Chair

About Centre for Homelessness Impact

Launched in 2018, the Centre for Homelessness Impact (the Centre) has quickly become a highly respected What Works Centre, building the evidence and data infrastructure required to transform the effectiveness of homelessness efforts in the UK. The Centre is achieving this transformation by generating high-quality evidence and data, and by empowering policymakers and practitioners at national and local levels with the tools and resources they need to implement evidence-based solutions. This work is accelerating progress towards the shared vision of a society where homelessness is prevented or, when it occurs, is rare, brief, and non-recurring, a vision now embedded in national and local strategies across the UK.  

Recognising the stark reality of rising homelessness and the need to bridge the gap between policy and practice, the Centre is driving a shift towards evidence-based decision-making. Partnering with areas where the need is greatest such as Greater London and Greater Manchester in England, Glasgow and Edinburgh in Scotland, and Belfast in Northern Ireland, the Centre is working to integrate fragmented systems, shift prevention efforts upstream, and create a culture of experimentation and learning. This work is more critical than ever, given the complex challenges of a deepening housing crisis and the lingering effects of the pandemic.

The Centre's multidisciplinary, agile team delivers content, coaching and evidence tools, which make a real difference to those affected, as well as people working towards a future without homelessness. Its impact is evident in the significant increase in causal evidence produced since its launch. It has also led the way in developing creative new methods for knowledge translation, such as its images bank challenging the stigma associated with homelessness and its investing in an Orwell Prize for evidence-led journalism. The Centre’s evidence tools have over 50,000 unique users annually, and its coaching programme has supported over 1,000 practitioners and policymakers. The Centre’s outcomes framework, SHARE, has been adopted by national and local governments alike, providing a common language and metrics for defining and measuring homelessness across systems.

The Centre also works closely with the UK government as well as the devolved administrations and over 200 councils across the country, providing them with the tools and resources needed to accelerate ending homelessness everywhere in the UK. This close collaboration ensures that the Centre's work is directly relevant to policy and practice.

The Centre also supported the Royal Foundation for more than 12 months to develop HRH Prince William’s new flagship initiative on homelessness and is an official partner of ‘Homewards’.

So far, it has raised c. £25 million investment to introduce greater experimentation into the field of homelessness, including through the ongoing 'Test & Learn Programme' it is currently delivering on behalf of the government. Crucially, it is committed to scaling the interventions that prove effective, ensuring that they benefit more communities and create a lasting impact, while discontinuing those that do not.

The Centre's values comprise being clear, focusing on impact, staying humble and kind, making others successful, asking hard questions and acting on lessons learned.

For all the great work being done, homelessness is still a major challenge. Ending homelessness for good requires a multi-faceted approach, engaging not only those directly involved in the sector but also other parts of society that can contribute to prevention and support. The Centre's next challenge is to build these crucial cross-sector partnerships, while simultaneously deepening its engagement with government to drive policy change. This makes for an exciting opportunity for a new Chair to succeed Andrew Hudson and guide the Centre through this next crucial phase.

To read more about the Centre's vital work, please follow this link.

Role specification

The Centre is fortunate in having an engaged group of Trustees with a wide range of skills. The role of the Chair will be to act as a catalyst, encouraging the whole Board and Executive team to work together, and involve being an active advocate and proponent for the Centre's mission to help expand its reach and networks. The successful candidate will demonstrate intellectual gravitas, strong connections within relevant sectors (particularly government and media), established links to Whitehall and significant governance experience.

Key responsibilities:

Internal leadership and governance

• Provide effective leadership of the Trustee Board and the wider organisation, so that it is an engaged team, with structures and ways of operating that are fit for purpose
• Lead the Centre and the Trustee Board to ensure that it articulates clear and coherent strategy and values, and underpins them with well-designed and properly resourced plans
• Work effectively with Trustees and the Executive team to ensure that there is effective governance of the charity, good management of finances and of risk, and effective analysis and transparency about what the Centre is achieving
• Work with other Trustees to appoint, manage and develop the Chief Executive and their staff
• Support other Trustees in contributing effectively, and foster a culture of individual and Board development

External representation and enhancing impact

• Support the Centre in making a tangible impact by leveraging networks to ensure that the work of the Centre has direct relevance to decision makers. This includes identifying opportunities to position the Centre’s work as relevant to the range of system stakeholders beyond the homelessness field
• Facilitate the Centre’s external representation by opening doors to new contacts and strategically connecting the Executive team with relevant individuals and organisations. This may include attending select events and meetings alongside the CEO and other members of the team
• Play an active role in diversifying the Centre's funding base by cultivating relationships with potential new strategic funders and engaging in strategic networking

Person specification

The Centre for Homelessness Impact seeks a Chair with a deep commitment to ending homelessness through the better use of evidence. The Centre has a strong track record of working in close partnership with government and other stakeholders, and the new Chair will play a vital role in building upon this foundation and helping to strategically expand the Centre's network to deepen its work and create a lasting legacy. They will have a strong understanding of the public sector and public policy, with the connections and credibility to represent the Centre effectively at a senior level. The ideal candidate will possess intellectual curiosity and a strong commitment to the evidence-based mission of What Works Centres.

Required experience

• Successful track record of senior, strategic leadership, which demonstrates skills in operational, people, change and financial management, with particular experience of working with government agencies and navigating public policy landscapes
• Good understanding of the public sector and public policy
• Successful experience as a Trustee or Non-executive Director and ideally also as a Chair, demonstrating effective decision-making and strategic oversight. Experience working with boards and committees in the public sector is highly desirable
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to cultivate and leverage new relationships to support the strategic development of the Centre, with a focus on identifying and securing new opportunities for the Centre’s mission
• Good knowledge and understanding of charity governance and regulation compliance

Skills and personal qualities

• A credible and engaging advocate who demonstrates, and inspires, commitment to ending homelessness and the purpose of the Centre
• A strategic thinker who is able to make time to look ahead as well as manage the here and now
• Intellectual credibility and affinity with an evidence-based, data-led, analytical approach
• Ability to roll sleeves up and play an active role in guiding long-term strategy
• An inclusive leader, able to get the best out of diverse teams and build strong collaborations
• A strong personal commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, and to supporting underrepresented groups
• A good communicator who listens and talks well and can establish trusting relationships with people from all walks of life
• A good people manager who can act as a mentor to the Chief Executive, gets the best out of staff and supports their development and enjoyment of work
• Commitment to stay up to date with good practice in charity governance

Terms of appointment

This role is unremunerated, and reasonable, pre-agreed domestic travel expenses will be reimbursed. There is a time commitment of circa two days per month. This includes formal quarterly Board meetings plus an away day, which includes a shorter Board meeting. Beyond this, the Chair will be expected to prepare for meetings, meet regularly with the CEO and fellow Trustees, and partake in other ad hoc engagements. The appointment is for a three-year term, which can be renewed for a second term only at the discretion of the Board.

The appointment will be approved at the Board meeting in July 2025, with a view to the appointee joining the September Board meeting, ahead of the incumbent stepping down in December 2025.

Location

This Centre for Homelessness Impact is based in central London and meetings are typically hybrid, with the expectation that at least one of the formal Board meetings, in addition to the away day, is held in person. Candidates will therefore be UK-based and able to get to central London as required.

Nurole

Apply for the role via Nurole

Role timetable

Deadline for applications: Midnight on 4th April

Candidates can expect to be contacted by: 19th April

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