354 Volunteer roles in Newcastle upon Tyne

Use your leadership to help shape the next chapter of a charity creating lasting change through housing, wellbeing support and grant-making.

About Us

The Susanna Initiative, formerly Methodist Ministers' Housing Society, was founded in 1948. We steward our resources to meet need and unlock potential. Through housing, wellbeing support and grant-making, we act as a catalyst for change that leads to security, stability and flourishing. Our approach is captured in our strapline: 'Quiet Acts. Lasting Change.'

Context

Our context

This is a time of significant change and opportunity. Changing patterns of need have prompted us to innovate and consider how best to fulfil our charitable purpose and use our resources for wider benefit.

Through Samuel Living, we provide good-quality housing on charitable terms and wellbeing support to retired Methodist ministers of limited means, and their spouses or partners, widows and widowers. Through Kezia Giving, our developing grant-making work currently supports organisations improving the lives and wellbeing of unpaid carers and those they care for. Alongside all of this, we are reshaping our investments, initially through the disposal of a market-rented property portfolio, with a view to building our financial resilience and giving us greater capacity to make a sustained difference for generations to come.

The role

Our next Chair will lead the Board of Trustees through this important period of transition and growth. Working in partnership with the CEO, the Chair will help the Board remain faithful to our charitable objects, draw out the diverse skills, knowledge and wisdom of trustees, and ensure excellent, proportionate governance and responsible stewardship. We practice governance that is purpose-led, rigorous and proportionate without becoming bureaucratic. We are clear about accountability, focused on the decisions that matter and respond agilely. With our identity still developing and new areas of work in their early stages, there is real scope to help shape our direction, culture and impact.

We are looking for someone with an active Christian faith, with significant board-level experience, sound judgement and a relational, inclusive and thoughtful leadership style. You will be able to chair constructively, support and challenge well, and lead through change. If you are excited by the opportunity to help a values-led organisation translate substantial resources into quiet acts of lasting change, we would be pleased to hear from you.

The role is unpaid, with reasonable expenses reimbursed, and is expected to require approximately 12 days each year. For full details, including the terms of appointment, application requirements and selection process, please see the Chair Role Pack. Closing date: 9 November.