Recruiting Our Next Chair

After 10 years of dedicated service, including the last five as Chair, Professor Andy Smith will be stepping down from his role as Chair of the Board of Trustees at the end of 2025.

Andy has played an extraordinary role in helping shape Chasing the Stigma into the national charity it is today. Under his leadership, guidance, and belief in our mission, we have grown from a single idea into one of the UK’s most important mental health resources. His commitment and passion have left an indelible mark on our organisation. As Andy himself reflects: It has been an incredible privilege to serve alongside such a dedicated team of trustees, staff, volunteers, and supporters at Chasing the Stigma to whom I offer my heartfelt thanks. I am immensely proud to have been involved in the charity since 2014 when Jake first mentioned to me his intention to establish this wonderful organisation before it was officially awarded charitable status by the Charity Commission in 2016.

Under Jake’s inspirational and dedicated leadership as CEO, I have witnessed first-hand the remarkable growth of Chasing the Stigma from an idea first developed in Jake’s bedroom to what it is today: a national multi-award-winning charity which is normalising mental health and saving lives, every day.

It is difficult to put into words the truly transformational impact that the charity has had – and will continue to have – on the lives of everyone who has benefitted, directly and indirectly, from the work of Jake and the team. I am one of them, and for that I will always be forever grateful. It is without doubt one of my personal and professional highlights.

This is a remarkable and well-positioned charity which has changed the national conversation on mental health, and through its Hub of Hope, has developed the UK’s leading signposting mental health service. The Hub, which houses more than 14,000 services, now regularly supports over 300,000 people annually, and is used by countless national organisations including NHS England, Department for Health and Social Care, Network Rail, and Mind. Over 1 million people also use the Hub to search for mental health services annually. This is an incredible and unparalleled achievement.

Although I step down with a heavy heart, I do so in the knowledge that Chasing the Stigma is a flourishing national charity, in a strong financial position, and with an incredibly committed staff team and board of trustees. Our new three-year strategy will ensure Chasing the Stigma is well placed to navigate the continued challenges which beset the mental health sector, and there is absolutely no one better than Jake to lead such a wonderful and impactful organisation.

The work of the charity is as important as ever, but it continues to need everyone’s support so it can continue to undertake its life-saving work. Though I’m stepping away from the Chair role, I remain deeply invested in the work of Chasing the Stigma, and will continue to support the charity in other ways. I will also continue to urge anyone to consider supporting the charity, if and however they can. They will never know when they might need it.

I look forward to passing on the baton to the new Chair, whom we hope to announce before the end of the year, so they can lead Chasing the Stigma into its second decade.

Jake Mills, our Founder and CEO, added:

Andy’s leadership, guidance, and belief in Chasing the Stigma have been instrumental in helping us grow from a simple idea into what it is today. His impact on the charity, our team, and the countless people we support every day cannot be overstated. On a personal level, I will always be grateful for the support Andy has shown me along the way, and while he will be sorely missed as Chair, I know his encouragement will remain with us as we continue to build on his legacy.

We are now beginning the process of recruiting a new Chair of the Board of Trustees to lead Chasing the Stigma into its next decade.

The Role

We are inviting expressions of interest from anyone who is passionate about making a difference in mental health and has the experience to guide us through our next stage of growth. A full job specification is available to download via the button below. (alternatively copy this link this into your devices browser: https://we.tl/t-6yvZ4zCx1x)

• To apply, please send your CV and a cover note to: recruitment@chasingthestigma.co.uk

• Deadline for applications: 9pm, 6th October 2025

• Interview process:

  • Stage 1: Virtual interview (mid-October, date TBC)

  • Stage 2: In-person interview in Liverpool (November, date TBC)

• Any appointments will be subject to references and employment checks.

This is a truly exciting opportunity to help shape the future of Chasing the Stigma, ensuring our work continues to change lives across the UK.

Download Job Description Here