Home-Start Essex
Trustees - Essex family support charity - Volunteer
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We are looking for 2 enthusiastic and passionate Trustees to join our Board.
We would particularly like to hear from applicants with a strong background in the following areas: Governance, People management (HR professional or manager of teams of people) or Digital and IT.
What difference will you make?
We are an independent charity rooted in the communities we serve with our services adapted to meet the needs of local families, governed, and managed locally but affiliated to Home-Start UK as part of a federated organisation.
Bringing up children is hard work, and all parents and carers will, from time to time, encounter problems, which make the task harder. Our work seeks to build upon parents’ strengths, to empower them and their families to move forward. Through our core model of volunteer led home-visiting support provided alongside a wide range of projects, activities and group support we are able to work responsively with parents/ carers to build their confidence and resilience and to improve the outcomes for their children.
We supported over 1000 families in 2025-26, benefitting 2,285 children across Mid, South and West Essex. This is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our staff and of course, our amazing volunteers.
Families and communities are changing and facing huge challenges with the cost-of-living crisis impacting on their mental health and wellbeing and we need to be responsive, adapt and be prepared for the future.
A Trustee role at Home-Start Essex will allow you to help us shape the charity moving forward and to build a sustainable future so that children are given the best possible start in life.
What are we looking for?
We are particularly looking for people with experience/background in any of the following:
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- Governance
- HR
- Digital & IT
We ask that each Trustee has:
- A commitment to Home-Start Essex
- The willingness to devote the necessary time and effort
- Strategic vision
- Good, independent judgement
- Ability to think creatively
- Willingness to listen and to speak their mind
- Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of Trusteeship
- Ability to work effectively as a member of a team
- Abiding by Nolan's seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership
Experience and Knowledge
- Of supporting and working with committees at Board level
- Proven experience of working well as a member of a team, but also able to work on own initiative
- An understanding of Governance in the Charitable sector
- Knowledge of Data Protection legislation.
Your Essential Skills
- Be comfortable and experienced in using Office 365 and the Microsoft Office suite e.g., Outlook, TEAMS, Word, Excel etc.
- Be articulate and able to communicate effectively.
Personal Attributes
- Be a person of integrity
- Be able to maintain confidentiality at all times
- Be able to remain impartial
- Have good interpersonal skills
- Have keen emotional intelligence
- Be sympathetic to the needs of others
- Be open to learning and change
Special Requirements
- Be able to volunteer at times convenient to the Committees;
- Be available to be contacted at mutually agreed times.
Hybrid
What will you be doing?
Becoming a Trustee is a fantastic way to give something back to a cause you care about, and to put your professional skills and experience to good use, in ensuring that our charity continues to thrive and develop, to meet the needs of our local families, maintain good governance and ensure we remain sustainable and viable.
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You will join 8 friendly and welcoming fellow Trustees, who are committed along with all staff and volunteers, to furthering the development of the charity. We offer, in conjunction with Home-Start UK, an induction programme which includes an opportunity to meet with staff and volunteers to see the support we offer.
You do not need to have experience of charity work or have been a Trustee before, as there is a comprehensive induction to the role.
The role will be subject to two satisfactory references and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check. Please note this role is voluntary, but relevant out of pocket expenses will be reimbursed.
Board meetings are held every quarter on a Friday morning (times for meetings are regularly reviewed to ensure we meet the needs of all Trustees) and alternate between in person and virtual.
As a Trustee you would also be expected to join one of our three Board Committees which also meet every quarter. These committees are Human Resources Management, Operation and Governance, Fundraising and Business Management which includes all our financial reporting and budgeting.
We are particularly looking for potential trustees to join us on the HR committee and Operation & Governance.
We have a mixture of trustees and senior staff on each committee and there are always opportunities to contribute and chair these committees if you are interested.
In addition, there is an annual Strategic Planning Day and Trustee development opportunities. Trustees are also invited to volunteer celebration events as well as all-staff meetings if they are able.
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