Volunteer Charity Trustee

What will you be doing?

We are looking to recruit new Trustees to increase the range of skills and experience on the Board. This is essential for us to make the best decisions for Home-Start Guildford and our families. There is no requirement for you to have been a trustee before, however, you do need to be passionate about improving the lives of children and the families we support.  Trustees are the people who make the top-level decisions for our charity. Our Board includes people with experience and skills in early years, education, and business. We expect new trustees to have empathy with our cause and our beneficiaries. Support from local charity-support organisations is always available, and a full induction to our organisation will be provided, including access to external training.   What does becoming a trustee involve? As part of the trustee role, you will be expected to:

Attend, and prepare for, a minimum of six meetings per year. Undergo a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check. Undergo a selection process as outlined by Home-Start Guildford. Commit to the legal and financial responsibilities of the role, as outlined in the charity's Constitution (‘Foundation’ model constitution). Visit and engage with the office and staff to enhance your understanding of how Home-Start Guildford works.

  Training and Support Trustees are fully inducted into Home-Start before beginning their new role; they will receive:

An online welcome event and e-learning, introducing Home-Start’s service and your responsibilities. Training in key areas including safeguarding. Reimbursement of paid expenses. Access to Home-Start’s online community via HSUK intranet – full of information and guidance on running a local Home-Start. Tailored support by other trustees and staff.

  See the attached trustee advert for more information about the role.

What are we looking for?

We are a charity, not a business, but we apply business principles to governing our organisation. We are looking for people from a variety of backgrounds to join our charity. We want to expand the diversity of our board in all meanings of the word and strongly welcome applications from people from less-represented groups. You will be good at working with others, ready to speak up and ask questions, be thoughtful and open to learning, and able to stand back to see the bigger picture. You must take the responsibilities of a Trustee seriously. We are looking to better reflect the experiences of our community, to bring the skills and experiences of diverse Trustees to the Board.  We are particularly interested in hearing from individuals with experience around marketing and fundraising, and/or with a strong Guildford network. If you can think strategically and plan long-term, you have the primary skills needed by our trustees. You’ll also need to be able to work collectively with other Board members. Support from our paid employees is always available, as they handle the day-to-day running of the organisation.

What difference will you make?

Our Trustees are key to our success as a charity, keeping us on track and allowing us to continue providing support to local families who are struggling to cope with a variety of challenging circumstances.