AIMS Chair of Trustee's Role

Who We Are

AIMS is a small charity that supports people to navigate the maternity services. We provide information and a helpline, and campaign for a system that works for all, by lobbying at a national level for the improvements needed. We are a volunteer-led organisation which emerged from the vision of Sally Willington over 60 years ago. Today AIMS is a registered charity. You can find out more about AIMS by visiting our website.

The Role

We are looking for a chair of trustees who can lead with confidence and humility, sharing the commitment of AIMS to improve maternity services for all in the UK. The chair will work to develop and sustain relationships with core volunteers in achieving our mission. The chair will encourage thoughtful decision making and clarity of purpose at board level, and ensure this is informed by the insight and experience of volunteers and members. The chair will lead AIMS toward longer-term organisational strength through effective volunteer management and financial stability.

Personal Qualities

  • Collaborative leadership
  • Clear communication
  • Strategic thinking
  • Friendly and flexible

Desired Experience

  • Overseeing strategy planning and implementation effectively
  • Engaging and collaborating with volunteers
  • Creating change

Other Information

This is a voluntary role, but reasonable expenses will be reimbursed. Online attendance is required at 10 trustee meetings per year, and an in person away day and AGM. The chair of trustees role would be a flexible commitment equivalent to 1 day per week

The AIMS Constitution states that a Trustee may not be “a qualified member of any medical profession including doctor, midwife, nurse or health visitor”.

We value diversity and recognise that good leadership benefits from the diversity of lived experience. We warmly encourage expressions of interest from global majority members, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, and neurodiverse people.

Please contact enquiries@aims.org.uk

Key Responsibilities

  • Providing leadership for the Board of Trustees in setting the strategic direction and priorities for AIMS.

  • Ensuring that the Board of Trustees discusses regularly any activities, major risks,concerns and opportunities for AIMS as appropriate.

  • Ensuring that all decisions and actions are taken in accordance and alignment with the AIMS values and mission.

  • Working collaboratively with the Trustees Board to maintain the highest standards of governance through highly effective working relationships. Creating an environment for success.

  • Setting the Trustee meeting agendas and ensuring meetings are run efficiently and effectively, and ensure that all voices are heard

  • A lead role in the development and implementation of Trustee recruitment, induction and training ensuring that the Board of Trustees retains an appropriate level of diversity and appropriate skill set for maximum effectiveness.

  • Playing an active role in the planning and preparation for the charity’s AGM. Chairing the AGM.

Personal Qualities

  • Commitment to the vision, mission and values of AIMS and a passion for supporting the charity's beneficiaries.

  • Willingness, capability and desire to provide effective leadership to the AIMS Trustee Board and AIMS charity more widely.

  • Ability to deal effectively with matters which may arise regarding governance, risk, reputation and sustainability.

  • A strategic thinker with a focus on the ‘bigger picture’.

  • A collaborative, empowering, inspiring leader of people.

  • At all times works with integrity, objectivity, accountability and honesty.

  • Ability to commit sufficient time to AIMS in executing your duties. Flexibility may be required for pressing issues and in extraordinary circumstances.

Latest Content

Journal

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An interview with Sarah Odling Smee

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Birth Activists Briefing: The lates…

AIMS Journal, 2025, Vol 37, No 1 By the AIMS Campaigns Team In this article we will summarise some of the key points of data about the maternity services that have been p…

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AIMS Physiology-Informed Maternity…

AIMS Journal, 2025, Vol 37, No 1 Art by Sophie Jenna Latest update from the PIMS team! The NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) recently asked the Campa…

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Events

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AIMS Workshop: Politics and power i…

This is an invitation to anyone who was ever born... ... to explore our understanding and learn together. It’s part of a short series of interactive discussions around ho…

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The 10th Annual Birth Trauma Summit

Join us online via livestream or in person at Conway Hall for a day of inspiring speakers and workshops. We promise to hold courageous conversations which challenge narra…

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Midlands Maternity & Midwifery Fest…

The Maternity and Midwifery Festivals are back face to face and we’re looking forward to meeting you in 2025. Nine events across the UK and Ireland – all of them free of…

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Latest Campaigns

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AIMS Letter to Professor Mary Renfr…

AIMS has written to Professor Mary Renfrew to thank her for taking the lead on reviewing maternity services in Northern Ireland. Her report is the first of its kind to ta…

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MBRRACE-UK Saving Lives Improving M…

By the AIMS Campaigns team This note is intended to offer both a summary and AIMS commentary on the latest annual MBRRACE-UK report. MBRRACE stands for Mothers and Babies…

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PIMS Short Case Study - Optimal Cor…

Optimal cord clamping AIMS supports midwife Amanda Burleigh’s campaign for optimal cord clamping “ Wait for White ”. Optimal cord clamping is a key part of physiological…

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