Education and Alternative Learning Trustee

Organisation: The Mazi Project
Role type: Voluntary Trustee Position
Commitment: Quarterly board meetings, annual strategy day, and ad-hoc input as needed
Location: Hybrid (Bristol-based charity with national reach potential)

 

About The Mazi Project

The Mazi Project is dedicated to empowering marginalised young people—often those excluded from traditional education or employment—through food. We use food as a tool for social mobility, advocacy, and tackling the public health crisis, creating transformative education and signposting programmes that engage and inspire young people to achieve their full potential.

Through initiatives such as our aMAZIng recipe kits and cooking workshops, we harness the power of the dinner table and the simple act of breaking bread to reduce isolation, build confidence, and help young people feel cared for and extraordinary. At the heart of everything we do is a trauma-informed, relational, and holistic approach, addressing not only immediate food needs but also the social, emotional, and mental health of those we support, while opening pathways to wider opportunities and healthier lives.

As we develop our education programmes from the ground up, we are seeking an Education and Alternative Learning Trustee to help shape our strategy, broaden our reach, and ensure that young people have access to meaningful and empowering opportunities.

 

The Role

As an Education and Alternative Learning Trustee, you will play a vital role developing The Mazi Project’s youth education strategy. You will bring expertise from the alternative learning provision sector, a deep understanding of working with marginalised young people, and a commitment to reimagining education that prioritises wellbeing, confidence, and opportunity.

This is a unique opportunity to help shape our approach from the very beginning—working alongside fellow trustees, our team, and young people to co-design programmes that:

• Engage and empower young people not in education or employment through power of food and opportunity.
• Embed trauma-informed practice and relational approaches in all education pathways.
• Connect education with wider opportunities, including employment, skills, and personal development.

 

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Contribute to the development of The Mazi Project’s food education strategy, ensuring it reflects best practice and is rooted in trauma-informed and holistic approaches.
• Programme Development: Support the creation of new food education and signposting programmes, ensuring they are accessible, inclusive, and preventative in nature.
• Network Building: Use your sector knowledge and networks to help us lay the foundations for our works with schools, alternative learning providers, local authorities, and funders.
• Advocacy: Champion the voice, strengths, and potential of the young people we work with, ensuring their lived experiences shape programme design and delivery, while highlighting the importance of food education as a powerful way to engage and support those who may be struggling in mainstream education.
• Governance: Fulfil trustee duties by ensuring strong oversight, safeguarding compliance, and alignment with The Mazi Project’s vision and values.
• Innovation: Help us reimagine education without the pressure of unrealistic expectations, creating spaces where young people can thrive and develop their capabilities for a happy future.

 

Person Specification

We are looking for someone who:

• Has extensive experience working with alternative learning provision providers and understands their unique challenges and opportunities.
• Has a background in the education sector (leadership, governance, or programme design) and can leverage their networks to support The Mazi Project.
• Shares our belief in the power of food and the potential of young people, particularly those excluded from or marginalised within mainstream systems.
• Understands and values trauma-informed practice and mental health support in creating positive futures.
• Can think strategically and collaboratively, supporting a growing organisation with bold and preventative ambitions.
• Brings creativity, innovation, and commitment to inclusive, youth-led approaches.

 

What We Offer

• The opportunity to shape an education service from its earliest stages.
• A chance to make a meaningful impact on the lives of marginalised young people in Bristol and beyond.
• Collaboration with passionate trustees, staff, and young people is driving systemic change.

To Apply:

We’re committed to inclusive hiring.

Deadline for application: 1st December

We know that not everyone has equal access to polished CVs or traditional career paths, and we also know that many people, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, may not apply unless they meet every single requirement. Please don’t rule yourself out if you feel you could thrive in this role but don’t tick every box.

You’re welcome to apply in the way that feels most accessible and comfortable for you but please add a CV alongside a cover letter or a short video (up to 5 minutes), a portfolio, or another format that helps us understand your skills and experience. If you need any adjustments to the process, just let us know.

Send applications to melanie@themaziproject.com