Trustees

Trustees – Emmaus Cambridge 

Who we are 

Emmaus Cambridge is a charity that offers a home, work experience and personal support to a community of more than 40 formerly homeless people. Our companions all undertake tasks in our shop in Landbeach near Cambridge, where we sell donated furniture, clothing, homewares and more.

Emmaus Cambridge was the first Emmaus community to be established in the UK and has operated successfully since 1991. There are now 29 communities across the UK supporting more than 800 people.

Here at Emmaus Cambridge, our companions play an important role alongside our Trustee Board and staff helping to shape decisions and using their valuable lived experience to continually improve our community for our current companions, future companions and people in the wider community who may have experienced or been at risk of homelessness.

The opportunity 

We are looking to attract several new trustees to strengthen our board. We are particularly interested in individuals with experience in health/social care, social housing, cyber risk and IT, property or property maintenance and finance.

Board meetings take place in the evening from 6.30pm-9pm, committee meetings take place in usual working hours and are typically between two and three hours in length. Whilst there is an option to attend some meetings online, in person attendance is recommended to enable trustees to get to know our companions (who have the option to attend meetings) and to also gain a deeper understanding of the unique nature of the Emmaus Cambridge community. 

Responsibilities 

• To promote and uphold Emmaus Cambridge values, objectives and policies.
• To operate in accordance with the Charity Commission and ensure Emmaus Cambridge is doing so
• To act in accordance with our Memorandum and Articles of Association
• To agree to undertake a DBS, attend induction, complete training and attend performance review sessions on a timely manner
• To represent Emmaus Cambridge as appropriate
• To declare any relevant conflict of interests prior to joining the Board and any which may arise during your time on the Board
• To respect confidentiality of information relating to Emmaus Cambridge activities and operations.
• To uphold the Trustee Code of Conduct

Trustee term 

Trustees are appointed for a term of three years and can be reappointed for up to two further terms, making a maximum of nine years.

Who we are looking for 

The Charity Commission describes trustees as: ‘the volunteers who lead charities and decide how they are run. Trusteeship is a great way of contributing to causes you care about and developing strategic and leadership skills at the same time’.

Subject to some restrictions the Charity Commission goes on to highlight that ‘anyone can be a trustee, regardless of how junior or senior you are in your career, whether you’re in paid employment or not, regardless of your ethnicity, class, gender orientation, sexuality or any other difference. Boards thrive when they have a diversity of skills, knowledge, age and experience on their board.

How to find out more and to apply 

For an informal discussion, please contact the Chair of Trustees, Louisa Matheson, at louisa.matheson@emmauscambridge.org or Donna Talbot, CEO at donna.talbot@emmauscambridge.org or please call 07500 338477.

Following your initial discussion, please submit your CV and covering letter to CEO, Donna Talbot, at donna.talbot@emmauscambridge.org

This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.