We’re seeking committed new trustees to help guide a small but ambitious charity supporting children and young people with cerebral palsy, ensuring our funds deliver meaningful, life-changing impact.
Our Board is made up of a small, committed group of trustees who bring a mix of professional expertise and personal connection to our cause. Together, we oversee a grant-making charity that has a long heritage and a clear ambition: to increase our income and ensure we can support more children and young people with cerebral palsy in meaningful, practical ways.
Like many small charities, our challenge is balancing strong governance with growth. We are financially stable and well run, but we want to think more strategically about our future: how we prioritise funding, how we grow awareness and income, and how we ensure every grant we make delivers real, lasting benefit for families. The new trustee will play an active role in shaping these conversations and helping the Board move confidently from steady state to sustainable growth.
The role is hands-on and collaborative. Trustees are expected to attend four board meetings a year, contribute thoughtfully to discussion and decision-making, and engage between meetings when specific issues arise. Depending on interest and experience, the new trustee may also be invited to take a lead role in an area of work or join a small working group, for example around fundraising development, investment oversight, or grant assessment.
This is an opportunity to influence how limited charitable funds are used where they matter most. Trustees are directly involved in decisions that enable children to access therapy, specialist equipment, and support that may not otherwise be available. For someone who wants to make a tangible difference, this is a role where your contribution can be clearly seen in the lives of the children and families we support.
The Board values open discussion, shared responsibility, and a supportive culture, making this an especially rewarding role for someone who wants their time and judgement to have genuine impact.
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About Proteus
Proteus is an award-winning theatre company that believes the audience is as vital as the artist. The company holds that truly dynamic and relevant theatre emerges when audience and artist inspire each other’s imagination. Quality, integrity, and innovation lie at the heart of Proteus’ work and form the criteria by which its success is measured. Founded in 1981 and based in Basingstoke, Hampshire, Proteus has a long-standing history of creating and presenting high-quality work that serves both local and national audiences.
The Role
Proteus is actively seeking new members to join its Board of Trustees, offering the opportunity to make a meaningful impact. The company is committed to transforming society through radical acts of kindness and believes in the universal value of the performing arts. Trustees will support Proteus’ mission to make culture thrive within the local community while helping to deliver theatre that tours across the UK.
Trustees contribute to creating innovative theatre and support leading artists working in the performing arts today. They help bring diverse forms of art—including theatre, circus, music, spoken word, visual art, cabaret, and film—to Basingstoke communities at accessible prices.
Beyond producing touring theatre, Proteus operates as a non-profit organisation that runs an arts centre, artists’ studios, a gallery, a café, and a wide-ranging programme of support for artists. Trustees engage with a dynamic organisation whose activities span local and international stages.
Serving as a Trustee offers a fulfilling and enjoyable experience, providing opportunities to meet artists from across the industry, collaborate with Proteus staff and fellow board members, and help shape the future of one of the South’s most exciting arts organisations.
Who Proteus is Looking For
Proteus seeks individuals who are enthusiastic and passionate about the arts as a force for social change. Prospective trustees should share the company’s conviction in the transformative power of the arts and its commitment to inclusivity. Proteus actively encourages applications from people with diverse backgrounds, skills, and experiences.
Even those who feel they may not meet every criterion are encouraged to get in touch, as the organisation values the whole person and provides support for new trustees to develop their skills on the job.
Trustee Responsibilities
Trustees serve on a voluntary, unpaid basis. The primary purpose of the board is to ensure that Proteus achieves its objectives. Trustees are expected to:
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Attend four board meetings per year (usually via Zoom) for a minimum term of three years and participate in an annual one-day board retreat in Basingstoke.
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Attend Proteus performances and events when possible.
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Support fundraising activities where possible.
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Provide advice and guidance to staff as required.
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Commit to the mission and values of Proteus.
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Understand and accept the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of being a Trustee.
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Ensure Proteus is well-governed and complies with its constitutional and charitable objectives.
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Act as ambassadors for Proteus, opening doors and helping expand networks and contacts.
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Contribute actively to Proteus’ strategic direction and development, offering ideas, connections, and support in growing its network of partners, supporters, and donors.
