Board Boost is a comprehensive, practical and values-based programme that will run from January - June 2026. Participants will not only cover the basics of governance, from the legal responsibilities of being a trustee to deciphering the world of charity finances - they’ll also learn how to apply new skills in the context of their specific charities alongside a group of like-minded peers and supportive facilitators.

We’ve been running the programme since 2022, working alongside young people to cover some of the most important questions in governance. These include:

• How can we support young trustees to unlock their potential?
• How can imposter syndrome on boards be overcome?
• How can boards create the conditions needed for everyone to thrive?

The answer to these questions doesn’t come from one single fix, but a multi-pronged approach. Board Boost accelerates the learning journey, covering content that would usually take 2 years to master and tackling it in 6 months - without compromising on things like accessibility or interactivity. The programme was designed to be hands on, with participants learning by doing. This includes:

• Working through multiple real-life case studies, so participants can apply and test their governance skills in a creative and low-risk way.
• A full in-person training day, where participants can focus on what it means to be a trustee and the importance of things like fostering a curious mindset, inclusive practices and active participation.
• Opportunities to lead on a governance project that directly benefits their board and is relevant to their existing trusteeship.
• Opportunities for 1:1s with Board Boost facilitators (outside of the core monthly support sessions) to deep-dive into participants’ experiences of being on a board, including any worries they might have or challenges they face.
• Connecting with a community of peers that support one another through the ups and downs of trusteeship.

Board Boost 2026 will run from January to June 2026

Sessions will be held online monthly, with one full in-person training day happening in March 2026 in London.

Board Boost is designed for current or aspiring young trustees between the ages of 18 - 30 who are interested in learning more about governance. It will benefit any young person who is or wants to be a trustee - helping them gain confidence in the role and understanding what it means to be a trustee who is active, engaged and curious.

A place on Board Boost 2026 costs £3,000.

Discounts are available if your board wants more than one trustee to take part.

It's important to us that this programme is accessible to charities of all sizes. As such, we offer a limited number of partial and full bursaries that organisations can apply for. We are currently fundraising to provide bursary places. The number of bursary places available depends on how much we're able to raise for places. If you are interested in applying for a bursary place, please register your interest with us now via this form

We will then ask you to confirm the following:

• Your commitment to the programme dates and requirements
• The size and income of your charity's budget
• How much you can contribute to the programme in a way that feels comfortable for you, such as £500, a free venue space, or a workshop in your area of expertise

We aim to get back to those who have registered with us about whether they have been successful in gaining a bursary place the week commencing 1 November. Bursary places will be prioritised based on the size and income of the organisation, as well as the potential impact we can achieve together.

• Kick-off introduction call - Wednesday 14 January
• 6 x monthly 1hr support sessions on Wednesday evenings: 28 Jan, 25 Feb, 25 March, 29 April, 27 May, 24 June
• 1 x in-person training day on Sat 14 March, 9.30am - 4.30pm

Note: There may be more of a time commitment involved if participants choose to opt for 1:1 support calls with facilitators outside of sessions - this is at their discretion.

We can’t wait to deliver Board Boost to a new group of young people in 2026. If you’re interested in joining us, please fill in this form to register your interest and we’ll be in touch.

Have you got a question about Board Boost that we haven’t answered here? Feel free to get in touch with us at hello@youngtrusteesmovement.org.

To support participants on their journey to become confident, capable & curious trustees, we’ll also be providing the option for an additional set of two workshops for participants’ wider boards to participate in. We highly recommend Board Boost and Across the Board being completed together.

Across the Board is designed for whole boards who are committed to supporting the young people on their boards and developing more inclusive and diverse practices.

We know boards are full of often busy people, which is why we’ve condensed Across the Board into 2 x 2.5 hr workshops. These workshops will focus on:

• Debunking common myths or stereotypes relating to young people
• Introduction to our ‘Conversations Toolkit’ for developing and maintaining a positive board culture
• Training on how to support more inclusive ways of working
• Training on how to attract a diverse range of applicants to positions on the board

The cost of Across the Board is £750.