Volunteer Groundswell Trustee

What will you be doing?

Groundswell are at the forefront of participatory practices with lived experience at their core. A recent staff, volunteer and trustee survey found 75% of the team had experience of homelessness. Recently, we’ve been delivering award-winning, life saving Homeless Health Peer Advocacy services, hosting podcasts with the future King to challenge misconceptions around homelessness and supporting NHS ICS’s to improve outcomes for inclusion health groups.  Our core beliefs 

The whole community benefits when we tackle homelessness and social exclusion. We believe in people. People are society’s most valuable resource, and everyone has the capacity to make a contribution. There is no “them” and “us” – only us. Groundswell brings everyone together to create genuine solutions to homelessness. Participation works. Supporting people to participate creates more effective services and policy – and crucially enables people to move out of homelessness.

The role of a Trustee  Charity Trustees are ultimately responsible for the oversight of the running of a charity, working collectively with the rest of the Board.  All Trustees take part in an induction process which include opportunities to meet fellow Trustees, staff and volunteers.  Groundswell can provide training to help with any development, as well as supporting Trustees in their role. Trustees need to: 

Be committed to the core beliefs and aims of Groundswell.  Be constructive, open and respectful about other Trustees’ opinions in discussions, and in response to staff members’ and volunteers’ contributions at meetings and when carrying out any other related Trustee responsibilities.  Be able to maintain confidentiality on sensitive and confidential information.  Be able to make collective decisions and stand by them Be able to respect boundaries between executive and governance functions.

Time commitment 

Four (three hour) Board meetings and an away day a year.  Four committee meetings a year (if a member of People or Finance committee).  Attendance at events and other meetings (typically about four times a year).  Capacity to respond to emails promptly. 

What are we looking for?

Person specification

Wholehearted commitment to the objectives and values of Groundswell.  Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort and add value to the organisation where possible.  Able to get on well with people at all levels, including volunteers, the Board, the CEO and other staff, and external organisations where relevant to the trustee role.  Commitment to fairness and promoting equality and inclusion.  Thoughtful and good listener, willingness to learn.

We are looking to recruit at least two people to join our fantastic charity as Trustees. We’re specifically with applications from people with at least one of the following characteristics: 

Based outside of London to help represent our national presence and influence.  With lived experience of homelessness.  Who are Black, Asian or a person of colour.  Experience of working in or around the NHS.

What difference will you make?

The primary aspects of the role of a Groundswell Trustee  Being part of Groundswell’s Board is an important responsibility. You will be part of a group of diverse people with wide-ranging experience and skills, to support the charity in the following ways:

Ensuring that Groundswell meets its objectives and complies with charity law.  Ensuring that Groundswell’s resources are used responsibly, there is good financial control and accountability.  Reviewing major risks and opportunities and managing any conflicts of interest.  Supporting and working with the Chief Executive and the Senior Leadership Team (SLT).  Reading the relevant papers before Board or committee meetings; participating in these meetings. Being effective advocates for the charity and sometimes representing Groundswell at external events.

We have separate People and Finance committee’s to ensure adequate time and expertise is allocated to these areas, each include at least two Board members, the CEO and another member of the SLT. If you want to understand more, have a look at the Charity Commission website.