Are you passionate about making a difference in your community?
We are looking for new Board members to join our team, especially those with experience in HR or working with families with young children. As a trustee, you’ll have an incredible opportunity to enhance your skills while experiencing the deep fulfillment that comes from making a real difference.
Why Become a Trustee?
? Use Your Expertise for Good – Your skills and experience can help strengthen our charity and enhance the support we provide.
? Gain Leadership & Strategic Experience – Develop your management, governance, and decision-making skills in a rewarding and meaningful setting.
? Make a Lasting Impact – Help us grow and thrive while ensuring we continue to serve our community effectively.
? Expand Your Network – Connect with like-minded individuals, professionals, and leaders
? Personal & Professional Development – Being a trustee is a valuable learning experience that enhances your career prospects and broadens your perspective.
FAQs about becoming a Trustee
What is a Trustee?
A trustee of a charity is someone who volunteers to help run the charity and make big decisions about how it operates. Trustees are essential in guiding the charity’s operations, overseeing finances, and ensuring we adhere to legal and ethical standards. They also help decide the best ways for the charity to support the people we support.
Often, trustees bring their own skills, like knowledge about finance, fundraising, or marketing, which helps the charity do more good work. This role comes with important responsibilities, but it is also incredibly rewarding, giving many opportunities for personal development and the chance to give something back to your local community.
What skills and experience do you need to be a Home-Start Trustee?
While no specific qualifications are required, possessing strong interpersonal skills is essential. A practical approach to working with individuals, an awareness of the challenges parents face, and a genuine interest in supporting your local community are also important. You may bring a particular expertise to the Board, such as professional skills in finance, law, IT, business or personnel management or marketing and PR, but equally as important are listening and communication skills, commitment and sound judgement.
How big a commitment is it?
As part of the trustee role, you will be expected to:
- attend, and prepare for, a minimum of four meetings per year
- undergo a criminal record check at an enhanced level
- undergo a selection process
- commit to the legal and financial responsibilities of the role
Home-Start Trustees usually spend at least ten hours a month fulfilling their responsibilities.
What’s the difference between the work of the Trustees & the work of paid staff?
The Trustee role is one of governance, which is about making sure that things are done, but not necessarily about doing them yourself. Governance is not the same as management, which is the day-today business of running the scheme – organising the delivery of the work programme, looking after the assets, supervising and directing the staff and volunteers. Much of this management role will be delegated by the Trustees to the staff, but the Trustees retain overall responsibility and must monitor the work.
Are Trustees paid for their work?
While Trustees serve on a voluntary basis, they do receive reimbursement for expenses like travel and other costs incurred while fulfilling their responsibilities.
Essential tasks for Trustees
- To determine, review and make sure Home-Start Norfolk’s mission and vision are in alignment with its charitable objectives
- To engage in strategic planning for the scheme
- To ensure that Home-Start business is carried out efficiently and effectively, in accordance with good practice
- To act within the spirit of and in accordance with Home-Start’s equality of opportunity and diversity policies and procedures
- To lead the scheme in accordance with the requirements of the Home-Start Agreement, Quality Assurance system and guidance to be found on the Home-Start Intranet.
- To act as an ambassador for Home-Start by positively and actively promoting Home-Start’s public image
Meet our Trustee, Claire
Claire is one of our newest trustees and we are absolutely delighted to have her join our team. She brings a wealth of expertise in marketing and digital communications, proving to be an invaluable source of support for our charity. Her enthusiasm and dedication is truly inspiring, making her a perfect fit for our Home-Start Norfolk family.
“I was honoured to be asked to join the Board of Trustees at Home-Start Norfolk. The opportunity came a time where I was looking to enhance my professional development whilst sharing the skills I developed over my career. The timing couldn’t have been better and I have genuinely enjoyed working with the Home-Start Norfolk team and the other Trustees on the Board.
Everyone’s commitment to helping children get the best possible start to life is incredible and they work tirelessly to support families to cope with whatever life throws at them. They believe it’s crucial to support families to help them deal with problems before they become a crisis. I’m so proud to be involved with this life-changing charity that supports so many families across Norfolk.”
How to Apply
We’d love to hear from you! If you’re interested in becoming a trustee, here’s how to apply:
? Email us at: admin@homestartnorfolk.org
? Call us at: 01603 977040
Not sure if it’s the right fit? We’d be happy to have an informal chat—just get in touch!
Join us and help shape the future of Home-Start Norfolk. Together, we can make a real impact!