THE ROLE YSS is currently embarking on an exciting journey of growth and development, and we are seeking visionary individuals to join our Trustee Board. As we aim to deepen our reach and strengthen our impact within local communities, we are committed to finding new trustees who share our values and beliefs. We have 3 positions available focussing on the following areas: Finance experience – professional operational experience of working within finance, such as overseeing budgets and forecasting. Criminal Justice – professional operational experience of working within the criminal justice system Regional knowledge and experience of Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin. We welcome individuals who are dedicated to, passionate about, or possess expertise in the following areas: Making a meaningful difference in the community and improving people’s lives. Devoting time and effort to fulfilling trustee responsibilities. Navigating the challenges faced by the non-profit sector. Strategic leadership, charity governance, finance, fundraising, marketing, organisational management, and Human Resources. ICT and digital transformation. Criminal Justice, Social Care or Social Enterprise. Effective communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence diverse stakeholders, and balance conflicting views sensitively. Supporting the charity in delivering services that empower individuals to overcome adversity, break barriers, and achieve independence. Promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion, and advancing the charity’s work with individuals, families, and communities. Upholding integrity and maintaining high ethical standards in all actions and decisions. Exercising sound judgement. Analysing complex information to contribute to well-informed decision-making. Tenure: All Board members will be elected for an initial term of one year, after which they may be eligible for re-appointment for additional three-year terms, for a maximum of 10-year term. Why Join Us? Make a tangible impact in your community. Your contributions will directly improve the lives of service users and their families. Be part of an inclusive and supportive organisation that values collaboration, compassion, and the unique contributions of each individual in building a brighter future. Work alongside a dedicated team to shape meaningful, impact-driven projects with measurable, transformative, and life-changing results. Build connections with community members, professionals, and leaders in the region, expanding your network and influence. Gain valuable experience in the non-profit sector, enhancing your skills in governance, leadership, and strategic decision-making. We recognise that our trustees, like all volunteers, may have other commitments. We are committed to flexibility, offering adaptable ways to contribute to governance and decision-making processes that fit with your priorities. All new trustees will receive a full induction and relevant training. Key Responsibilities: Time commitment: 1 day per month. The YSS Board currently meets face to face, 6 times a year with up to 2 strategy planning days per year. All board members are encouraged to attend YSS events, including visits from our charity Patron and are welcome to make visits to projects to see first-hand the work of YSS, the people supported, staff and volunteers. Provide strategic leadership and play a key role in shaping the charity’s long-term vision. Bring fresh ideas and diverse perspectives, challenging existing practices to ensure the organisation remains responsive, innovative, and effective. Oversee governance and strategy, helping to develop and implement the charity’s strategic plan and ensuring decisions align with our mission, values, and goals. Ensure compliance by reviewing policies and procedures to ensure that we meet all legal and regulatory requirements. Monitor the charity’s service performance and safeguard our reputation. Act in the best interests of the charity, exercising reasonable care and skill while ensuring accountability and transparency. Provide strategic guidance on the charity's activities and financial health, including managing resources responsibly, scrutinising expenditures, and making informed decisions on grant applications. Support the development of marketing strategies and campaigns to promote our services, events, and initiatives to a wider audience. Advocate for the charity and help cultivate partnerships with stakeholders, including staff, volunteers, beneficiaries, and external partners, to understand and address their needs and perspectives. Serve as an ambassador, raising awareness of our work, and building connections with potential funders, collaborators, and community leaders. Assist in fundraising and outreach efforts, supporting initiatives to secure funding and expand the charity’s reach. Contribute your professional expertise to the development and growth of the charity, sharing insights to improve practices and outcomes. Participate in appraisal, recruitment, and disciplinary panels. Help the charity become more sustainable in the long term, ensuring it remains financially secure and impactful. Notes: YSS is committed to equality of opportunity, supports and encourages underrepresented groups and values diversity. Trustees are individually and legally responsible for the charity they govern. To find out more, please visit www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-essential-trustee-what-you-need-to-know-cc3 Further Information / How to Apply: Deadline for applications is 28 th February 2025. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Appointment is subject to eligibility in line with The Charity Commission criteria. To arrange an informal discussion, please contact Debb Grantham at deb.granthamyss.org.uk or on 07989 304695. To express your interest, please send your CV and a cover letter to Stuart McCulloch at stuart.mccullochyss.org.uk ABOUT YSS YSS (www.yss.org.uk) is a registered charity established in 1986, providing support to individuals across Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Herefordshire, Telford, and Shropshire. Annually, we work with approximately 2,000 people and our services span the criminal justice system, children’s services, and health and social care. Our funding comes from a variety of sources, including statutory contracts, charitable trusts, and generous private donors, and we are often described as the ‘glue’ between those at risk of social isolation and the wider community. We currently have a paid staff body of 25 and an annual income of circa £1m and we are deeply honoured to have HRH The Princess Royal as our patron. Our mission is to help people facing life difficulties by providing practical and emotional support. We have specialised expertise and experience of supporting people involved in the criminal justice system, veterans, young carers and those most poorly served by public and statutory services. Our aim is to enable and empower people who face significant life challenges to feel safe, have the opportunity to thrive and to realise their potential. As an organisation we do this through strong governance and leadership from an extremely capable and committed Board and Senior Management Team. We have developed a Theory of Change to articulate the impact we want to achieve, and invested in a new IT structure and CRM to enable us to record and report on outcomes, outputs and our service user journey. We continue to adapt and build on these core functions. Our recently appointed Managing Director, Debb Grantham, has been with the organisation for over 20 years and in a recent organisational meeting stated: “You don’t stay with an organisation for this long unless it’s a pretty special place to work and YSS isn’t just pretty special, it’s an incredible organisation that I am honoured to be part of.” Everyone at YSS is incredibly proud of the work we undertake, and our Trustees, staff and volunteers are committed to making a difference.