Trustees

Salary: Voluntary with snacks and travel expenses provided provided for in-person meetings.

The Rio Cinema is looking to appoint up to four trustees, including a Treasurer, to complement its existing board.

The Rio Cinema is looking to strengthen its board with individuals who can bring their professional skills, strategic mindset, creative problem-solving and diverse networks to help it thrive in an ever-changing cultural and economic landscape.

They are particularly interested in recruiting trustees with the following backgrounds:

• Finance & Accounting: They are specifically seeking a Treasurer who is a finance professional (ideally a qualified accountant or CFO) to provide high-level oversight of our financial health, statutory reporting, and long-term resilience (see here for a more detailed role description).
• Property & Capital Projects: They are looking to undertake a number of capital projects on their Grade II-listed building over the next several years and are seeking a trustee with experience in property development or managing large-scale renovation/restoration projects. Experience with heritage/listed buildings is a plus, but not a requirement.
• Fundraising: They are seeking a trustee with a proven track record in securing philanthropic income, corporate partnerships, and public grants within the cultural sector. Experience navigating major funding bodies (such as the BFI, Arts Council England or the National Lottery Heritage Fund), cultivating individual donors, trusts and foundations, or leading capital campaign strategies is very desirable.
• Legal: They are looking for a trustee with a legal background to act as a sounding board for the board and management. You do not need to be a practising expert in charity law, but your general legal knowledge and analytical mindset will help us evaluate risk, sense-check decisions, and ensure good corporate governance across our operations and upcoming projects (see here for a more detailed role description).

Time commitment and board terms.

• Commitment: c.6-8 board meetings a year (c. 2hrs) plus potential sub-committee meetings and annual board strategy day. Trustees should also be willing to undertake informal engagement with the charity, including providing advice on an ad hoc basis to the management team.
• Term: 3 years (renewable once)

The Rio wants its board to reflect the diversity of the communities it serves, warmly welcome applicants from people of all backgrounds, and encourage applications from individuals who bring lived experiences and perspectives that reflect the vibrant, multicultural, and intersectional nature of its communities. The Rio encourages applicants from Black & global majority backgrounds, and applications from younger people who can bring a generationally different lens to the Board.

As a community-led organisation, they are particularly interested in applications from Rio Cinema members and those with strong connections to the borough of Hackney. They recognise that lived experience is as valuable as professional expertise and are committed to removing barriers to participation. Previous board experience is not required; a comprehensive induction pack, mentorship from existing trustees, and ongoing governance learning will be provided. Whether you are an experienced trustee or are taking your first step at board level, The Rio would love to hear from you.

There will be an online info session held at 12:00 on 19 June for those who want to learn more about the roles and ask any questions.

To apply:

Please provide a current CV, a short covering letter (no more than 1 side of A4) explaining your interest in the Rio Cinema and detailing your specific skills and experience, and a completed Equality Monitoring form to: trustee.recruitment@riocinema.org.uk

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The closing date for this position is 10/07/2026 at 17:00