New Trustees including a Treasurer for Home-Start

Join us at an exciting time as Home-Start celebrates 50 years of making an impact on the lives of families with young children.

Home-Start Essex ‘Helping to give children the best possible start in life’

We are seeking to recruit new Trustees including a Treasurer

With the need and demand for our services increasing, we want to be able to help more children by building the confidence and skills of parents and carers to achieve healthy and positive outcomes for their children.

We are looking for those who can bring experience, insights, passion, and time to help us to realise our potential and build a sustainable future for our charity.

Treasurer

In November 2023, our current Treasurer will be stepping down following an extended term in office. We are therefore seeking to recruit a Trustee with finance experience to join the Board now and take on the role of Treasurer and Company secretary later in 2024. The role of Treasurer is essential in ensuring that we are compliant with our statutory financial reporting requirements and to ensure that strategic plans are financially appraised and that budgets are aligned to both our short and long-term plans.

Trustee roles

We are also looking to welcome new Trustees who are committed to the work we do, and we are particularly, but not exclusively, seeking individuals with a successful track record in one or more of the following areas:

§ Experience in Early Years, Health, Social Care, and family support in the community.

§ Fundraising – ideally experience of corporate and community development or bid writing/ grant & trust funding applications

§ Legal

Our current Chair is planning to step down at the end of their term of office in late 2024 so we are also looking for those who may be interested in joining us with a view to taking on this role.

Benefits of being a Trustee: 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 local families, maintain good governance and ensure we remain sustainable and viable. You will join a friendly and welcoming group of fellow Trustees, who are committed along with all staff and volunteers, to furthering the development of the charity. We offer in conjunction with HSUK, a comprehensive induction programme, which includes an opportunity to meet with staff and volunteers and our beneficiaries to see the support we offer.

Time Commitment: Board meetings are held every two months 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 two months. In addition, there is an annual Strategic Planning Day and Trustee development opportunities. Trustees are also invited to volunteer celebration events as well as whole staff meetings if they are able.

Please note this role is voluntary, but relevant out of pocket expenses will be reimbursed.

The role will be subject to two satisfactory references and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Checks.

If you wish to apply, please contact us for an application form.

What skills do I need?

Home-Start Essex is part of a nationally federated organisation Home-Start UK (HSUK) with 50 years of experience of supporting families with young children struggling to cope with the many challenges they face. We recruit and train volunteers to support families, by offering emotional and practical support, in their own homes, over the phone and in groups to build the confidence, skills and strength of parents to nurture their children. This friendly supportive model is a simple yet effective way of enabling families to get back on track.

Home-Start Essex is a registered charity operated as a company limited by guarantee. The Board of Directors of the company are also Trustees of the charity.

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.

Interests

• Bookkeeping
• Families and Parenting

Activities

• Trusteeship and Committee Work