Independent domestic and sexual violence advocate volunteer roles
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Could your leadership skills help shape the future of a Hopian? Hopian is a registered charity that provides advice and support for adults and children who have experienced Domestic Violence and Abuse through the provision of refuge accommodation and community support services. We also provide support and access to counselling for people affected by Child Sexual Exploitation.
The Role of Trustee and executive Trustee roles are voluntary positions. A Trustee for the Board is expected to meet the requirements of the board in line with the charities governing documents, governing good practice and legal requirements.
Responsibilities of a Trustee:
The Board as a whole is collectively responsible for the success of the charity. A Trustee is a Board Member and has a number of responsibilities in order to ensure robust management of the charity including:
- Make decisions objectively in the interests of the charity.
- Implement Hopian’s Vision, Mission, and Values.
- Lead on the aims and objectives of Hopian by raising awareness of domestic and sexual abuse, and child sexual exploitation and abuse and its impact on individuals and their families.
Duties of a Trustee:
- Ensuring that the organisation pursues its stated objects (purposes), as defined in its governing document, by developing and agreeing a long-term strategy.
- Ensuring that the organisation complies with its governing document (i.e. constitution or memorandum and articles of association), charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
- Ensuring that the organisation applies its resources in pursuance of its charitable objects (i.e., the charity must not spend money on activities that are not included in its own objects) .
- Ensuring that the organisation defines its goals and evaluates performance against agreed targets.
- Safeguarding the good name and values of the organisation.
- Ensuring the effective and efficient administration of the organisation, including having appropriate policies and procedures in place.
- Ensuring the financial stability of the organisation.
- Protecting and managing the property of the charity and ensuring the proper investment of the charity’s funds.
- To work in the interests of the charity and not for personal gain.
- To ensure that the Board Members takes proper professional advice on matters in which it does not have competence.
- Following proper and formal arrangements for the appointment, supervision, support, appraisal and remuneration of the chief executive.
In addition to the above statutory duties, each trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the board of trustees reach sound decisions. This may involve scrutinising board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, or other issues in which the trustee has special expertise.
Tasks:
- To work with other Board Members to form an effective governing body for the charity.
- To attend meetings and to read papers in advance of meetings.
- Ensure that the charity’s focus places services users centrally.
- To understand and be committed to the mission of the charity.
- To maintain a long-term overview of the charity and its work.
- To make strategic and major decisions about the charity objectives, policies and procedures.
- To attend sub-group meetings as appropriate.
- To participate in other tasks that may arise from time to time such as interviewing for new staff, helping with appeals and fundraising.
- To keep informed about the activities of the charity and wider issues which affect its work.
- To monitor and evaluate the work of the charity on a regular basis. This includes receiving reports from staff, staff supervision, receiving feedback from service users and other agencies .
- To ensure that the charity is a good employer of its paid and voluntary staff .
- Provide opportunity for staff to meet with the board.
Person Specification
A Trustee should to have an understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of trusteeship. It is expected that a Trustee takes ownership to develop and maintain this understanding and application of duties. In addition to having:
- A commitment to the organisation.
- A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort.
- Good, independent judgement.
- An ability to think creatively.
- An ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
- A commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership
Experience & Knowledge
- Understanding and evidence of commitment to equal opportunities and diversity statement (E)
- Be objective and unbiased (E)
- Support and encourage other members (E)
- Be approachable (E)
- Legal Requirements of a Charity (D)
Time Requirements
To be able to attend scheduled committee meetings each year and read papers for each board meeting. To be available to for consultation, support and guidance on an ad hoc basis. Much of this contact will be via online, telephone or email.
Registered Charity The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Location: Camden/Pan-London
Closing Date: Sunday 12th April 2026
Closing Time: 00:00am
Are you looking for a rewarding role working for an intersectional feminist organisation? If so, we have an incredible opportunity for you to join our team as a Trustee at Solace Women's Aid.
At Solace, we have continued to reach more people than ever before, supporting 20,000 women, children, young people and men across all of our services every year. Our aim is to work to prevent violence and abuse through support services such as Refuge Accommodation, Therapeutic Support, Community services and many more. Our holistic approach to empowering survivors allows women and girls to achieve independent lives free from abuse.
About the Service
Solace is a registered charity with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. The organisation is governed by a Board of Trustees, which is made up of up to 12 members from across a range of professional and life experiences.
Solace is seeking trustees to join our Board to fulfil their responsibilities in developing the strategic direction and overall governance of the organisation. This is an exciting opportunity to help drive the success of a growing charity that makes a profound and positive impact on the lives of women who have suffered from violence and abuse.
We are looking for those who value the equality of all women, are passionate about their wellbeing, and the challenges they face in violent and abusive environments. An interest in Solace’s work and approach is essential, as well as an ambitious outlook for Solace’s future. Due to the nature of our work, we are looking for a female to take on this role, this is a genuine occupational requirement in line with the Equality Act 2010
About the Role
We are looking for a trustee who has the knowledge, skill, commitment and expertise to support the Executive Team to lead Solace’s strategic development. As a trustee your focus will be on assurance, ensuring Solace is delivering impact, compliant with all relevant legislation, is financially sustainable and has long term strategic plans. You will act as a critical friend to the Executive Team, providing both support and constructive challenge to ensure high quality service delivery.
- You will have an excellent understanding of the violence against women and girls’ sector and a commitment to eradicating domestic and sexual violence.
- You will bring experience of strategic leadership, with the ability to develop and monitor the delivery of Solace’s strategic plans to maximise impact for survivors.
- You will have strong financial acumen, providing the ability to scrutinize the charity’s budgets and financial performance to ensure long-term sustainability and responsible resource management.
- You will have sound judgement, with the ability to make difficult choices in the best interests of the charity.
- . You will be committed to Solace’s values and promote equity, diversity and inclusion at board level and contribute to an anti-racist and feminist culture throughout the organization.
- You will have effective communication skills with the ability to build relationships and represent the organization as needed.
- You will need to have the time to carry out your trustee duties effectively, collaborating with the chair, other trustees, shadow board and executive team as needed to further Solace’s mission.
- Existing knowledge of English charity governance is advantageous, but prior trustee experience is not essential; however a commitment to understand the role of a trustee to ensure compliance with charity law is.
About the Location
Our board meetings are held in our Central London office. Subcommittee meetings are usually held online. We also hold up to two annual away day which occurs in Central London. Board Meetings, which occur 4 times a year and Board Away Days which can take place up to two times annually. All trustees also need to be a part of a subcommittee, which are held online quarterly.
About the Time Committment
Board Meetings, which occur 4 times a year and Board Away Days which can take place up to two times annually. All trustees also need to be a part of a subcommittee, which are held online quarterly. Trustees need to ensure they read papers in advance and attend a majority of meetings as scheduled. Overall time commitment for trustees is expected to be a day per month.
How to apply
If you wish to apply to this position, please supply the following by 06-04-26:
- A detailed CV setting out your career history, with responsibilities and achievements. A covering letter (maximum 2 sides) highlighting your suitability for the role and how you meet the above person specification. Please note that the covering letter is an important part of your application and will be assessed as part of your full application.
- Details of two professional referees together with a brief statement of their relationship to you and over what period of time they have known you. Referees will not be contacted without your prior consent.
Please send your CV and cover letter to our Executive Assistant using the contact email address displayed via our direct Solace vacancy for this role.
Solace Women's Aid values diversity, promotes equity, and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse cultures, abilities, perspectives, and lived experiences. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay, and benefits. Our Inclusion Networks support staff with protected characteristics and offer inclusive spaces to connect.
We are a Disability Confident Employer and committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We anticipate and provide reasonable adjustments as needed and support employees who acquire a disability or long-term health condition, enabling them to stay in work.
This service is run by women for women and is therefore restricted to female applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, and Part 1. Section 7(2) e of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 apply. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.
As part of safer recruitment practices, we carry out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and right to work in the UK checks.
No agencies.
101 - 500
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.