Trustees

About the Role

We're looking for new trustees to join our Board — and we'll be honest with you about why. Our Board is currently smaller than we'd like, and that puts more weight on fewer shoulders than is healthy for any charity. Bringing in new people, with fresh perspectives and a genuine stake in Bedhampton, is one of the most important things we can do this year.

We're also looking for a Chair. If you've led a board, a committee or a senior team before, we'd particularly like to talk to you.

What trustees do

Trustees make sure the Centre achieves the charitable purpose set out in our Constitution. You'd oversee the overall management and administration of the charity, make sure it has a clear strategy, and check that our work lines up with our vision. Just as importantly, you'd support and challenge the management team so the Centre can grow and thrive.

Trustees have a collective responsibility — the Board acts as a group, not as individuals.

In practice, that means:

Supporting and advising on the Centre's purpose, vision, goals and activities
Approving strategies and policies, and monitoring how they're working
Overseeing our financial plans and budgets, and reviewing our annual accounts
Making sure key risks are identified, monitored and controlled
Making sure the charity is run effectively and efficiently
Supporting and challenging our Centre Manager
Attending Board meetings properly prepared, and contributing to discussion
Using independent judgement, acting legally and in good faith in the Centre's interests
Promoting the Centre's aims and reputation, using your own skills, knowledge and contacts

As a small charity, there are times when trustees get involved beyond Board meetings — scrutinising papers, leading a discussion, advising on a new initiative, or picking up something where you have particular expertise.

It's worth saying plainly: trustees are volunteers, not staff. We're careful not to let the Board drift into doing the day-to-day work of running the Centre. That's the Centre Manager's job. Ours is to support and hold to account.

Who we're looking for

You don't need previous governance or trustee experience. We provide a full induction and training.

We'd particularly welcome interest from people with experience in any of these areas — but none is essential, and we're not expecting one person to have them all:

Board leadership — chairing meetings, or leading a committee, board or senior team. We're actively seeking someone who could take on the Chair role.
Property and premises — buildings, facilities management, maintenance planning, or working with a landlord. We lease from Havant Borough Council and have real property decisions ahead of us.
Fundraising and grants — writing bids, working with funders, or building relationships with local businesses and donors.
HR and people — employment practice, recruitment, contracts, or supporting a small staff team well.
Finance — charity or small-business finance. Our Treasurer would value a colleague who can read a set of accounts confidently.
Marketing and community engagement — reaching people who don't currently use the Centre, and telling our story well.
Lived experience — you use the Centre, you live in Bedhampton, or you belong to a community we're not currently hearing from. This counts as much as any professional skill.

If you have something else useful to offer, tell us. We'd rather hear from you than not.

Time commitment

Around four to six hours a month on average:

Eight Board meetings a year, held in the evening at the Centre
The Annual General Meeting
An annual half-day strategy session, plus occasional training
Reading board papers in advance — usually an hour or so before each meeting
Getting to know how the Centre works, so trustees and volunteers can between them cover holiday and sickness for the management team
Being involved in events and supporting our staff and volunteers — as much or as little as suits you

Trustees are appointed for a three-year term, renewable for up to two further terms. This is a voluntary, unpaid position, but reasonable out-of-pocket expenses are reimbursed.

What you can expect from us
A full induction, including our Constitution, latest accounts and your role description
A named trustee to buddy you through your first few months
Board papers circulated in advance, so meetings are for discussion rather than reading
Trustee indemnity insurance
Access to external trustee training where you want it
A Board that genuinely wants to be challenged, not just agreed with