Trustee with Lived Experience

JOIN OUR TEAM AS A TRUSTEE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Are you passionate about helping those experiencing homelessness find hope, support and a brighter future? Are you someone who has personally overcome the challenges of homelessness, or a related issue, and are you able to use your unique perspective to drive positive change? If so, we have an incredible opportunity for you!

Turning Tides, a leading homelessness Charity dedicated to ending local homelessness, is looking for a Trustee with Lived Experience to join our dynamic Team. As a Trustee you will play a pivotal role in shaping our Charity’s strategies and policies, ensuring they remain focused on empowering individuals to rebuild lives and achieve their ambitions.

WHY JOIN US?

Meaningful Impact- As a Trustee with Lived Experience, you will bring invaluable insights and first-hand experience to our decision-making Turning Tides is committed to the co-production of its activities with clients and staff. As part of this effort, in addition to the general Trustee responsibilities, we are seeking someone with lived experience who can connect with people who use our services, providing essential input to Board decisions.

Collaborative Environment: As a Trustee, you will work closely with fellow Board members, staff, clients, and volunteers within a supportive and collaborative environment where your voice will be heard and

Personal Growth- This is a great opportunity to develop a wide skill set as you guide and contribute to some of the inspirational work which takes place at Turning You will learn a lot about the charity sector along the way and see how your unique strengths and experience are an important part of the bigger picture.

Inspiring Change- You will have the opportunity to inspire others and demonstrate how personal experience can be a catalyst for meaningful
Support – We are fortunate to have very supportive Trustees on the Board and we can, therefore, provide comprehensive support to someone who has no previous experience of being a Trustee.

WHO WE ARE

Turning Tides has been supporting homeless and insecurely housed people in Worthing and the surrounding areas for over 30 years. The Charity has grown considerably and now offers services across other areas of West During the last financial year we worked with 938 clients across all our Projects. We have a highly committed and effective volunteer community of nearly 400 and around 150 paid staff. Our vision is for a community where no person needs to sleep out and everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

Board members 

Senior Management Team

Co-Production Leads – Greta Jarvis (Wellbeing Liaison Team Manager), Kelly Keet and Alex Rowley (Lived Experience Navigators)

RESPONSIBILITIES / COMMITMENT

• Use your lived experience to provide insights and inform decision- making
  the Trustee role has various responsibilities such as governing the affairs of the Charity and ensuring it is financially sound
• Attend approximately six General Meetings of the Board each year
• Read papers in advance of meetings, and plan to speak to them at the meeting
• Follow through Board decisions which are within your sphere of influence
• Take part in the support of sub-committees and associated groups
• Attend any Extraordinary General Meetings

Trustees should establish links and stay connected through regular visits to Turning Tides projects
carry out regular monitoring visits to each project and area of support, including contact with both client and staff members.

In order to develop a working knowledge of Turning Tides it is occasionally required of Trustees they join in administrative activities. Examples include contributing to draft policy papers or information packs and other literature, the appointment of senior workers, helping with appeals and fundraising

EXPENSES / PAYMENT
The role is voluntary but reasonable expenses, such as travel costs, will be reimbursed

WHAT WE NEED

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders
• Personal experience of homelessness and a good understanding of the challenges faced by others in a similar circumstance
• Apart from lived experience, no specific qualifications are necessary for the in terms of individual qualities, we are seeking someone who is a good listener and communicator and is willing to have difficult conversations and challenges when appropriate.
• Above all we are looking for someone who really wants to make a difference to homelessness in West Sussex

Due to potential conflicts of interest current staff and clients cannot be considered for this role

HOW TO APPLY OR FIND OUT MORE
Should you have any questions about the Trustee role, please direct any enquiries to sarah.clark@turning-tides.org.uk who will be happy to help. Sarah has supported the Board of Trustees over several years as part of her role PA to the Chief Executive. Additionally, you are welcome to have an informal telephone conversation with our current chair of Trustees, Ian