Trustee the charity experience - Volunteer

What are we looking for?

We are looking for trustees with experience of working within, leading or governing a charity. This is our most important requirement. Meredith’s Mission is a young, ambitious organisation, and we need people who understand what good charity governance looks like and can help us build strong foundations for sustainable growth.

Our ideal trustees will have experience in areas such as charity strategy, governance, fundraising, finance, safeguarding, service development or organisational growth. They will understand the responsibilities of a trustee and be able to help us develop effective policies, manage risk, measure our impact and make well-informed decisions about how the charity uses its resources.

Just as importantly, we are looking for people who work well as part of a team. Our trustees must be willing to listen to different perspectives, share their expertise openly and contribute constructively to discussions. They should be comfortable offering both support and appropriate challenge to the founder, senior team and fellow Board members. We want to create a Board whose members complement one another and can work together to help take Meredith’s Mission forward.

As a small and developing charity, we value trustees who are willing to be actively involved. This could mean reviewing a policy, introducing a potential partner, supporting a funding application or helping the team think through a new opportunity. Trustees should be strategic, but also prepared to contribute practical help when their expertise is needed.

We would particularly welcome people who understand the pressures experienced by small or founder-led charities and who can help us grow without losing the compassionate, personal approach that makes Meredith’s Mission special.

Personal or family experience of childhood cancer, serious childhood illness or caring for a child through lengthy medical treatment would be valuable, although it is not essential. Trustees without this lived experience must be willing to listen to families and ensure that their needs remain central to our decisions.

Above all, we are looking for kind, dependable and thoughtful people who believe in our mission. They will share our determination to improve support for families affected by childhood cancer and bring the judgement, commitment and collaborative spirit needed to turn our ambitions into lasting impact.

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What will you be doing?

As a trustee of Meredith's Mission, you’ll play an essential role in shaping our future, you’ll bring your experience, ideas and judgement to the decisions that matter most, supporting us to become sustainable as a charity in it's first years.

Our current Board is made up of 4 trustees with experience across finance, governance, risk and lived in experience. Some trustees bring professional expertise, while others contribute personal knowledge of the issues affecting the people we support. Together, they form a friendly and committed group that works closely with our CEO. Board discussions are open, constructive and collaborative, with every trustee encouraged to ask questions and contribute their perspective.

This is an especially important time to join us. Over the next 3 years, we want to ensure we have a dynamic strategy for creating a sustainable service for our beneficiaries, while continuing to deliver high-quality support to those who rely on us. At the same time, we face challenges unique to small charities. Balancing these pressures with our ambitions will require careful decisions, fresh thinking and strong governance.

We are particularly looking for a trustee with experience in the charity sector, strategy, governance and change management. You might have gained this expertise through your professional career, voluntary work or lived experience. Previous trustee experience would be helpful, but it is not essential. What matters most is that you share our commitment, can think strategically and are willing to contribute as part of a team.

As a trustee, you’ll help set our strategic direction, review our progress and make sure that our resources are being used responsibly. You’ll support and constructively challenge the senior management team, help us understand risks and opportunities, and act as an ambassador for our work. You’ll be expected to prepare for and attend approximately 4-6 Board meetings each year, as well as an annual planning or strategy session.

Most importantly, this is a chance to help guide an organisation at a moment of real opportunity. Our work already makes a strong local impact, but we know there is much more to do. By joining our Board, you’ll help us build on what works, respond confidently to new challenges and create a stronger future.