Tandem sets up befriending partnerships in and around Oxford between trained befriender volunteers and people struggling to regain confidence and overcome feelings of isolation and stigmatisation as they pick up the threads of their lives.
Tandem is a relatively small and independent charity which has been providing our valuable service in Oxford and surrounds for 23 years. We are the only service offering ‘bespoke’ one-to-one support for adults with mental ill-health, though many excellent services offer group support. The purpose of our partnerships is to restore lost self-confidence, combat feelings of isolation and stigma, and raise aspirations for the future. Our ethos is one of working alongside our service users to identify with them what they want from their partnership – ranging from greater confidence and social engagement to paid or voluntary work.
Our six trustees have a variety of experience, including in statutory and voluntary mental health sectors in Oxfordshire, caring for people with mental health issues, and experience of using psychiatric services, as well as business, financial and budgeting experience. They are an active group, very committed to and enthusiastic about Tandem’s work and ethos. Our service users are varied in ethnicity and age, and we aim to reflect this diversity on our Board. The majority of the Board are getting on a bit, and we would be particularly glad to welcome younger members, including those who have not had previous Trustee experience but are able to fulfil the Fundraiser role.
We employ two joint co-ordinators at 12 hours per week each, and they are crucial to the organisation, recruiting and training volunteers and carefully matching them with our service users. We are looking for a Trustee with experience of setting funding strategy, researching grants and bid-writing, to enable us to continue their employment. Currently the Trustee who has been fundraising for Tandem since 1999 would welcome fresh ideas and new energy.
Enthusiasm for Tandem’s work and a willingness to join with the other Trustees in developing out service and ensuring our sustainability in future years is important. In addition they will need to be sympathetic to the difficulties that face people with mental health issues. Experience of using mental health services or caring for someone with mental ill-health is welcome but not essential.
Professional charity fundraising knowledge and experience of bid-writing
Strategic planning skills
Understanding and sympathy with the difficulties facing people with mental health issues
Enthusiasm
Each member of our Board of Trustees is valued as much for their life experience and willingness to engage with discussions about Tandem’s current performance and future development as for the particular skills and expertise they may bring. As part of our board you will support and shape our work and strategic direction, as well as help us achieve our purpose to support people recovering from mental breakdown. The role of Fundraiser is clearly important to us - not only do we need someone to keep our funding on track and keep us viable, but even more significantly, we are looking for someone to help us formulate our vision for the future.
Every befriending partnership is individual, but Tandem is nothing without the people who use the service, and so the best demonstration of the lasting difference we are able to contribute to in our service users' lives is to give a brief description of one partnership:
Samantha had a difficult childhood spent in care and found herself homeless as an adult. Her low self esteem and problems with severe depression were reflected in her lack of care about her appearance and her withdrawal from any opportunities for social contact. She still finds it hard to mix with people in groups or social functions, but through her befriender Patricia she gradually been able to increase her social engagement and pursue new interests in sports and the cinema. Her growing self esteem shows in her new clothes and hairstyle, as well as in her new job as a volunteer in a charity shop.
Please provide a cover letter detailing why you are interested in this role and your relevant experience
