Trustee - Help Shape Relationships

What will you be doing?

Following the charity's recent transition from Relate Leicestershire to an independent organization, your role is more critical than ever in helping to shape its "new chapter". 

Strategic & Operational Support

• Set Future Vision: You will help formulate the long-term strategic direction of the Centre, identifying new opportunities for growth and service expansion.
• Expert Guidance: Depending on your background, you may join specific sub-committees—such as Finance, Business Development, or Service & Practice—to provide specialized advice to the CEO and senior staff.

• Financial Oversight: You will monitor the charity's financial health, approve budgets, and ensure that resources like the charitable bursary are managed effectively to maintain service affordability. 

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Governance & Accountability

• Safeguarding Leadership: You will ensure that safeguarding remains a top governance priority, reviewing policies annually to protect children, young people, and adults at risk.
• Compliance & Risk: Your role involves identifying and mitigating major risks, ensuring the charity complies with all legal requirements and Charity Commission regulations.

• Reputation Management: You will act as an ambassador for the Centre, upholding its values of Inclusivity, Integrity, Innovation, and Compassion within the local community. 

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Practical Commitment

• Meeting Attendance: Trustees typically attend a minimum of six meetings per year, plus an Annual General Meeting (AGM) and strategy away days.
• Support for the CEO: You will be available to provide guidance to the CEO, participating in their annual performance reviews and supporting the wider management team. 

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How You Can Make a Difference:

• Oversee recruitment and orientation of new board members.
• Evaluate the performance of the board and its committees.
• Help define and achieve the charity’s strategic goals alongside the CEO. 

By joining the board, you directly contribute to the "one-stop relationship service centre" that provides vital counselling and therapeutic support to thousands of people across Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland. 

What are we looking for?

General Trustees(Current): To provide governance, financial oversight and strategic vision. 

Desired Experience & Skills:

• Strategic vision and innovative/creative thinking.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• A commitment to supporting the local community in Leicestershire and Rutland.
• Willingness to undergo a safer recruitment check.
• Legal/Law insight or expertise in professional fields.
• Business development or expertise in professional fields.
• Human Resources or expertise in professional fields.

As a Trustee at The Relationships Centre Leicestershire, you will serve as a strategic leader, ensuring the charity is well-governed, financially sustainable, and focused on its mission to support healthy relationships across the community. 

What difference will you make?

Key Historical Milestones

• 1946: The Beginning: A "Marriage Committee" was formed in March 1946 to address the growing need for guidance and support for couples in Leicester.
• Influential Founders: The movement was spearheaded by prominent local figures, most notably Mrs Mary Attenborough—the mother of Sir David and Richard Attenborough—who was also one of the charity's first marriage guidance counsellors.
• 1947: Official Launch: The Marriage Guidance Council was officially launched in March 1947 at a special event in the Leicester Town Hall by the Lord Mayor.
• 1988: Transition to Relate: After decades of growth, the organization became Relate Leicestershire in February 1988 upon moving to its permanent base on Aylestone Road.
• 2025: A New Chapter: Following the national Relate charity entering administration in late 2024, the local board of trustees chose to rebrand as The Relationships Centre Leicestershire in April 2025 to ensure the continuity of local services. 

Modern Identity

Today, the charity has evolved from its original focus on marriage guidance to a "one-stop relationship service centre". It provides a wide range of therapeutic support, including: 

• Counselling for individuals, couples, young people and families.
• Specialised support for children and young people including a new ADHD service, reaching over 10,000 young people in 2024 and 2025.

The organisation is now a member of the Relationships England and Wales Network, a national collaborative of former Relate centres.

Strategic & Operational Support

• Set Future Vision: You will help formulate the long-term strategic direction of the Centre, identifying new opportunities for growth and service expansion.
• Expert Guidance: Depending on your background, you may join specific sub-committees—such as Finance, Business Development, or Service & Practice—to provide specialized advice to the CEO and senior staff.
• Financial Oversight: You will monitor the charity's financial health, approve budgets, and ensure that resources like the charitable bursary are managed effectively to maintain service affordability.

Before you apply

Please email our CEO Melissa White for an informal discussion 

[email protected]