BECOME A TRUSTEE 2024

Whitleigh Community Trust is looking for new Trustees to join our board.

We are looking for people who are passionate about making Whitleigh a great place to live, work and play in. You do not need to have any experience of being a trustee and we are especially looking for people who are experts in their community, who know and love Whitleigh.

Our Values

Whitleigh Community Trust’s ethos and values is to create a caring, compassionate learning community, which seeks to improve the well-being of our community, supporting their growing confidence and celebrating their achievements. ​

This is achieved by being truly resident led, by being welcoming, inclusive of all residents and respectful of each other.

Who We Are

Whitleigh Community Trust was founded in February 2018, by the residents to act as the legacy body for Whitleigh Big local so the work of the Big local could continue and grow beyond 2024. The board can have up to 12 trustees and is supported by a local resident-led steering group. Key aims of the constitution are:  ​

To benefit all residents of Whitleigh by providing opportunities for learning, for leisure, and for wellbeing to improve the lives of residents. To Promote the social and economic regeneration of Whitleigh through; training and employment opportunities including social enterprise support and business support, and through the provision of housing for those in need as long as it doesn’t overlap local authority duty. ​

We don’t have to be doing all these things all the time; it just means that we have the powers to do them if its needed.​

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR

We would love to hear from people with a diverse mix of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences.​

Especially those who are under represented within the community of Whitleigh. ​We are looking for people who are passionate about making Whitleigh a great place to live, work and play in. ​

You do not need to have had any previous experience of being a trustee and we are especially looking for people who are experts in their community, who know and love Whitleigh. ​

WE WOULD ALSO WELCOME APPLICANTS WITH A VARIETY OF PROFESSIONAL AND LIVED EXPERIENCE IN:

  • Human Resources

  • Fundraising

  • Community Development / Community Play

  • Social prescribing and befriending

  • Property, building development and housing

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION ARE FUNDAMENTAL VALUES AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES THAT ARE EMBEDDED WITHIN OUR WORK. WE BELIEVE THAT EMBRACING DIVERSITY IN ITS MANY FORMS LEAD TO BETTER IDEAS, CREATIVITY, AND COLLABORATION, DRIVING INNOVATION AND SUCCESS - AND A FAR KINDER WORLD. ​

WHAT WOULD I NEED TO DO?

  • As a trustee we expect you to work to ensure that the Trust meets its charitable aims and that you are committed to its values.  ​

  • That you will work with other board members to oversee the overall governance and strategic direction in accordance with its governing document, charity law, and other relevant legislation.​

  • To support the staff, volunteers, and the wider resident led partnership group. ​

  • A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to be a Trustee- includes no less than four meetings per year. ​

  • Good independent judgement and a willingness to speak your mind.​

  • An ability to work effectively as a member of a team.​

HOW DOES A TRUSTEE OPERATE?

The Trust meets no less than 3 general meeting per year and for 1 Annual General Meeting. ​

The trustees form the membership of the CIO and there are 12 positions for trustees.  The trustees have the voting rights. There is the option for non-voting members who might support and advise but not vote. Agreed decisions by Trustees needs to be written up and formally recorded, again either through a face to face meeting or written or electronically. ​

The normal term for a trustee is 3 years.   ​

SOME OF OUR PROJECTS

  • GREEN CONNECTOR PROJECT

    Whitleigh Green Connector project aims to reconnect people with nature. Delivering all sorts of activities to help people make the most of the outdoors. Using local green spaces. The project has developed growing projects, created a safe space on our community allotment, led community play activities and built a "green team" of residents. ​

    Click for more information

  • NIFTY OVER 50'S LUNCHTIME CLUB

    The Nifty Over 50’s (or as they like to be called, The Recycled Teenagers) is perfect for combating social isolation and loneliness. Our over 50’s lunch club offers weekly support to older people in the community, through this many of our older people feel able to access ongoing one to one support for any worries or concerns they may have.

    Click for more information

  • HOUSING PROJECT

    Aim: To provide 10 dwellings for social rent for the community of Whitleigh that will be fit for the future. ​ Vision: For community housing to have a high environmental standard with sustainable living spaces for community members. Creating affordable homes for people who may not be in suitable accommodation and who may need the support of neighbours and the wider community to thrive and feel safe. ​

    Click for more information

  • WHITLEIGH WELLBEING ART CAFE

    The Whitleigh Wellbeing Art Café is a weekly peer-to-peer support group that uses arts crafts and music as a tool to bring people together to form supportive friendships and networks, combating social isolation. The group have developed art projects that involve the whole community including facilitating the annual Lantern Parade also last year they created a fantastic mosaic for the community shops.​

    Click for more information

HOW TO APPLY

You can either send us an email or letter explaining why you’d like to become a trustee. Just fill out the information to the right or send your email to:

barry@whitleighcommunitytrust.org.uk​

Or telephone:

Pippa on 07725868807​