Sophie hayes foundation volunteer roles
We are a dynamic charity, focused on helping survivors of modern slavery rebuild their lives and achieve sustainable freedom by providing invaluable training, coaching, work experience and advocacy across the UK. It is now two years since we launched a new strategy from which we have increased our impact whilst strengthening and broadening our services for survivors of modern slavery. In these challenging times it is even more important that we continue to be bold, resilient and effective.
We are looking to find up to 3 inspirational Trustees with experience in one of more of the following areas:
- Legal (employment, contract, and charity law)
- Development/Fundraising (significant networks amongst corporate partners or major and mid-level donors)
- Policy/Advocacy or Public Affairs (with an understanding of the Modern Slavery or adjacent human rights topics)
As a trustee of the Sophie Hayes Foundation, you will be part of a small team of volunteers who are collectively responsible for developing and guiding the strategic direction of the organisation and ensure that we continue to support and advocate for survivors of modern slavery.
Trustee Role & Responsibilities
The people that we work with come from all over the world and have a wide variety of beliefs, experiences and backgrounds. We are committed to sharing in and reflecting this rich diversity amongst our staff, volunteers and trustees and would strongly encourage applicants from minority and under-represented groups, and from those with lived experience. We are committed to inclusion and diversity and to building a culture where everyone is appreciated for the unique person they are.
Responsibilities
As a trustee of SHF, you will work collectively with fellow board members to provide effective governance, oversight and strategic support. Your core duties will include:
1.Upholding SHF’s Mission and Values
- Support and advise on SHF’s purpose, vision, goals and charitable objects.
- Act at all times in the best interests of survivors and SHF’s mission.
- Promote SHF’s values, including survivor-centred practice, inclusion and safeguarding.
2. Governance, Compliance and Ethical Oversight
- Ensure SHF complies with its constitution, charity law and relevant regulations.
- Ensure resources are used responsibly and exclusively to further SHF’s charitable purposes.
- Maintain high standards of integrity, including declaring and managing conflicts of interest.
- Support effective governance structures, including participation in learningfocused reviews.
3. Financial Stewardship and Risk Management
- Oversee the charity’s financial health, ensuring sustainability and protection of assets.
- Monitor financial performance, risks and internal controls.
- Contribute to board-level scrutiny of finance and risk, supporting informed decision-making.
4. Strategic Support and Constructive Challenge
- Provide strategic guidance and support to the Executive, helping to shape direction, priorities and performance.
- Contribute to discussions on strategy, planning and organisational development.
- Offer constructive challenge in line with SHF’s values and governance expectations.
5. Safeguarding, Culture and Psychological Safety
- Promote a safe, transparent and inclusive organisational culture.
- Support safeguarding responsibilities, ensuring staff, volunteers and people with lived experience feel safe to raise concerns.
6. Board Participation and Collaboration
- Use your skills, experience and networks to strengthen the Board’s effectiveness.
- Prepare for, attend and actively contribute to Board and relevant committee meetings.
- Work collaboratively and respectfully with other trustees, the Chair and the Executive.
7. Advocacy and External Engagement
- Act as an ambassador for SHF, promoting our work and raising our profile.
- Advocate for survivors of modern slavery and support SHF’s influence, partnerships and fundraising efforts.
Specialist Responsibilities
We are seeking up to 3 trustees who can bring specialist expertise in one or more of the following areas, complementing the skills of the Chair and wider Board:
Legal
- Experience in employment, contract, charity or human rights law.
- Ability to advise on legal risk, governance obligations and regulatory duties.
Development / Fundraising
- Strong personal or professional networks with potential corporate, philanthropic or major donors.
- Ability to open doors, strengthen partnerships and support revenue generation.
Policy, Advocacy & Public Affairs
- Understanding of modern slavery or adjacent human rights issues.
- Ability to support SHF’s policy development, influencing work and external relationships.
Registered Charity 
11 - 20
Thank you!
We are a dynamic charity, focused on helping survivors of modern slavery rebuild their lives and achieve sustainable freedom by providing invaluable training, coaching, work experience and advocacy across the UK. It is now two years since we launched a new strategy from which we have increased our impact whilst strengthening and broadening our services for survivors of modern slavery. In these challenging times it is even more important that we continue to be bold, resilient and effective. We are looking for a new Chair of Trustees who has the vision, passion and expertise to collaboratively lead the organisation during this exciting period. The Chair together with the trustees will work to ensure effective governance and provide guidance and support to the executive to ensure that we continue to support and advocate for survivors of modern slavery.
Chair Role & Responsibilities
SHF aims to work in a proactive and collaborative manner, and the Chair will play an important part in setting the tone and bringing all the stakeholders together. We are looking for someone who has considerable experience of leadership at an executive or board level in the charity or corporate sector and has an understanding of the modern slavery sector.
The people that we work with come from all over the world and have a wide variety of beliefs, experiences and backgrounds. We are committed to sharing in and reflecting this rich diversity amongst our staff, volunteers and trustees and would strongly encourage applicants from minority and under-represented groups, and from those with lived experience. We are committed to inclusion and diversity and to building a culture where everyone is appreciated for the unique person they are.
Governance and Culture
- Provide leadership and oversight to the board and executive team on strategy, governance and risk, ensuring that we meet our obligations and responsibilities, including but not limited to governance structures, financial responsibilities, ethos and charity law.
- Ensure that the charity is acting in accordance with its constitution and uses its resources responsibly and exclusively to further its charity objects.
- Support the strengthening of accountable and effective practice within the charity’s governance, helping to cultivate clear commitments, regular learningSustainable freedom from modern slavery 6 focused reviews, and a transparent understanding of impact against strategic priorities.
- Ensure effective scrutiny of finance at board level and that the charity is financially sustainable.
Board Effectiveness
- Facilitate and guide conversations in a way that enables constructive discussion, draws out diverse perspectives and supports informed, shared decision-making.
- Encourage full participation from all trustees, recognising and valuing different skills, identities and lived experiences.
- Work with the Chief Executive and committee Chairs to ensure that board meetings are well planned with agendas that reflect the priorities of SHF and the responsibilities of the trustees.
- Meet as appropriate with the treasurer and Chairs of any board committees.
- Build strong, respectful working relationships between trustees, addressing challenges or conflict with openness and fairness.
- Model and promote a positive and collaborative board culture based on mutual respect rooted in SHF’s values and an appropriate balance of support and challenge
Advocacy and Strategic Development
- Work with the CEO and trustees to strengthen understanding of modern slavery issues, build recognition of the impact of our programmes and influence key decision makers.
- Support the CEO when required to strengthen SHF’s advocacy impact.
- Ensure our strategy is ambitious and financially sustainable and that risks are identified and effectively managed by the executive.
- Bring strategic and planning expertise to the process of ongoing evaluation and refreshment of the strategy.
Development/Fundraising:
- Act as an ambassador for SHF by raising its profile through your networks.
- Build, maintain and develop partnerships which reflect our values and directly benefit our mission.
- Play an active role in supporting the executive to reach its revenue goals.
CEO Mentor and Constructive Friend to the Managing Executive
- Provide a supportive, confidential space for the CEO as a sounding board and constructive friend.
- Build a strong working relationship with the CEO to maintain an overview of SHF’s affairs, to support as necessary the management of sensitive, complex or contentious issues and, where appropriate, provide constructive challenge to the CEO.
- Build a strong working relationship with the executive, offering constructive advice and support whilst maintaining the boundary between the operational decisionmaking of the executive and governance oversight of the Board.
- Lead the annual appraisal for the CEO in line with SHF’s appraisal process and in consultation with other trustees. Ensure that any identified professional development needs are put in place.
Safeguarding Ensure that:
- A Safeguarding Policy and Procedure is in place, is reviewed as least annually and is available to and understood/applied by staff.
- A culture of safeguarding is championed, where wellbeing and psychological safety is prioritised and staff, volunteers and people with lived experience can raise concerns without fear of judgement or reprisal.
- There is a staff Code of Conduct and policies such as Speaking Out (formally Whistleblowing) and Safer Recruitment are in place.
- Safeguarding concerns are managed effectively; there are systems in place for its management; safeguarding resources including training; a DSL is appointed whose role is stated in their job description.
- Regular feedback on safeguarding activity is received (such as gaps, threats, risks), oversee a risk register and the remedial actions required and the track progress.
- Chair of Trustees undertakes enquiries in the event of an allegation being made against the CEO
- Compliance with the Charity Commission serious incident notification requirements, and other bodies such as regulators, commissioners, grant makers, and insurance companies
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.