Trustee

What will you be doing?

Trustees will contribute to decisions on areas such as finances, service priorities, strategy, policy and organisational risk. Support and induction will be provided, and we are committed to helping Trustees develop in the role.

We are committed to building a more diverse and inclusive Board. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and life experiences, including those who may not have seen themselves reflected in boards previously.

We are particularly keen to hear from people with lived experience of the issues we work with, including long-term health conditions, disability, caring responsibilities, poverty or childhood adversity. We value lived experience alongside professional experience and recognise the importance of different perspectives in shaping better decisions.

The role involves attending Board meetings (six per year, with a mix of in-person and virtual), along with committee or working group involvement. Meetings are usually held in Maidstone, and we aim to provide flexibility wherever possible.

What are we looking for?

We strongly value lived experience at Involve. If your lived experience is relevant to this role, we welcome your application, even if you don't meet every requirement below. 

Essential:

• A strong commitment to Involve Kent's mission and value
• An interest in supporting communities and addressing inequality 
• The ability to think strategically and contribute to organisational direction
• Sound judgement and willingness to ask questions and challenge constructively
• The ability to work collaboratively as a board

Desirable:

• Lived experience relevant to this role and/or the communities Involve supports
• A wide range of professional, personal and community experience
• Individual from backgrounds currently underrepresented at Board level
• Previous trustee experience is helpful but not essential

What difference will you make?

Trustees are collectively responsible, as Trustees, Directors and Members of the organisation, for the overall direction, sustainability and integrity of Involve Kent. This includes ensuring that the charity is well-led, financially secure and operating in line with its charitable objectives, while remaining responsive to the needs, experiences and voices of the people we serve.

As a Trustee, you will contribute to:

• Ensuring people and communities across Kent can access high-quality, inclusive services that support them to thrive
• Strengthening the organisation so it can grow sustainably and reach more people who need support
• Ensuring decisions are informed and lived experience and clear understanding of inequality 
• Providing assurance to funders, partners and regulators that Involve Kent is well-governed and accountable
• Supporting a culture where staff and volunteers feel valued, supported and able to do their best work
• Maintaining a clear strategic direction that balances ambition, innovation and responsible risk management
• Safeguarding the organisation's reputation, integrity and long-term future 
• Ensuring resources are used effectively to maximise impact for the communities we serve 

Anything else...

Board meetings typically take place after working hours. We may sometimes ask if you would like to attend events that fall inside working hours, such as our AGM, but this is optional.