Volunteer Trustee

Homeless Link; Brighton; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

A community-focused charity in Brighton seeks volunteer trustees for their Board to help oversee governance, compliance, and impact. The role involves supporting operational strategies, overseeing financial plans, and ensuring effective administration. Ideal candidates will have expertise in finance, housing, or health, or lived experience of homelessness. This position values equity and diversity, welcoming applicants from all backgrounds to enrich the Board's effectiveness. Interested individuals should submit their CV and cover letter by January 15, 2026.

Qualifications

• Expertise in finance, housing, or health/mental health preferred.
• Lived experience of homelessness is a plus.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion essential.

Responsibilities

• Support and provide advice on organisation’s vision and goals.
• Approve operational strategies and monitor implementation.
• Oversee financial plans and budgets.
• Ensure effective administration of the organisation.
• Identify and manage key risks effectively.
• Attend board meetings and contribute to discussions.
• Promote YMCA Brighton’s objectives and reputation.

Skills

Expertise in finance

Knowledge of housing

Understanding of health/mental health

Lived experience of homelessness

Community engagement

Diversity and inclusion advocacy

Job description

We are currently seeking volunteer trustees to join our experienced Board, who oversee our organisation’s governance, compliance, reach and impact. We value equity, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from everyone, but to fully reflect our client group and the local population, we’re particularly interested in hearing from people with expertise in: finance, housing, health/mental health and/or have lived experience of homelessness and we are keen to broaden the diversity of our Board in terms of ethnicity.

YMCA Brighton is a registered charity. We provide supported accommodation to over 300 people across the city of Brighton alongside our EVOLVE Work and Learning Service.
Our Mission – We provide the home, the community and the services that equip people to overcome barriers and achieve their aims.
Our Vision – Working together to create an inclusive community where everyone can belong, contribute and thrive.
Our Values – Community, Compassion and Empowerment.

Our trustees play a vital role in ensuring that YMCA Brighton achieves its core purpose. They oversee the overall management and administration of the charity, ensure a clear strategy is in place, and support and challenge the leadership team to enable YMCA Brighton to grow and thrive. They help realise our mission to support homeless people of all ages to discover their potential and feel inspired to achieve aspirations and live life to its fullest.

Duties of a Volunteer Trustee

• Support and provide advice on YMCA Brighton’s purpose, vision, goals and activities.
• Approve operational strategies and policies, and monitor and evaluate their implementation.
• Oversee YMCA Brighton’s financial plans and budgets, and monitor and evaluate progress.
• Ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.
• Ensure that key risks are being identified, monitored and controlled effectively.
• Review and approve YMCA Brighton’s financial statements.
• Provide support and challenge to YMCA Brighton’s CEO and Leadership Team in the exercise of their delegated authority and affairs.
• Keep abreast of changes in YMCA Brighton’s operating environment.
• Contribute to regular reviews of YMCA Brighton’s own governance.
• Attend board meetings, adequately prepared to contribute to discussions.
• Use independent judgement, acting legally and in good faith to promote and protect YMCA Brighton’s interests, to the exclusion of their own personal and/or any third party interests.
• Contribute to the broader promotion of YMCA Brighton’s objectives, aims and reputation by applying your skills, expertise, knowledge and contacts.

If you share our values and have the passion and drive to help us achieve our vision, we would love to hear from you by submitting your CV and cover letter expressing your interest by the closing date Thursday 15th January 2026.