Chair/Co-Chair of the Board of Trustees
The information below is provided in a PDF document
Voluntary, unpaid position
Registered Charity No. 1214634
A Message from the Founder & Director, Amy Swalwell
Thank you for your interest in joining TeesDance at one of the most exciting and defining moments in our journey.
As a newly registered charity, TeesDance is the flagship organisation for dance in the Tees Valley — bringing dance to people’s doorsteps and creating opportunities for connection, confidence and joy across our communities.
We are working to make dance visible, valued and accessible to all. From children finding their confidence to whole communities reclaiming joy and connection, dance becomes the spark for something much bigger.
We’re now looking for a Chair or Co-Chair to help guide TeesDance through this next phase of growth — supporting us to strengthen our governance, build sustainability, and advocate for the power of dance to drive wellbeing and social change.
If you share our belief that everyone, no matter who they are or where they live, should have access to high-quality, inclusive dance, we’d love to hear from you.
Warmly,
Amy Swalwell
Director, TeesDance
About TeesDance
TeesDance is the flagship charity for dance in the Tees Valley, working to ensure everyone, regardless of who they are or where they live, has access to high-quality dance experiences. Based across Middlesbrough and Redcar & Cleveland, we deliver vibrant, diverse and care-centred programmes that connect people and communities through movement.
Our work sits at the intersection of arts, health and community, championing dance as a tool for social connection, care and cultural identity.
Founded in 2022 and registered as a charity in 2025, TeesDance builds on the 10-Year Vision for Dance in Middlesbrough and the current two-year project Dance in the Tees Valley: Ecology, Growth and Creativity, which, along with Borderlands Creative People & Places commissions, engaged over 20,000 participants/audiences and supported more than 120 freelance artists.
We are now leading Breaking New Ground: Dance in the South Tees (2026–2030) — a bold, place-based programme supported by Sport England, Tees Valley Combined Authority and local partners, tackling health inequalities, deepening participation, and strengthening the regional dance workforce.
Our Vision, Mission and Values
Vision
A thriving Tees Valley where dance is visible, valued and accessible to all.
Mission
To ensure that everyone has access to high-quality dance that enriches lives, promotes wellbeing, and drives change — through inclusive, care-centred and community-driven work.
Values
- Collaborative – We work alongside artists, educators and trusted partners rooted in our communities.
- Care-Centred – We recognise intersecting challenges and remove barriers so that everyone can participate.
- Excellence – Our work is led by professionals, shaped by communities, and strives for the highest artistic and social standards.
- Openness – We listen, reflect, and respond to community need, ensuring inclusivity and transparency.
- Transformative – We believe dance can spark lasting change, building pride in our people and place.
Our Work
We achieve our mission through a growing portfolio of programmes that bring dance directly to people’s doorsteps:
· MoveUP – Developing young choreographers aged 13–19 and showcasing their work on professional stages.
· MoveTogether – Intergenerational social dance for families, babies and elders across East Cleveland.
· HOME – A large-scale outdoor performance celebrating belonging and identity, recently featured at Middlesbrough Mela.
· MovePro – Professional development, networking and CPD for dance artists.
· MoveAhead – Local authority artist commissions across the Tees Valley.
· MoveAlways – Regular sessions for older adults promoting active ageing and wellbeing.
· Stronger Steps – Creative movement and wellbeing for care-experienced children and young people, building consistency, confidence and care.
We are also developing and aiming for the first flagship home for dance — a dedicated space for creativity, training and collaboration across the region.
Why Join TeesDance?
· Help shape the future of dance, health and creativity in the Tees Valley.
· Champion inclusion, care and social connection through movement.
· Gain leadership and governance experience in a growing charity.
· Join a supportive, values-led board and creative community.
The Role
We’re seeking a Chair or Co-Chair to provide strategic leadership, advocacy and governance for TeesDance.
You’ll:
- Support the Director and Trustees in realising our vision and long-term sustainability.
- Ensure sound governance, risk management and financial oversight.
- Act as an ambassador for TeesDance, building relationships with funders, partners and communities.
- Champion our values and nurture a culture of care, inclusion and excellence.
Time Commitment
- Four board meetings per year (online, with one in-person AGM)
- Approx. two working group sessions annually
- Attendance at key events or projects
- Two-year term (renewable)
Reimbursement
Voluntary role — reasonable travel expenses reimbursed.
Skills and Experience
We welcome expressions of interest from individuals with one or more of the following areas of expertise:
- Strategic or organisational leadership
- Fundraising and income diversification
- Finance or accountancy
- HR, governance or charity law
- Marketing, communications and advocacy
- Health, education or community partnerships
- Venue or capital project management
- Digital innovation or creative technologies
- Dance or wider arts practice
We particularly encourage applications from those with lived experience of the communities we serve across Tees Valley/Teesside.
Eligibility
No previous trustee experience is required — what matters most is your commitment, openness and belief in the power of dance to transform lives.
You must:
- Be 18 or over
- Not be disqualified under the Charities Act 2011
- Be willing to undertake a DBS check if required
- Ideally be based in or connected to the North East (though meetings are hybrid)
How to Apply
Please send a one-page letter or three-minute video outlining your interest to [email protected]
with the subject line “Chair / Co-Chair Recruitment”.
You might like to reflect on:
- What about TeesDance and our mission inspires you?
- What experience or perspective would you bring to the role?
- How do you connect with dance, creativity or the Tees Valley?
If you’d like to have an informal chat before applying, please email Amy to arrange a conversation.
Deadline: Friday 21 November 2025, 10am
If there’s anything we can do to make the process more accessible, please let us know.
www.teesdance.org.uk
@teesdance (Instagram | Facebook)