Independent board trustees volunteer roles

Our Board of Trustees offers a diverse blend of professional expertise and personal commitment to adoption. With backgrounds in finance, law, social work, HR, healthcare, and business, our trustees bring decades of experience in children’s services and strategic leadership. Several have personal connections to adoption, ensuring our work is guided by both insight and empathy. We’re now seeking a Chair person to lead this passionate team in shaping the future of CCS and the lives of the children and families we support.

About Us

CCS is a Voluntary Adoption Agency and registered charity. Continuously Rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted (for 14 years/5 inspections), most recently in February 2024.  We find permanent, loving homes for children who are waiting to be adopted. We also offer a wide range of post-adoption support services for adoptive families in the region. We are committed to maintaining this high level of performance and developing further the innovative services we provide for children and adoptive families.

The Role

As Chair of Trustees, you will play a pivotal role in guiding the strategic direction of CCS Adoption. You’ll work closely with the CEO, lead board meetings, monitor performance, and act as a key ambassador for the organisation.

Why Join Us?

This is a unique opportunity to lead a passionate and skilled Board, influence meaningful change, and contribute to the lives of children and families. You’ll be supported by a dedicated team and receive guidance to deepen your understanding of adoption.

We offer:

• A robust induction on governance duties
• Access to external training
• Opportunities for peer learning with other Chairs
• You’ll be supported by the Senior Administrator in planning, organising, compiling, and sharing board papers to ensure smooth and effective meetings

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the Board in setting strategic goals and evaluating performance
• Ensure compliance with charity and company law
• Safeguard the organisation’s values, reputation, and resources
• Support and appraise the CEO
• Facilitate effective governance and decision-making
• Represent CCS Adoption at public functions

Person Specification

We’re looking for someone who brings:

• A commitment to strong governance and a willingness to develop in this area
• Experience leading groups, teams, or partnerships to make collective decisions
• Strategic vision and independent judgement
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• A commitment to fairness, integrity, and teamwork

Desirable (but not essential):

• Knowledge of adoption or related fields (children, families, social care, charity sector)

We warmly encourage potential trustees to get in touch for an informal conversation about the role. This is a great opportunity to ask any questions, learn more about our work, and see whether joining our Board might be the right fit for you. We would be delighted to welcome you to meet our team and current trustees, hear about our vision for the future, and experience our culture first-hand. 

Please visit ourwebsite for details.

Are you looking to put your experience, knowledge and skills to use in a unique challenging and exciting charitable environment?  Then why not consider becoming a Trustee of Portsmouth Historic Quarter.  

What will you be doing?

We look to new Trustees who join our Board to maintain and continue to build upon our capacity and diversity. We are a skills-based Board, with Trustees having one or more identified skills, which are relevant to the nature of PHQ and our key areas of operation. We are particularly looking for the following skills and experience:

• Commercial property experience, either in surveying or lettings and commercial property management.
• Financial management (at Finance Director level or above) incorporating astrong background in audit management and oversight.
• Gosport residents with experience of the local commercial, political or heritagelandscapes.

We particularly welcome applications from individuals from a range of backgrounds and experiences as part of our commitment to broaden the diversity of our Board. Previous Trustee experience is not necessary.

What are we looking for?

We are keen to hear from you if you can demonstrate:

Knowledge & Experience:

• The ability to provide strategic oversight and advice, valuating the risks and opportunities in your area of expertise/experience for other Trustees to enable them to engage in an informed way.
• Experience in driving and evaluating organisation delivery and improvement.
• You can draw on your knowledge, contacts and networks to support the work of PHQ.

Skills & Abilities:

• Strategic and creative thinking.
• Ability to provide effective support and challenge in a Board setting.
• Ability to probe facts, challenge assumptions, and identify advantages and disadvantages of proposals.
• Work effectively as part of a team taking an active role in discussions and decisions.

Essential qualities:

• Commitment to PHQ's mission, strategy and values.
• Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to be an effective Trustee.
• Good, independent judgement and willingness to express your views.
• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Integrity.

What difference will you make?

You will shape the strategy of PHQ and monitor progress on the delivery of that strategy, providing support, challenge and advice to a small executive management team.  Each Trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the Board of Trustees reach sound decisions. They should be ambassadors for PHQ, safeguarding our values and good name.

Before you apply

We would like applicants to tell us how they think they would support the work of PHQ.

Hillingdon Women’s Centre is seeking to recruit enthusiastic new Trustees to join our existing Board and actively contribute to the existing strength and growth of the charity!

About

Trustees typically attend monthly board meetings, with occasional activities between meetings. The estimated time commitment is around 2 hours per typical month. New trustees will be supported with induction and access to ongoing training, including safeguarding and governance. We particularly welcome applications from women with lived experience of the issues we work on, and from those connected to the communities we serve in Hillingdon and surrounding boroughs. As a trustee, you’ll help shape the strategic direction of the Centre and ensure we continue to provide vital, trauma-informed support to women in Hillingdon and beyond.

About Hillingdon Women’s Centre

Hillingdon Women’s Centre is a women’s charity based in the London Borough of Hillingdon. For almost 40 years, we have been supporting the needs of women in our community. We provide access to services and work with women to help them overcome barriers in their lives and thrive. We are a proudly feminist, safe, and women-only space, inclusive of all women.

We are passionate about gender equality and ending Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). Our services are client-led; we listen, provide information, and enable women to make their own choices and take control of their lives.

Purpose of the Trustee role: 

Trustees have independent control over, and legal responsibility for, a charity’s management and administration. As such, they are required to:
 

• Ensure the charity is carrying out its purposes for public benefit

• Comply with the charity’s governing document and the law

• Act in the charity’s best interests

• Manage the charity’s resources responsibly

• Act with reasonable care and skill

• Ensure the charity complies with statutory accounting and reporting requirements

Key Trustee responsibilities: 

• Definition and review of a strategy/business plan for the charity in line with its objectives

• Set and maintain the vision, mission and values.

• Definition and review of charity policies and procedures

• Review and management of risks

• Attendance at board meetings, including the AGM

• Recruitment and management of the Centre Manager

• Review of financial processes and accounting

• General oversight and management of the charity premises

• Generation of funding for the charity, i.e. completion of grant applications, execution of fundraising activities, securing donors and ambassadors for the charity

• Promotion of the charity externally

We’re particularly seeking individuals with expertise in:

• Fundraising and income generation (e.g. donor engagement, campaign development, marketing strategy)

• Financial audit and compliance

• HR and people management

• External/public affairs and advocacy

• Governance and charity finance

• Strategic thinking and change management

• Lived experience of domestic abuse or connection to the communities we serve

Person Specification

We are looking for individuals who demonstrate:

• Integrity

• Strategic thinking and the ability to see the bigger picture

• Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties and responsibilities of a Trustee

• Willingness to devote the time and effort to the role

• Good independent judgement and creative thinking

• Ability to constructively contribute to conversations

• Ability to work effectively as part of a team

We are committed to creating a board that reflects the diversity of our community. If you have access needs or require support with the application process, please let us know.
 

How to apply

• Please send a short expression of interest and your CV 

• If you’d like to have an informal conversation before applying, we’d be happy to arrange a chat.

• Whether you're a seasoned professional or someone with transferable experience and a passion for our mission, we would welcome your application. If you’re passionate about gender equality and want to help shape the future of HWC, we’d love to hear from you.

Please note: This is a voluntary role, open to local female UK residents only. This is to ensure compliance with governance, legal, and operational requirements relevant to our charity’s work. 

Become a Trustee with WCC and use your professional expertise to support Londoners affected by trauma, inequality, and mental health challenges. We’re looking for passionate, collaborative, and strategic thinkers with skills in finance or fundraising, who are committed to inclusion and improving mental health outcomes. As part of a dedicated and diverse board, you’ll play a vital role in guiding our growth and impact.

We are currently recruiting for two trustee roles:

Finance Trustee- One Role

In this finance trustee role, we are looking for a qualified accountant and member of recognised UK accounting body, so you will be an experienced financial professional preferably with knowledge of charity accounting. The finance trustee will be able to apply this strategically to support with budget forecasting and financial planning

Specific responsibilities of a finance trustee:

• Support and provide advice on WCC’s purpose, vision, goals, and activities

• Oversee WCC’s financial plans and budgets and monitor and evaluate progress

• Ensure that key risks are being identified, monitored, and controlled effectively

• Review and approve WCC’s financial reports and statements

• Provide support and challenge to WCC’s senior manager in the exercise of their delegated authority and affairs

• Support the Finance Manager in ensuring trustees understand financial reports as it is a group responsibility of all trustees to understand and agree with the financial affairs of the charity

• Contribute to regular reviews of WCC’s governance. Attend Board meetings, adequately prepared to contribute to discussions.

• Use independent judgment, acting legally and in good faith to promote and protect WCC’s interests, to the exclusion of their own personal and/or any third-party interests Personal skills and qualities

• Willingness and ability to understand and accept their responsibilities and liabilities as trustees and to act in the best interests of the organisation

• Ability to think creatively and strategically, exercise good, independent judgement and work effectively as a board member • Effective communication skills and willingness to participate actively in discussion

• A strong personal commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

• Commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership.

• Willingness to lead according to our values 

Fundraising Trustee- One Role

You will have the opportunity to use your fundraising skills and experience to support us in building fundraising plans and strategy, and to educate other trustees about this area. Your expertise in fundraising and communications will help us open up new funding streams and opportunities for growth, helping us to have an even greater impact on the lives of Londoners struggling with mental health difficulties and trauma.

We are looking for someone with skills and experience in charity fundraising or communications, including areas such as Trusts and Foundation funding, the National Lottery, community/corporate fundraising and individual giving. Ideally we are looking for someone with understanding of the fundraising challenges facing smaller charities.

Duties of a fundraising trustee:

• Support and provide advice on WCC’s purpose, vision, goals, and activities

• Oversee WCC’s fundraising plans and work with the CEO to monitor and evaluate progress

• Supporting the delivery of a realistic but ambitious funding pipeline

• Work with the CEO to identify new funding opportunities and income streams, and build new relationships

• Ensure that key funding risks are being identified, monitored, and controlled effectively

• Contribute to regular reviews of WCC’s own governance. Attend Board meetings, adequately prepared to contribute to discussions.

• Use independent judgment, acting legally and in good faith to promote and protect WCC’s interests, to the exclusion of their own personal and/or any third-party interests Personal skills and qualities

• Willingness and ability to understand and accept their responsibilities and liabilities as trustees and to act in the best interests of the organisation

• Ability to think creatively and strategically, exercise good, independent judgement and work effectively as a board member • Effective communication skills and willingness to participate actively in discussion

• A strong personal commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

• Commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership.

• Willingness to lead according to our values

Trustee – Toynbee Hall

Help shape a fairer future as a Trustee at Toynbee Hall

Toynbee Hall has been tackling poverty and injustice from our home in London’s East End since 1884. We work alongside local communities to provide vital advice and support, carry out research and advocacy, and create space for people to come together and shape solutions to the challenges we all face.

We are now seeking new Trustees to join our Board and help guide the next chapter of our work. Trustees play a crucial role in setting our strategy, safeguarding our mission and ensuring the organisation remains focused, effective and sustainable.

We are particularly looking for a Trustee with a background in finance, accountancy or financial decision making to join our Finance Committee.

You do not need previous experience as a Trustee as we will provide a full induction and support, but you do need to bring independent judgement, strategic thinking and a commitment to building a fairer future.

We aim for a Board that reflects the communities we serve and especially welcome applications from people connected to Tower Hamlets and the East End, as well as from candidates who are Black or Asian or who bring diverse lived experiences.

Time commitment: Four evening Board meetings a year, an annual away day, and membership of at least one committee, which meets up to three times a year, usually online. Trustees serve a three year term, renewable up to a maximum of nine years.

Applications are open until midday on 10 November 2025.

BLUE SMILE - CHAIR OF TRUSTEES

Founded in 2010, Blue Smile is a Cambridgeshire charity supporting children aged 3-13 to manage big feelings, process difficult emotions, overcome anxieties and build resilience.

Blue Smile's mission is to transform the mental health and life chances of Cambridgeshire children through arts-based therapies, supporting over 200 children a week in the region’s schools, providing one-to-one therapy and groupwork. We work in particular, in accordance with our charitable aims, with those who face disadvantage or deprivation.

CHAIR OF TRUSTEES ROLE

As Chair of the Board of Trustees, you will provide strategic leadership and governance to ensure that Blue Smile fulfils its charitable objectives. You will lead the Board in an inclusive way, promoting collaborative working and provide support and challenge to the Charity Director.

This role is vital to ensuring the charity operates in accordance with the law, delivers public benefit, and remains financially and strategically sustainable.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IN OUR NEW CHAIR OF TRUSTEES

Our new Chair of Trustees will:

• Have board level experience as Chair, Non-executive or Trustee.

• Show a strong understanding of governance, strategy and the legal duties of a charity trustee.

• Be able to demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

• Have sound judgment, diplomacy, and the ability to build a collaborative environment.

• Demonstrate a passion for improving children’s mental health and wellbeing which aligns with the charity’s values and commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

TIME COMMITMENT

• Six meetings a year, including one as the AGM and an annual strategy day. Board meetings are currently held online.
• Monthly scheduled meeting with the Charity Director with flexibility to respond swiftly to the occasional ad hoc issue.
• Ad hoc/occasional support through working groups and to the wider Blue Smile team.

TERMS OF APPOINTMENT

• The Chair is appointed for a 5 year term of office, renewable for 1 further term to a maximum of 10 years in line with Blue Smile’s Articles of Association.
• This is a voluntary position, but reasonable expenses are reimbursed.

TO APPLY

If you would like to be part of a welcoming and well-respected charity, please send your CV and a covering letter, outlining your interest and suitability for the role. We will be recruiting on a rolling basis so please do get in touch soon!

Blue Smile is committed to a diversity of voices in our organisation. We welcome applications from all backgrounds. 

Safeguarding is central to all Blue Smile activities, and we recognise that the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk, is paramount and that all have equal rights of protection. We have a duty of care when they are in our charge, and we will do everything we can to provide a safe and caring environment whilst they attend our activities.

We are committed to safer recruitment and trustees will be asked to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

The Pankhurst Trust (Incorporating Manchester Women’s Aid) is looking for new Trustees to join our Board and help guide the next chapter of our journey. We bring together two powerful causes, the fight for women’s rights and the fight against domestic abuse, under one purpose: to ensure that women, children and wider communities experiencing domestic abuse are free to live a life without abuse.

We are proud to deliver specialist domestic abuse services across Greater Manchester while protecting and sharing the story of Emmeline Pankhurst and the suffragette movement through the Pankhurst Centre.

As we prepare to develop our next strategic plan, we are looking for trustees who share our passion for challenging inequality and creating lasting change. You’ll join a skilled and committed Board that works closely with our experienced Executive Leadership Team to ensure that our vision, values, and purpose continue to thrive.

Who we’re looking for

We are keen to hear from applicants from all backgrounds who are motivated by our mission and share our values.

We are particularly interested in hearing from candidates with experience in:

• Leading growth and transformational change
• Business development or corporate fundraising
• Heritage, HR, or property management

Above all, we are looking for people who can think strategically, bring fresh perspectives, and work collaboratively as part of a diverse, values-led Board.

Our commitment to inclusion

As an organisation led by and for women, and in line with Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010, this role is open to women only.

We recognise that women are not one single group, and that experiences of inequality can be shaped by race, disability, sexuality, class, and lived experience. We particularly encourage applications from women from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic backgrounds, disabled women, LGBTQ+ women, women with caring responsibilities and those with lived experience of domestic abuse.

If you share our values and want to contribute to a purposeful, feminist organisation making a difference in Manchester and beyond, we would love to hear from you.

What to expect

• Time commitment of approximately 3 hours per month, including quarterly Board meetings (usually in person at the Pankhurst Centre), quarterly sub-committee meetings (usually held online), an Annual General Meeting, and occasional strategy / development days.
• Trustee terms are 3 years, with the option to renew.
• You’ll play an active role in setting strategy, ensuring good governance, and supporting our leadership team.

How to apply

Please download our Trustee Candidate Pack for more information.

Please submit your CV and a personal statement telling us why you’re interested in becoming a Trustee and how your skills and experience aligns with our mission and values.

Application deadline: Friday 7 November 2025

Interviews: Monday 17 November 2025

Number Champions supports London primary school children who struggle with numeracy. Independent evaluation shows our highly positive impact. We seek two capable and committed trustees to help drive our strategy and oversee delivery.One new trustee may become Vice Chair.

What will you be doing?

Numeracy, like literacy, is a core life skill. However, many children do not learn well in a classroom setting. Number Champions was the first and is still the only UK charity focused on supporting primary school children who struggle with numeracy. By helping children improve their confidence, enjoyment, and skills in maths, we support their wider development and help them achieve their potential.

Our trained volunteers run weekly one-to-one sessions with each child, during the school day but outside the classroom. They use games and other creative activities to engage the child and to enable them to build confidence and skills. Experienced teachers volunteering with us as “Mentors” provide support.

The trustee board meets about seven times a year. It sets strategic direction, reviews all aspects of the charity in rotation, and takes corrective action where it identifies that we are not achieving our planned objectives. All trustees are expected to study the papers for each meeting and to contribute to all discussions. We currently have eight trustees with two reaching the end of their terms, so we will be eight again after the recruitment process.

You would use your experience, skills, and current awareness to identify risks and opportunities to bring to the board’s attention, and you would influence the other trustees to follow your ideas through to implementation. 

Board meetings alternate between in-person in London and online.

We encourage trustees to meet our volunteers and staff, and to ensure that their experience and voice is taken into account in directing the charity.

What are we looking for?

You will:

• bring relevant senior experience from any sector, including education, business, professional, or charity.
• have skills which would enhance the capability of the board. The attached role descriptions list skills, but we are open to other skills you can offer which you can persuade us would be important to the charity.
• function effectively as part of a team, thinking creatively and strategically, listening, stating your position clearly and succinctly, and accepting group decisions.
• be open, deliver on commitments and show attention to detail without losing sight of the big picture, and understand your own strengths and weaknesses.
• be enthusiastic about our mission to help children achieve their potential.
• devote time to reading papers and attending board meetings and to progressing issues as needed between meetings – probably about ten to twelve hours a month.
• ideally have experience in fundraising or volunteer management, but this is certainly not a requirement for the roles.

We serve the diverse population of London children. This diversity is reflected in our volunteers but not in our current board. We welcome applicants from all ethnicities, orientations, and backgrounds, including those with disabilities.

You do not need experience as a trustee.

Join Us as a Trustee and Make a Real Difference!

Marches Family Network is a unique charity supporting disabled children and young people age 3–25 across Herefordshire. We provide vital respite, play, and social opportunities, as well as family sessions that build support networks and strengthen community connections.

We are now looking for new Trustees to join our passionate Board and help shape the future of our charity.

What does being a Trustee involve?

· Bringing your skills, knowledge, and experience to guide our strategic direction.

· Supporting our dedicated team to ensure we deliver high-quality, inclusive services.

· Acting as an ambassador for Marches Family Network and the families we support.

· Attending Board meetings - these are currently held monthly in Hereford.

Who are we looking for?
You don’t need previous trustee experience – we welcome people from all backgrounds! We’re particularly interested in hearing from those with skills in:

· Finance, HR, or fundraising

· Marketing and communications

· Safeguarding and inclusion

· Experience of disability, care, or education (professional or lived experience)

Most importantly, we want people who are passionate about making a difference to the lives of disabled children and young people.

What will you gain?

· The opportunity to give back to your community.

· A chance to develop new skills and leadership experience.

· The reward of knowing you are helping young people thrive.

�� Interested?
For more information or an informal chat and/or application form, please contact Mrs Rae Chambers 

�� Help us ensure every child and young person has the same opportunities as their peers – become a Trustee today!

Emmaus Mossley is seeking to recruit new people with a mix of experience and expertise to our Board of Trustees. This is an exciting and important time for our charity’s ambitious strategy, as we work to help more people out of homelessness and poverty.

Emmaus Mossley is a well-established charity, achieving our core aims and delivering impact with embedded values and good governance structures already in place. Joining the Emmaus Mossley Board of Trustees is a rewarding and fulfilling opportunity, especially as we look forward to celebrating our 30th anniversary in 2027.

About Emmaus Mossley

Emmaus Mossley is a dynamic charity that provides a home, tailored support, training and work opportunities to people who have experienced homelessness. We go beyond just offering a bed for the night; Emmaus provides people with longer-term support, stability, opportunities for personal development, and a strong sense of community.

Emmaus Mossley is an independent local charity that is governed by a Board of Trustees who all live, work or are invested in the improvement of Tameside, Oldham and its surrounding communities. Whilst our work is focused locally, we are also part of a much wider Emmaus movement.

About the Charity Trustee – Company Secretary role

As part of Emmaus Mossley’s continued development, we are seeking to recruit a new trustee with Company Secretary responsibilities. We are looking for someone who can bring fresh perspectives, experiences and expertise, with an understanding of governance, trustee development and charity law.

Emmaus Mossley relies on a diverse group of people to become trustees and deliver good governance. Becoming a charity trustee at Emmaus Mossley is an opportunity to apply and develop your skillset for a worthwhile cause. This voluntary role offers variety, responsibility and satisfaction, especially seeing people overcome challenges to achieve their personal goals.

The Emmaus Mossley Board of Trustees meets six times a year. In addition to full trustee meetings, some trustees are members of our three committees that report to the board. Trustees also have the opportunity to get involved in other ways, including at events, external events and projects.

If you share our passion and principles for helping those most in need and have sufficient time and energy, please explore the trustee role and register your interest.

Bath Area Play Project are passionate about every child's right to play and enabling children to thrive. We are looking for a Chair of our small Trustee Board to support our vision and ethos, enabling the continuation of our support services for children and families, leading strategic oversight and ensuring we are resilient for change.

BAPP provide a range of services including an Ofsted registered Nursery & Pre-school, Ofsted registered Holiday Playschemes for disabled children and those with additional needs, Children & Family Support, Alternative Provision for children with SEND and our long standing Community based Family Playdays. More information is available on our website  

As we work with vulnerable children, Trustees are required to have an Enhanced DBS and to register as one of our Trustees as part of our Ofsted registration. There are 8 Trustee Meetings each year, alternating in person in Bath and online which includes our AGM. Other commitments in addition can include attending events, representing BAPP, supporting with recruitment/staffing and policy review. 

For further information or if you have any questions, please get in touch.

Make a difference in Kent by joining our team of trustees!

Kent Community Foundation (KCF) is looking for individuals to join our Board of Trustees who have a real passion for our county and want to make a demonstrable difference to the lives of people in our communities.

KCF is a professional grant-maker and local philanthropy advisor for Kent and Medway. We have been established for 24 years; distributing more than £60 million in grants to voluntary sector organisations across the county; supporting small charities to be sustainable and successful, and helping major donors maximise the impact of their donations.

Trustees are the volunteers who lead charities and decide how they are run; setting strategic plans, monitoring the performance, impact and sustainability of the charity and overseeing its governance. People of any age and background can be a trustee, and we're looking for people with specific experience to help us support communities in Kent. We are particularly interested in applications from people who are typically under-represented on trustee boards.

We have a comprehensive trustee induction programme, so if you have never been a trustee or on a board before, we will ensure you have all the knowledge and support you need.

Trustee: Desirable skills

We are looking for applicants to have one or more of the following:

· Lived experience of the communities we work with and the issues which arise in our county

· Experience of grant making; either as a philanthropist, grant maker or grant applicant

· Experience in working with or within social enterprises

· Experience in communications and PR

· A background in socio/economics, or connections with education in that field

· Knowledge of, and experience in promoting diversity, equality and inclusion

· Professional experience or active interest in technology, digital communications and AI

· Long term connections and networks with any of our stakeholder groups in Kent; such as philanthropists, businesses  owners, key voluntary sector influencers

We hope to recruit up to three new trustees with different experience to offer, who can give some of their time and expertise to help KCF continue to grow and develop. We have four in-person Board meetings a year, and trustees also sit on at least one of our sub-committees, which meet two to four times a year (often remotely). There are also occasional events trustees are invited to attend to promote and engage with our work.

We are seeking passionate and skilled individuals to join our Board of Trustees. As a trustee, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of WHY, setting our direction and strategy, and ensuring we build strong foundations for continued impact.

The Board has identified specific skills that would greatly benefit WHY at this time:

• A trustee with clinical experience in counselling or therapy

• A trustee with accountancy or financial expertise

​Trustees are appointed for an initial four-year term, with members typically serving up to three terms for continuity. The Board meets six times per year. In addition, trustees are encouraged to take on responsibilities, actively support staff, and participate in events.

We Hear You (WHY) is a local cancer charity providing free and low-cost professional counselling and therapy to children, young people and adults affected by cancer and other life- threatening conditions in Bath and North East Somerset, Somerset and Wiltshire.

Use your skills and experience in supporting vulnerable groups to help drive forward our locally focused endowed foundation. Our purpose is to provide funding to relieve financial, physical and emotional hardship.

What will you be doing?

This is a great opportunity for someone keen to use their professional experience in supporting vulnerable groups to help drive forward the work of a locally focused endowed foundation. Our purpose is to provide funding to relieve the burden of financial, physical and emotional hardship in our local community of Hampton, Teddington, Twickenham and Whitton.

The perception of Richmond Upon Thames as a wealthy borough masks high levels of need and disadvantage. That means that support for those in need locally rarely comes from outside the borough which in turn means the work of local funders and voluntary sector organisations, like Hampton Fund, is critical.  Our endowment of £60m+ enables us to make grants to both individuals and community organisations of £2m-£2.5m pa.

We wish to appoint a new trustee who will have the enthusiasm, time and commitment to contribute to the work of the charity as it delivers an ambitious new three-year strategy.  You will be involved in making decisions on a wide range of issues, influencing the development of our work and bringing about change. We are specifically seeking a trustee with professional experience in any aspect of social care for vulnerable groups relevant to our grant making. This could, for example, be in the areas of cost-of-living support, health, social work or children’s services.

It is hoped that the candidate will have a connection to our area of benefit through either their daily life or work.

It is not necessary to have previous board committee experience as training will be provided. We encourage applications from people with a range of life experiences, ages and backgrounds.

What are we looking for?

Professional experience and expertise in a relevant aspect of social care to that of our grant making. 

We are looking for someone with a good current knowledge of social care infrastructure and systems across either the statutory or voluntary sector, or both. This could, for example, be in the areas of cost-of-living support, health, social work or children’s services.

It is expected that Trustees will either live, work or have another connection to our area of benefit. It is not necessary to have previous board committee experience as training will be provided.  

 Personal Qualities

• Empathy with the aims of the charity.
• The ability to think broadly and objectively: trustees are involved in making decisions on a wide range of issues.
• An understanding of the voluntary sector and the needs of voluntary sector organisations.
• An understanding of the broader issues around poverty and disadvantage.
• The ability to get on with people and work collaboratively.
• To act as an ambassador for the charity when attending external meetings and events as a trustee.
• To be discreet and respect confidentiality in all matters related to the charity’s activities. 

Additional Information

• Trustees do not receive any remuneration, but reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.
• The appointment is normally for a period of five years and a Trustee can serve no more than two terms of office, i.e. ten years. 

What difference will you make?

As a trustee with experience in supporting vulnerable groups, you will be involved in making decisions on a wide range of issues, influencing the development of our work and bringing about change.  

Before you apply

Contact us via the Reach platform to apply.

Closing date for applications is Friday 7th November.

Interviews are likely to be held the week commencing 17th November 2025.