Trustee

Role Description: Trustee

Role Summary

To have ultimate responsibility for Berkhamsted Together overseeing the charity’s strategy, management, finances and governance to ensure it is run effectively in line with its mission and values. Trustees act collectively and in the charity’s best interests.

Building on the legacy of Open Door, Berkhamsted Together will fill the gap created by its closure, having an inclusive charitable mission focused on helping our community to help itself. Our mission will be to provide an inclusive, supportive and welcoming space for good in Berkhamsted. Operating without judgement, we will support the wider community through a range of services delivered alongside other key community groups.  Our vision is for Berkhamsted to be an inclusive, caring and nourishing community where people feel supported through crucial life junctions / stages and where social inequality and isolation are actively addressed and reduced.  

Since the closure of Open Door, we have acted quickly to maintain some of its community services for the town. In partnership with The Swan Youth Project we have mobilised our group of forty volunteers to provide a warm welcome café space and other limited services on an interim basis from The Swan’s premises on Berkhamsted High Street, as we explore future long-term property options. Berkhamsted Together is in the process of being set up as a registered charity with The Charities Commission.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership

·        Ensure that Berkhamsted Together pursues its stated charitable objects as defined in the governing document (Constitution), by establishing a clear vision, strategy and values, and ensuring that there is a common understanding of these throughout the organisation.

• Monitor progress against strategic objectives and priorities.
• Ensure that the charity’s plans, budgets and activities align with its charitable objects/purposes for public benefit.

·        Ensure that the organisation defines its goals and evaluates performance against agreed targets.

·        Ensure that the views of stakeholders are regularly sought, considered and inform plans and activities.

2. Financial Oversight

·        Ensure the financial stability of the organisation.

·        Ensure the charity uses its resources sustainably and responsibly in pursuance of its charitable purpose.

·        Approve budgets and monitor financial performance.

• Ensure proper accounting records are kept and annual reports/accounts are prepared and filed with the Charity Commission and/or Companies House.

3. People oversight

·        Ensure fair and safe procedures for the appointment of the paid staff members having appropriate qualifications, skills and abilities.

·        Ensure fair and safe procedures for the appointment of volunteer staff members having appropriate qualifications, skills and abilities.

·        Hold all staff members to account for the effective management of the charity via supervision, support, appraisal and appropriate remuneration.

• Promote a positive, inclusive, and safe culture within the charity.

·        Ensure that the organisation acts in accordance with employment law and exercises a duty of care to its employees and volunteers.

4. Governance & Compliance

·        Ensure that the charity has a governance structure that is appropriate to its size/complexity, stage of development, and its charitable objects, and reflects the diversity of is its stakeholders.

·        Ensure that the Trustees regularly review the governance structure and its own performance against an agreed programme.

• Ensure the charity complies with its governing document (Constitution), charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.

·        Ensure that the Trustees have an agreed code of conduct and comply with it, and that there are mechanisms for the removal of trustees who do not abide by the principles stated therein.

·        Ensure that the Trustees regularly review their own training needs and creates an expectation of continuous professional development throughout the organisation.

• Safeguard the charity’s good name and values.

5. Risk Management

·        Ensure that the major risks to the organisation are regularly identified and reviewed and that systems are in place to mitigate or minimise these risks.

·        Seek external professional advice on any matter that presents a material risk to the charity that is beyond the established risk management process, or where the trustees could be perceived to be in breach of their duties.

• Ensure policies and procedures are in place and regularly reviewed.
• Ensure systems are in place for safeguarding, data protection, and health & safety.

6. Advocacy & Representation

• Act as an ambassador for the charity maintaining a good understanding of the charity’s activities.
• Represent the organisation externally when required.
• Support fundraising and networking where appropriate.

Time Commitment

• Typically 6 Trustee Meetings per year, plus additional meetings or events.
• Potentially, more time spent on matters during set-up phase.
• Preparation time for reading papers and emails.
• Occasional community or stakeholder events.

Term of Office

• Usually 3 years, renewable (with a maximum of two consecutive terms).
• Trustees must step down after 6 years, taking at least a year off before being allowed to return.

Person Specification

• Commitment to the charity’s mission and values.
• Understanding of and willingness to accept the legal duties of trusteeship.
• Ability to think strategically and exercise independent judgement.
• Integrity and willingness to speak up when necessary.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.

• To build as strong a group of Trustees as possible, we plan to appoint up to eight trustees with relevant experience across all of the following areas (the areas in bold being the focus of our current recruitment plan):
• Finance/accounting, ideally with experience in the charitable sector;
• Marketing/communications, ideally within the charitable sector;
• Legal/governance, ideally within the charitable sector;
• Safeguarding
• Fundraising
• HR or organisational development
• Lived experience related to the charity’s cause
• Experience of working with boards or committees.

Legal Duties of a Trustee (per Charity Commission)

Trustees must:

1. Ensure the charity is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit
2. Comply with the charity’s governing document and the law
3. Act in the charity’s best interests
4. Manage the charity’s resources responsibly
5. Act with reasonable care and skill
6. Ensure the charity is accountable

Additional Information

• This is a voluntary and unpaid role (reasonable expenses reimbursed).
• Trustees do not need to be insured.
• Trustees must declare conflicts of interest and comply with the charity’s policies.
• Appointment is subject to reference checks and (if required) DBS checks.

Version: 24 December 2025