Place2Be is one of the UK’s most respected children’s mental health charities. For more than 30 years, it has worked with schools, families and communities to provide early intervention and specialist support where children and young people need it most. Its pioneering Whole School Approach embeds mental health support within school communities, combining clinically led services, professional training, research and partnership working. Place2Be now works with more than 650 schools and reached 340,000 children and young people last year. With a clear strategy for 2025 to 2030, the charity is focused on delivering excellent support, deepening its impact in communities and using evidence to influence policy and wider system change.

After nine years of excellent stewardship under its current Chair Simon McKenzie-Smith, Place2Be is seeking a Chair to guide the organisation through its next phase of growth and impact. Working closely with the Chief Executive and an experienced Board of Trustees, the Chair will keep delivery of the strategy at the heart of decision-making, support the highest standards of governance, safeguarding and clinical quality, and help secure the charity’s long-term financial sustainability. They will also serve as a thoughtful and credible ambassador, across our stakeholders ensuring that the needs and voices of children, young people, families and schools remain central to Place2Be’s work.

The successful candidate will bring experience as a Chair, trustee, non-executive director or senior organisational leader, together with a strong understanding of governance and the respective responsibilities of trustees and executives. They will have experience of contributing to an effective Board, supporting and constructively challenging a Chief Executive, and overseeing strategy, organisational performance, finance and risk. Inclusive, collaborative and independent-minded, they will combine sound judgement with humility, compassion and emotional intelligence. Previous chairing experience would be valuable, although Place2Be welcomes candidates whose senior executive, non-executive or commercial leadership experience has prepared them to take on their first charity chair appointment. Above all, they will share Place2Be’s commitment to improving children and young people’s mental health and understand the value of partnership, evidence and early intervention.

More information about the role is available here: https://saxtonbampfylde.maglr.com/place2be-chair1/home

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to Place2Be on this appointment. For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit roles.saxbam.com using reference RAHAWB. Alternatively email Belinda.beck@saxbam.com. Applications should be received by noon on Thursday 8 October 2026