Our trustees

What do trustees do?

We make up the management committee that runs the charity. Our job is to appoint the right staff, decide the policies and finances, and make sure we deliver the services that we’ve been set up to provide.

Trustees attend regular Board meetings - about eight a year - and a couple of half day workshops to deal with bigger issues. We also meet occasionally with staff and people who use our services to see how things are going. So being a trustee takes about seven hours a month.

As a Board, our job is to give leadership, direction and support to our managers in running an effective organisation.

What do we look for in new trustees?

We come from a variety of backgrounds and life experiences. The one thing we all have in common is a commitment to making things better for people with mental health issues.

You don’t need a particular set of skills and experience – we have a wide range of backgrounds.

We provide new trustees with a support package for their first year including an experienced member of the Board as a 'buddy' to help them through the early months. There’s also plenty of information and relevant learning, some face to face, some online.

How do you become a trustee?

You can speak to one of the existing trustees to get a better idea of what’s involved. Please email recruitment@westsussexmind.org to arrange this or for an information pack and application form. Although we aren’t always formally recruiting for trustees, if someone is really interested we will try to get them involved in our charity so they can learn, and be ready to make an application when we have a vacancy. One good way of getting involved is to become a West Sussex Mind Supporter (email: communications@westsussexmind.org).

What could you offer?

We’re looking for different life experience and skills. Have you been involved in organising groups or planning events; do you have personal experience of mental health, perhaps in your family? Do you want to make a difference?

Being a trustee can be a great experience for you. Working in a group pushing forward mental health issues; taking part in Board meetings; learning about managing a charity - it’s all good life experience.