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Lived Experience Sight Loss Trustee - Focus Birmingham – Empowering Lives and Shaping the Future
Focus Birmingham’s (Focus) Trustees are all volunteers, playing an essential role in overseeing the charity’s activities in partnership with the Board of Trustees. The CEO and Senior Leadership Team (SLT) manage the day-to-day running of the charity, but it is the Board of Trustees that holds ultimate responsibility for ensuring the charity continues to grow and delivers on its vision.
The purpose of this trustee role is to bring a ‘lived experience’ perspective to help shape the future of our organisation. You will ensure our services reflect the diverse needs of the people we support and help us advance our mission of improving lives by creating opportunities for people with care and support needs. This role will help them feel empowered to live life to the full and unlock their potential.
Key Responsibilities
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Co-production Strategy: Ensure the development and implementation of a co-production strategy in collaboration with the Board and Senior Leadership Team that promotes meaningful involvement of the people we support in decision-making processes.
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Engagement and Participation: Ensure that the Board and Senior Leadership Team champion the active engagement of the people we support in all aspects of the organisation, including programme design, service development, and policy formulation.
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Advisory Groups: Support the Senior Leadership Team in establishing and maintaining advisory groups or panels made up of the people we support, their families, and carers, ensuring their voices are heard, and their perspectives are considered.
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Training and Capacity Building: Provide advice on the development of a learning and development strategy that equips staff and volunteers with the skills to provide person-centred care.
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Feedback Mechanisms: Work with the Board and Senior Leadership Team to implement effective feedback mechanisms, surveys, and evaluation tools to gather input from individuals with care and support needs on the charity’s activities.
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Advocacy: Advocate for the rights and autonomy of the people we support both within Focus Birmingham and in the wider community. Raise awareness of the importance of co-production.
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Policy and Governance: Review, provide advice, and contribute to the development of policies and governance structures that ensure the people we support have a genuine and influential role in the organisation.
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Collaboration and Teamwork: Collaborate with fellow Trustees, staff, and volunteers to embed co-production principles across the organisation. Provide guidance and mentorship to staff involved in co-production activities.
What Difference You Will Make and What You Will Achieve
This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact by ensuring that individuals with care and support needs are at the forefront of decision-making:
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Networking: Build connections with disability advocates, self-advocacy groups, and stakeholders.
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Professional Development: Gain valuable experience in not-for-profit governance and co-production practices.
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Personal Satisfaction: Contribute to a cause that empowers individuals with care and support needs, helping them exercise their agency and unlock their potential.
How to Apply
If you are committed to empowering individuals with care and support needs and promoting their active participation in shaping Focus Birmingham’s future, we invite you to apply for this trustee role. Your lived experience and expertise in co-production will be instrumental in helping us achieve our mission of improving lives by creating opportunities for people with care and support needs, so they can live life to the full and reach their full potential.
To apply, please submit a completed application form via CharityJob.
Additional details about the role can be found in the attached recruitment pack. If you require any reasonable adjustment to support your application for this role, please contact Focus Birmingham via the details in the recruitment pack.
Closing Date for Applications: 11/05/25
Please share your complete application form or personal statement with us via Charity jobs.
Please also attach your CV to your application.
Registered Charity 
101 - 500
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
As a Trustee, you will play a crucial role in the governance and strategic oversight of the charity, ensuring that we operate effectively, achieve our mission, and comply with all legal and regulatory requirements. Trustees are collectively responsible for safeguarding the charity’s assets, ensuring they are used exclusively to further our objectives, and overseeing the charity’s financial health, including budgets, financial controls, and reporting. Acting with integrity and in the charity’s best interests is at the heart of the role.
To strengthen our board and support the growth of our charity, we have identified three key areas where additional expertise is needed:
- Marketing
- Legal
- Fundraising
Each of these areas play a vital role in helping us achieve our mission, enhance our impact, and ensure the charity’s sustainability for years to come. In the attached Recruitment Pack, we have outlined individual role profiles for each of these specialisms.
We welcome candidates from diverse professional backgrounds who share our commitment to supporting those affected by Body Dysmorphic Disorder. If your current or previous skills or experience align with any of these profiles, we encourage you to apply and join us in driving meaningful change.
To apply for this role, please submit the following documents:
- An up to date CV outlining your relevant experience and qualifications.
- A cover letter of no more than 800 words indicating which role you are applying to, explaining why you are interested in the Trustee role, what you would bring to the board, and how your skills align with the needs of the charity.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a panel interview. The interview panel will include:
- Dr. Rob Willson (Chair of the Board)
- Dr. Amita Jassi (Vice Chair of the Board)
- Kitty Wallace (Managing Director)
- Gemma Ponting (People & Projects Manager)
Interviews are due to take place week beginning 16th & 23rd June 2025
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.