Volunteer Trustees

What will you be doing?

We're looking for new trustees who will help to shape TST's future and to provide the governance needed to run the charity.  We're very small but pack a powerful punch in the world of education by providing payments to individuals when they experience something they couldn't have anticipated or expected which impacts them financially.   Our payments help to improve the quality of their lives and are aimed towards making a difference; helping to keep them in employment in education; going towards improving their physical and/or mental wellbeing; providing them with safe and secure places to live or essential home items At the very least, for a while, we aim to ensure that they and their families can eat and pay essential bills. We spend up to £600,000 per year on payments to individuals and, in 2023/2024 made over 600 payments.  We increased this budget from £360,000 in the previous few financial years because we're receiving so many applications from people in very real trouble. All our payments are made in a timely and very efficient way with no-one waiting more than two weeks for our decision. We are a small staff team of two with a committed and enthusiastic board of 7 trustees.  Some of our trustees are reaching the end of their terms with TST and we hope to recruit 4 or 5 new trustees over the next two years. We are also recruiting a new chief executive this year - our current CE is retiring in March 2025 after 8 years with the charity. It's an exciting time to be joining TST - we're looking for people who understand education and the needs of people who work in early years, primary and secondary education as well as for people who understand how charity boards work and the vital role that trustees play.  We would like to hear from people who would be interested in working alongside the staff in developing partnerships with trusts and foundations as well as corporate partnerships to diversify the income streams and enable us to spend more to help the people who need us most.  We're particularly interested to hear from people with digital and IT skills who can help to shape the charity's digital impact. Our board meets 4 times a year and trustees also contribute to sub groups relating payments to individuals; investments and finance.  We ask that trustees join one of the subgroups.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for: skills and experience at a senior level within the fields of early years, primary and secondary education and /or skills and experience in the delivery of charitable objectives through sound charitable management We would like people to be interested and demonstrate skills in: strategic development digital delivery IT development

What difference will you make?

Feedback from people we've helped is very powerful and it's clear that we make a difference to their lives.  Our trustees are all motivated by the impact we have and the difference that we make.  New trustees will contribute greatly to our impact through their governance and through the work they will do on behalf of TST "You have all restored my faith in humankind. Please thank each and everyone for this much needed support at the most difficult stage in my life. I also thank those who have provided the funding,.." MM 20/05/24 "Oh gosh, thank you so much. I can't even express how thankful I am. Please pass on my sincere thanks to everyone involved  - you make a difference" SV 13/05/24 "Thankyou so much for all your hard work in making this decision.  It is very much appreciated.  It also means that l can lay my father to rest without getting into too much debt."  CS 06/05/24