Volunteer Trustees

What will you be doing?

Trustees are legally responsible for account and company records, and they provide support to our CEO and the management team in helping HSIS meet its charitable objectives. Last year we provided help and support to over 1600 people and 89% of our families tell us that they can manage so much better from the support that Home-Start gives them. Our main aim is to work with families who are experiencing a challenging time in their lives. We hope to support them early enough to help them get to a place where they don’t need statutory intervention, however, we also work with families who are going through a statutory process such as having children on a child protection plan and support the family to get to a place where they are better able to cope independently. The 1-1 support we offer to Suffolk families is provided by 280+ volunteers  who visit Home-Start families every week giving up over 100,000 combined hours of their own time each year to support Home-Start. We are specifically interested in individuals with some of the following experiences:

We want to ensure the voice of our clients is informing our governance and welcome applications from those with experience of our work this may be as a previously supported family or volunteer. Candidates with experience and strong expertise in law, fundraising and marketing, networking or expertise in volunteer management. We are keen to have a geographic representation on our board. Currently, we have less representation from West Suffolk, Babergh and Waveney so would encourage applications from people living or working in these areas We are keen to bring further diversity and perspective to our Board. This might include experiences of life on a low income, your challenges in parenting or childhood or receiving support, migration or being in a minoritised racial community, being LGBT+ or in a family with this experience, or living with a disability. Your experience can help us as a Board better understand the wider range of families we aim to support

We would still love to hear from you if you think you have other skills we could benefit from. If you are interested but don’t meet any of the above suggestions, please still get in touch as we will consider a variety of roles and experiences.  Previous experience of being a trustee is welcome but not necessary - we can provide a supportive environment for those wishing to gain their first trustee role. 

What are we looking for?

Previous  Management/Board Experience Experience of committee work Leadership experience Strategic Vision Good Independent judgment Ability to think creatively Ability to work effectively as a Team Good communication and interpersonal skills Nolan’s seven principles of Public life: Selflessness, integrity, Objectivity, accountability, Openness, Honesty and Leadership Commitment to the organisation Tact and diplomacy Impartiality and the ability to respect confidences Willingness to speak /challenge  Willingness to devote time and effort necessary Trustee understands legal duties, Liabilities and responsibilities

What difference will you make?

Roles With other trustees to hold HSIS in trust for current and future beneficiaries by ensuring:

governance and direction within the ethos and values of Home-Start that HSIS has a clear mission, vision and strategic direction and is focused on achieving these HSIS complies with all legal and regulatory requirements, the objects of the charity, and the governing documents security and acting as guardians of HSIS assets that HSIS governance is of the highest possible standard you provide support to sub-committees and agree to their terms of reference you act as an ambassador of Home-Start in Suffolk

  Responsibilities: Working alongside our CEO, whom we delegate the day-to-day running of HSIS to ensure:

that HSIS pursues its objects as defined in the governing documents HSIS accounts for its activities to its funders, the relevant Charity Regulators, its members, the local community and  others that HSIS applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects. the financial stability of HSIS proper accounting records are kept the proper investment of HSIS funds. that the major risks to which HSIS is exposed are reviewed annually and managed HSIS policies and procedures are reviewed as required that HSIS fulfils its responsibilities as a good employer HSIS is appropriately insured monitoring and evaluating the work of HSIS and contributing to quality assurance self-assessments and reviews that the good name and ethos of HSIS is safeguarded