Be Free Young Carers Trustee

Be Free Young Carers Trustee

Trustee/Governor
J104047
At a glance

Skills

  • Marketing strategy
  • Commissioning / Contracting
  • Fundraising events
  • Fundraising research / Bid writing
  • Fundraising strategy

Where

Didcot, OX11 0QG
Mainly at home

Time

Either in or out of office hours Estimate of time needed:
0-5 hours / month or 1-3 hours / week

Deadline

01 May 2025

Visitors from Fifth Day

Welcome to Reach Volunteering. We are a community and registered charity that connects people, skills and good causes.

To apply for this role, and any other on our platform, you need to be based in the UK, have at least three years of experience using the skills you wish to volunteer in a professional capacity or have lived experience (for trustee roles). Read more about our criteria.

Join Be Free Young Carers as a trustee! Help guide our strategy, shape policies, and support young carers. We’re looking for individuals with diverse skills to make a real difference in the lives of young people, balancing care and personal growth.

What will you be doing?

Are you passionate about Young Carers and keen to dedicate your skills to improving the lives of others?

We are seeking an additional Trustee to join our board and are open to applicants from the private, public, and voluntary sectors, with experience in:

  • Fundraising (grants, trusts, etc.)
  • Commercial contracting (private, public, and/or charity sector)
  • Marketing/PR

We are open to talking to potential trustees with a wide variety of skills, so please contact us even if you don’t hold these specialisms.

Referrals are always welcome, so feel free to ask others who may be interested.

What will you be doing?

Trustees work together to hold BFYC “In Trust” for those it benefits. Trustees ensure that the charity does what it says it will.

Trustees have five main responsibilities:

  1. Ensuring BFYC has a clear vision, mission, and strategic direction.
  2. Overseeing BFYC’s performance and culture.
  3. Ensuring BFYC complies with legal and regulatory requirements.
  4. Protecting BFYC’s assets and their proper application.
  5. Ensuring high governance standards.

As a Trustee, you’ll provide strategic oversight, support organizational development, and advocate for the Executive team.

Time Commitment

  • Attend quarterly board meetings (5–7 pm).
  • Attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM) once per year.
  • Join a sub-committee linked to your skills to gain insight into day-to-day activities and support the team (sub-committees meet quarterly, usually 2 weeks before board meetings).
  • Participate in other activities based on your skills and interests.
  • Attend staff meetings or visits to stay close to the services we provide.
  • Support decision-making as needed between meetings.

Meetings are currently held in person, with an option to attend online.

We respect that some individuals may not be able to attend meetings in person due to work, family, or other commitments.

Trustees are appointed for a 3-year term, which can be extended twice, up to a maximum of 9 years.

What are we looking for?

Commitment 

  1. Ability to understand and accept the duties and liabilities of being a charity Trustee 
  2. Empathy with the vision, mission and aims of BFYC 
  3. A willingness and ability to devote the necessary time and effort 

Focus 

  1. Ability to think and apply knowledge strategically 
  2. Ability to think creatively  
  3. Ability to keep mission-focused 
  4. Ability to analyse and evaluate management information and other evidence 
  5. Willingness to listen and learn 

Communication and team working 

  1. Communicate clearly and sensitively and to take an active part in discussions 
  2. Influence and engage 
  3. Work effectively in a group 
  4. Willing to express their own opinion in a reasoned way, while also listening to the views of others 
  5. Challenge constructively and ask questions appropriately 

Accountability 

  1. Exercise sound and independent judgement 
  2. Make and stand by collective decisions, including those which may be unpopular 
  3. Manage difficult and/or challenging situations 
  4. Maintain confidentiality on confidential and/or sensitive information 

Our current trustees have varied backgrounds and experience. We recognise the need to be entirely representative of the community we serve in Oxfordshire and with this in mind, we’re keen for our board to reflect it. We would like to hear from adult applicants of all ages, gender, ethnicity, sexuality and sexual orientation, socio-economic background, religion, neurodiversity and with lived experiences.

What difference will you make?

About  

Be Free Young Carers (BFYC) was established as a charity in June 1994 and is currently the only charity supporting young carers in Oxfordshire. 

BFYC provides emotional and practical support to young carers and young adult carers, visiting carers in their homes. The service arranges free support activities and trips for young carers between the ages of 8 to 17. BFYC works closely with other agencies to help those most in need, signposting where appropriate.  

Feedback from young carers is over 95% satisfaction. The Charity has seen rising demand and has grown over the last few years from its base in South and Vale to provide a direct service in Oxford City, with plans to provide support in West and North Oxfordshire in the next few years. 

As a trustee, you will work closely with the Board and our CEO to steer the organisation through and beyond this new phase of expansion.  

Before you apply

How to Apply 

If you wish to apply, please email your CV and covering note setting out why you are interested in becoming a Trustee.

Pre-appointment checks 

It is important to note that pre-appointment declarations will be requested to ensure that applicants have not been disqualified by law from acting as a trustee.  

We will also need to carry out an enhanced DBS check, prior to appointment along with reference checks and other due diligence. 

BFYC follow Safer recruitment. Please see our Safer Recruitment policy for further information.  

Causes
  • Children / families
  • Counselling / advice
  • Health and well being / research and care
  • Local / community
  • Young people
  • Organisation type: 
    Charity

    We provide vital support for young carers based in South Oxfordshire, the Vale of the White Horse, and Oxford City. We are currently supporting 550 young carers, but we know there is much more to...