Join our steering group
We are looking to convene a voluntary Steering Group to help shape our strategic direction!
Roll Models CIC is a community for women and marginalised genders, built around the belief that getting outside, riding bikes and doing adventurous things together can change how we see ourselves and what we think we’re capable of.
We create welcoming pathways into cycling and outdoor adventure through mentorship, skills-sharing, and community events. Our aim is to reduce barriers to participation and help more women, trans and non-binary people build confidence, skills, independence and lasting connections through cycling and time outdoors.
Overview
Role: Steering Group Member (voluntary)
Location: Remote, based in the UK
Remuneration: Unpaid/voluntary. Modest expenses covered
Term: Minimum 6 months, with opportunity to join Board or as Steering Group member in Spring 2027
Purpose: To deliver aims of Roll Models to support women, trans and non-binary folk in cycling and outdoor adventure
Time commitment: 0.5 – 1 day per month (depending on responsibility), including monthly meeting with group and Director
In just two years, Roll Models has grown from a pilot mentorship programme of 25 participants in 2025, to a mentorship cohort twice the size with a wider community of over 100 people attending events and workshops in 2026, with demand exceeding our current capacity. We are now at an exciting point in our development: the model is working, the community is growing, and we want to build the organisational foundations to support that growth sustainably.
We are looking to convene a voluntary Steering Group to help shape the strategic direction of our fledgling organisation, with a view to formalising a Board in Spring 2027 (there will also be opportunity to continue in a supporting role, without joining the Board).
How the Steering Group will work
The Steering Group will provide strategic support, expertise and accountability while keeping Roll Models' community-led spirit at its heart. Rather than everyone being responsible for everything, each member will take a lead area, working closely with the Director and bringing their expertise to a particular part of Roll Models' development.
The Director will act as a co-lead across each area, ensuring that different strands of work remain connected and that decisions align with Roll Models' overall strategy and purpose.
Lead areas
Members will have responsibility for one or more particular area of work, for example:
Fundraising and partnerships
Mentorship programme
Skills workshops
Communications and marketing
Finance and sustainability
Strategy and governance
These areas overlap, so members will collaborate rather than work in isolation. The Steering Group as a whole will also help shape Roll Models' wider strategic direction.
Time commitment
We anticipate a commitment of approximately half a day to one day per month (depending on responsibility/availability), including:
1 hour with the Director, focused on your lead area and any decisions or support needed; and
Regular open slots for check-ins with the Steering Group to share updates, discuss strategic questions and make decisions together
There may occasionally be additional time needed around specific projects, funding applications or events, but we want to keep the core commitment manageable and realistic.
Decision making
The aim is to give people genuine ownership of their area while maintaining a clear connection to the wider organisation. Leads will be empowered to develop ideas and make recommendations within their area, with the Director acting as a close collaborator. Significant decisions affecting Roll Models' overall strategy, finances, safeguarding, reputation or direction will be discussed collectively.
We want the Steering Group to be a space where people can bring expertise, challenge assumptions, share responsibility and make decisions thoughtfully rather than simply providing advice from the sidelines.
Our June 2026 camp out. Credit @twoevstops
Steering Group roles
Strategy and Governance - Filled
Roll Models has grown significantly in a short space of time, led by one paid member of staff with volunteer support. With demand for the programme limited by our current capacity, we are looking for someone to work alongside the Director as a mentor and sounding board, to focus on shaping the long-term strategic direction of the organisation.
Fundraising
There are many opportunities to grow the programme, and various funding pots we would like to apply for to activate this. We are looking for a savvy fundraiser to help us with fundraising strategy, identifying relevant opportunities, and supporting application processes.
You would support:
Developing a fundraising strategy
Identifying relevant funding opportunities
Feeding into and checking over applications
Working with other members (ie Communications & Marketing) to shape how we tell the story for funders
Mentorship programme (2 roles)
We are looking for an experienced community leader and cyclist who is passionate about creating safe and welcoming spaces for women, trans and non-binary people in the outdoors. You will support the strategic development and running of Roll Models' core mentorship programme, working closely with the Director on the systems and structures that will allow it to grow sustainably. This is a vital role that bridges community-building, participant experience, logistics and operations.
You would support:
Developing policies and procedures to support the running of the mentorship programme
Planning and delivering recruitment for the 2027 cohort, including reviewing and improving the participant application and matching process
Supporting safeguarding, inclusion and participant wellbeing processes
Shaping the strategic direction and future development of the mentorship programme, including thinking about how the programme can support more people without losing its community-led character
Workshops and programming
Roll Models runs regular programming and skills sessions relating to cycling and outdoor adventure, including bike mechanics, navigation, kit choices, trip planning and other practical skills. We are looking for someone who can help us think strategically about how this strand of Roll Models' work develops, in particular, accessing funding to open the workshops up beyond the current cohort. This role would help Roll Models move from delivering individual workshops towards a coherent, sustainable skills programme.
You would support:
Developing a strategic programme of skills workshops for the next 6-12 months
Identifying skills gaps and opportunities within the community
Supporting funding bids to resource the workshop programme
Developing outreach and partnerships to reach people who may not already participate in cycling or outdoor recreation
Supporting the development of inclusive and accessible workshop formats
Helping shape DEI policies and approaches for events and workshops
Exploring opportunities to develop workshops that could generate income while retaining accessible routes into participation
Communications & Marketing
Roll Models has grown organically and is increasingly attracting attention from the cycling and outdoor industries. We now want to be more strategic about how we communicate what we do and use our growing profile to create opportunities for the organisation and its community. We are looking for someone with experience in communications, marketing, storytelling or partnerships who can help us think bigger about Roll Models' position and reach.
You would support:
Developing Roll Models' strategic positioning and profile by shaping a communications and storytelling strategy
Developing content and storytelling approaches for funders and potential partners
Developing relationships with industry and community partners
Helping Roll Models communicate its impact beyond being "just" a cycling club
Identifying opportunities for media, speaking, events, festivals and other platforms that can raise the profile of Roll Models and the wider issues we work on
This is an opportunity to help shape how Roll Models is understood and positioned as it grows.
Finance and sustainability
Roll Models has begun generating income through its mentorship programme and events, alongside grant funding and industry support. As we grow, we want to develop a stronger understanding of our finances and build a model that can sustain the organisation beyond short-term grant funding. We are looking for someone with experience in financial planning, budgeting, business development, social enterprise or organisational sustainability.
You would support:
Financial planning and strategy
Developing realistic budgets and financial forecasts
Thinking strategically about income generation and pricing, and subsidising low-cost participation
Helping develop appropriate financial policies and processes
Working with the Director to understand when and how Roll Models can invest in capacity and paid roles
Social ride, July 2026. Credit: Abbie Merritt
Who we're looking for
We don’t have all the answers, nor do we expect you to. The role specifications above outline what we hope to work on as the organisation matures over the coming years – we know this won’t happen all at once, and we are excited to work with a Steering Group who are passionate about shaping and contributing to the strategic direction of Roll Models. We’d love to work with people who have a little experience of formal governance (for example, through sitting on or reporting to a board, or working in a small organisation) and who are looking to develop that expertise through supporting a fledgling organisation to grow thoughtfully and sustainably.
We’d love to work with people who:
Believe in Roll Models’ purpose and values
Have clear communication skills
Are proactive and self-driven
Bring useful expertise, experience or perspectives
Are willing to challenge ideas and ask constructive questions
Can take ownership of their area while collaborating with others
Care about creating more inclusive outdoor and cycling spaces
Are interested in helping a small organisation grow thoughtfully and sustainable
Are comfortable working in an evolving environment, where not everything is fully figured out yet
Lived experience matters as much as professional expertise. We strongly encourage applications from trans and non-binary folk, people of colour, disabled people, and those from working-class backgrounds.
Research shows that some people hesitate to apply unless they meet every criteria. If you are passionate about this role and your experience doesn't align 100%, we still want to hear from you. Please reach out if you have any questions, or how we can make this process more accessible to you.
What you will get from being involved
The Steering Group is an opportunity to have a meaningful role in shaping the future of a growing organisation at an exciting point in its development.
Members will have the opportunity to:
Help shape Roll Models' strategic direction
Use their expertise to create meaningful change in outdoor spaces
Build relationships across cycling and outdoor communities in Bristol and beyond
Develop experience of organisational strategy, governance and leadership
Work alongside a passionate and growing community of mentors, volunteers and participants
Next steps and how to apply
We are initially establishing the group as a Steering Group during 2026–27, with the intention of reviewing and formalising the structure into a Board in Spring 2027.
The first phase will be about getting to know one another, understanding where Roll Models is heading and agreeing how we can work effectively together. We'll then develop clearer terms of reference for the group, including its responsibilities, decision-making processes and relationship with the Director.
At this stage, we are inviting expressions of interest for the following roles (you are welcome to apply to lead on one or more of the roles, noting the time commitment as explained above):
Fundraising and partnerships
Mentorship programme
Skills workshops
Communications and marketing
Finance and sustainability
Please get in touch via the website with any questions you may have.
Egg n spoon racing at our September 2026 camp out. Credit: @catgiowild