisations, and local residents.

To see more about what we do see: www.hackneyschooloffood.com

Being on our board

We want Directors with a diversity of skills and experiences to join our board. We are particularly interested in applicants with 1 or more of the following:

• Fundraising and income generation expertise
• Business development or growth strategy experience
• Knowledge/experience in social enterprises or start-ups
• Strong network connections, particularly in Hackney / East London

To make an effective board member, it’s also important you are:

• A good communicator with sound judgement
• Open-minded, collaborative and willing to listen
• Confident engaging with different people and perspectives
• Commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility

You don’t need to tick every box. If you’re committed to our mission, we’d love to hear from you. Previous board experience is welcome but not essential.

Our commitment to creating a diverse board

We encourage anyone interested to apply. But we also want to make extra sure our board represents the communities we serve. We welcome applicants of any gender but encourage men to apply, to improve gender balance on our board.

We welcome applications from black and global majority people and people living locally in Hackney.

If you feel comfortable sharing this, we would really like to know if you have any lived experience of food insecurity or health inequalities in your application.

What Does Being a Board Member Mean?

Our Board of Directors provides oversight, strategic direction, and support to the team at Hackney School of Food. Board members:

• Provide leadership, helping to set strategic goals and priorities
• Support fundraising and networking, acting as ambassadors for the CIC
• Oversee compliance and legal and regulatory obligations
• Ensure we are financially sustainable and stay true to our CIC objectives
• Offer advice and support to the managing director and the wider team
• Bring expertise, ideas, and lived experience to guide our development

Time Commitment

On average, the role will take 1–2 days a month, including:

• Quarterly board meetings (in-person or online)
• Occasional working group or fundraising meetings
• Offering advice or support and reading papers in between meetings

Benefits

Being a board member is a valuable way to broaden your professional experience, including management and leadership skills. As a Director, you’ll:

• Play a meaningful role in improving access to food education.
• Gain experience in governance, leadership, and strategy.
• Work alongside committed people who care about making a difference.

This is a voluntary (unpaid) role. We will reimburse reasonable travel and subsistence expenses so that income is not a barrier to participation.

Please be aware all Directors will need to complete an enhanced DBS check before starting.

We look forward to hearing from you!