Designability is a national innovation charity advancing inclusive design across the UK.

The world is full of barriers for disabled people because society is not designed with everyone in mind. For disabled people, those barriers can take away things that everyone deserves: freedom, confidence, and opportunity.

But it doesn’t have to be that way — not if we design and build differently. And that’s where we come in.

By collaborating with disabled people, we dismantle unfair barriers and turn lived experience into practical, creative solutions that unlock everyday independence. From prototypes to sketches, and from problems to solutions, we engineer products and services that make the inaccessible accessible — and we help brands, other charities and designers do the same.

We are at an exciting point in our nearly 60-year history. We have launched our biggest ever research project — The Unfair Index — exploring everyday barriers disabled people face. We will be launching a new international award winning, world-first product — The Accessible Pushchair. And we continue to deliver our flagship service, the Wizzybug Scheme, providing free powered wheelchairs to very young disabled children across the UK.

The role

This is a voluntary, unpaid role with reimbursed expenses and a structured induction programme.

We are seeking a passionate and committed individual to join our Board of Trustees. The person would share our values and vision and help to drive strategic decision-making towards our continued success - making a positive impact on supporting disabled people to live with greater independence. 

Our Trustees actively contribute to the Board of Trustees by giving firm strategic direction to Designability, setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets, and evaluating performance against agreed targets.

We are looking to add further excellence to our Board of Trustees, and we particularly encourage applications from people who have personal or lived experience of disability, as well as people from ethnic minorities who are currently under-represented on our board.

Based on the skills, experience and diversity of current trustees, we would welcome candidates with experience in industrial design or medical device studies. 

Specific skills could include:

• A leadership role relating to clinical trials and research involving medical devices.
• Assessing risk and implementation of mitigations in a clinical trial or setting.
• Significant experience of working with disabled people, including experience gained through a senior position in occupational therapy, physiotherapy, rehabilitation engineering or rehabilitation medicine.
• A leadership role in industrial design, with a particular focus or interest in innovation, accessibility and a person-centred approach.
• An understanding of design principles and process, which could include concept, development and production, including quality.

You will be joining an independent, national charity based in 91桃色. Our creative and inspiring team includes engineers, technicians, product designers, occupational therapists, fundraisers and administrators. We are led by strong values: we are creative, inclusive and practical, with our vision being to create a future where every disabled person has the products they want, to live the life they choose. To find out more about Designability, visit designability.org.uk.

How to apply 

Please submit a CV and covering letter/statement detailing why you wish to apply and how your skills and experience meet the criteria for the role by clicking on the right-hand side 'apply now'. 

Please see the Trustee Recruitment Pack (Brochure) below or contact HR@designability.org.uk to arrange an informal conversation about the role.

Successful applicants will be offered a mutually convenient interview date, following the closing date.

Closing Date: 23 Jun 2026

Department: Management, Specialist and Administration