Trustee with Governance experience

What will you be doing?

We are actively seeking candidates who can bring diversity in:

• Age: We especially welcome younger applicants (e.g., those aged 18-35) who can bring fresh, contemporary perspectives on communication and community engagement.
• Ethnic Backgrounds: We actively seek individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds to ensure our governance and support model is inclusive and representative of all the families we serve.
• Loss Experience: While many have experienced baby loss, we also welcome those who have experienced other significant losses and understand the wider context of grief support.
  
  At the moment our Board is made up mostly of working volunteers within the charity.  The Chair is also the CEO of the charity and we are hoping to diversify this position into a co-chair with the end goal of the current Chair being able to step back eventually.  We are still a very new charity and are learning all the time so our meetings at the moment may seem quite informal but we do strive to work to an agenda and whilst the atmosphere is friendly we believe it to also be professional.  We currently have 6 board members 5 female and 1 male, all white and the age range is late 30s to late 50s.  We hope we can attract a more diverse range of Trustees so that we have an increased understanding of those we seek to serve.
  
  All Trustees must have:
• Knowledge of Loss: A deep, genuine understanding or empathy for the grief process.
• Commitment to Governance: The ability to dedicate time to strategic planning, oversight and maintaining the charity’s mission.

What are we looking for?

Key Trustee Requirements & Expertise

We need expertise in:

• Legal & Governance: Experience in charity law, policy making, and compliance to ensure Heaven's Playground Org meets all regulatory requirements and operates with the highest standards of integrity.
• Accounting & Finance: Knowledge of charity accounting, financial oversight, and risk management to guide our budgeting and ensure responsible use of donor funds.
• Bereavement Work: Professionals who have direct work experience in supporting the bereaved, such as Midwives, Bereavement Counsellors, Palliative Care Specialists, or Social Workers.

Diversity & Perspective  - our current board are on the whole the same - 30s-50s white women. While they were chosen for their willingness to help and experience with loss, which is still very much needed, we would also like to be able to cover a much broader range of those we represent as we go forward. Being able to relate to those we seek to help is essential and is what sets us apart therefore it is vital to be able to have a board more representative of our whole community demographic.

What difference will you make?

Serving as a Trustee is the ultimate way to impact Heaven's Playground Org, as you will provide the essential strategic direction, oversight and governance that steers the entire organization.

1. Guaranteeing Ethical and Legal Operation (Governance)

The Trustee Board is legally responsible for the charity. Your primary impact is ensuring the organization is safe, ethical and sustainable:

• Legal Protection and Policy: If you have Legal or Governance experience, you would ensure all policies are robust, we comply with charity law and we are managing risk effectively. This safeguards the charity’s future and protects the entire team.
• Financial Integrity: If you have Accounting or Finance expertise, you ensure funds are managed responsibly, budgets are sound and donors' money is used for maximum impact. This is essential for maintaining public and funder trust.

2. Shaping Strategy and Future Reach

Trustees set the strategic direction, deciding how and where the charity grows:

• Mission Fidelity: You will safeguard the core mission of Heaven's Playground Org, ensuring that all activities remain focused on providing high-quality support to the bereaved community.
• Strategic Planning: You will help make high-level decisions - such as whether to launch a new program, how to allocate funds and how to improve diversity and inclusion - shaping the future effectiveness of our services.

3. Injecting Vital Diversity and Insight

With our commitment to diversity (age, ethnic background, gender etc) and varied professional backgrounds new trustees would directly strengthen the board's ability to lead:

• Representing the Community: By bringing diverse perspectives, you ensure the charity's decisions and policies are inclusive and relevant to the full spectrum of individuals experiencing loss.
• Professional Depth: If you are a professional like a Midwife or Bereavement Counsellor, your work experience will ground our strategy in real-world expertise, ensuring our services are as effective and helpful as possible for those on the frontline of loss.

As a Trustee, you are not just advising; you are leading the entire movement, ensuring Heaven's Playground Org continues to grow its reach and impact for decades to come.

Before you apply

Any experience within the areas we are looking for or a willingness to gain experience in those areas.
Interviews will be arranged via email or phone and conducted over Zoom or Teams with initially the Chair and Secretary.  We may then arrange a 2nd interview with the entire board just to ensure that it will be a good fit for all.
We do currently meet our board criteria for the Charity Commission and therefore can take our time to find the right people to enable us to have the right board to take Heavens forward over the next few years but we also understand that no-one wants to wait around forever so we aim to make a decision on any appicant within 2 weeks.