Could you volunteer to become a Home-Start Trustee and help parents build better lives for their children in your community.

What is a Home-Start Trustee?
A Home-Start Trustee is a volunteer who sits on the Trustee Board of a local Home-Start scheme.  Each scheme is an independent charity and being a Trustee is all about the governance of the charity – making sure that things are done but not necessarily doing them.  Trustees aren’t responsible for the day-to-day running of a scheme but they do carry out a wide range of duties and are responsible for making the charity effective, providing overall direction and maintaining sound management of funds.  Being a Trustee can be hard work but it is also rewarding, giving many opportunities for personal development and the chance to give something back to your local community.  Without volunteer Trustees our Home-Start schemes couldn’t function and both families and children wouldn’t get the support they need.

What does a Board of Trustees do?
The Board of Trustees is responsible for the scheme’s vision, for leading the strategic direction, for compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the performance and quality of the scheme and for ensuring that it operates within the Home-Start Agreement.  The Board is also responsible for the scheme’s property, financial management and security, for good governance, the promotion of Home-Start and for employing staff.  Their job is to ensure that the resources in the charity are used effectively to further the objects of Home-Start and for the purpose for which they were given.

How much of my time will it take?
Our Trustees meet for 2-3 hours bi-monthly.  There may be other occasions when your time and skills will be needed to focus on a piece of work, but this will be minimal.

A Trustee who takes on added commitment – perhaps as Treasurer or Chair, will probably have to commit more time to their role.  But Home-Start Trustees are supported all the way through.  You will have a thorough induction; be invited to regional and national training courses and events and have the full support of scheme staff, your fellow Trustees and Home-Start UK which exists to provide information, support and guidance to Home-Start schemes.

What will I get out of it?
Trustees volunteer because they want to improve the lives of parents and children.  What they get back is the satisfaction of knowing that they have helped make a real difference within their community.  In many cases, being a Trustee can enhance an individual’s skills and knowledge, build confidence and provide many opportunities for personal development.

What shall I do next?
If you would like more information about becoming a Home-Start Trustee or want to talk to a member of staff at Home-Start, you can contact us by ringing:~

Company Secretary Sharon Pearson or Scheme Manager Donna McKenna on 01706 629651
or Email us at: donna.homestartrochdale@gmail.com