We are recruiting new trustees to our Board to drive forward the next stage in our development.
We have experienced rapid growth, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, almost doubling our number of staff and supporting more people across the county than ever with their mental health.
We are now calling for applications from all sections of the community to join our Board of trustees and to create a more diverse Board that truly reflects the communities we serve.
Sue Hawker, chair of West Sussex Mind, said: “It is an exciting time to join us. We have adapted our services to meet growing demand. We deliver face-to-face and online support, providing mental health support for adults and children in GP surgeries, and offering specialist support services for families with young children, the elderly and young people aged 16-25.
“We are using our mental health expertise to train individuals and organisations in mental health, run suicide prevention training and campaign to raise awareness and challenge stigma around mental health. We are now looking for trustees from a range of backgrounds to bring fresh perspectives that will help us achieve our strategic goals and shape the next exciting stage in our development.”
We are inviting people to apply as trustees, who are passionate about mental health and well-being, and who are fully committed to achieving positive outcomes for those who need our support.
Previous experience of being a trustee is not necessary, nor is a professional background, but candidates must be self-motivated, willing to learn and willing to make a commitment to West Sussex Mind for three years.
We welcome applications from anyone regardless of their age, disability, ethnicity, sexuality, gender or socio-economic background. We particularly welcome applications from disabled candidates, black Asian and minority ethnic candidates, women, younger people and the LGBTQ+ community, as these groups are currently under-represented on our Board. Trainees receive a comprehensive induction and full training and support when they join.
Becoming a trustee of West Sussex Mind offers the opportunity not only to contribute to your community, but to develop your skills and experience, grow your professional network and work as part of a team of individuals who are passionate about mental health. It can also help your career progression.
Daniel Bird, 35, treasurer of West Sussex Mind and a trustee for 10 years, said: “The skills I learned from being a trustee have really helped me in my career. When I was still quite junior at work, being able to say I had sat in Board meetings and made strategic decisions was really good experience and this helped me when going for other jobs. In interviews, I’ve always talked about my work with West Sussex Mind, as it’s given me some great experience that I wouldn’t have gained anywhere else.”
If you would like to arrange an information discussion before applying, email recruitment@westsussexmind.org.