About the programme

We match individuals who have different perspectives and life experiences to charity boards aligned with their interests. Participants on the Hub Trustees Programme undergo a 12 month training and support programme in order to ensure that they develop good governance skills and the ability to confidently contribute to boards.

Training is based on a flipped learning model, combining a workbook and online training with in-person sessions where participants can dig deeper into the topics they have learned about. This preparation, attendance at board meetings, gives participants a great balance of formal learning and practical experience.

As part of the programme, our participant trustees will also complete a governance project on behalf of their board, to put this learning into practice. Past projects have included: completing a skills audit ahead of recruitment of new trustees; revisiting the structure of the board to make it more effective; and designing induction processes to support new trustees.

To make sure that the experience is a positive one for both the participant and your charity, we will ask you to provide a board level mentor – another trustee who is committed to helping your young trustee feel both welcomed and informed. In return, we will also be on hand to offer advice and support.

Why recruit a trustee through the Hub Trustees Programme?

1. Gain talent and energy

   We are recruiting people who have new perspectives and experiences to bring to trustee boards. Recruiting outside of your usual circles can bring people with a unique perspective, enthusiasm, and a tendency to ask basic but fundamental questions (the ones others are often too afraid to ask!). By providing insight into what appeals to a wider range of stakeholders, the trustees we recruit can help charities to improve their outreach to a new generation of donors, volunteers, and beneficiaries.

2. Increase your board’s diversity

   Trustee boards benefit from a having a variety of perspectives in decision making and strategic planning. Yet the average trustee is more likely to be older, of higher income, and have a postgraduate qualification compared to the overall population (Charity Commission Report 2017).

3. Invest in the future of the sector

   Socially motivated young people are the charity leaders and trustees of the future. Giving them the opportunity to contribute their talent to a board now, learning and developing, ensures the future good governance of the sector.

Get involved

For our ninth cohort of the Hub Trustees Programme, Oxford Hub are teaming up with the Lived Experience Advisory Forum (LEAF) group to train and support individuals with lived, direct or frontline experience of services and systems to become trustees of charity boards.

We are encouraging interested charity boards to spread the word amongst their service users, past and present, and volunteers as we believe that those with direct experience of charities will be best placed to become trustees through the programme.

To apply, charities should be based in Oxfordshire, and be involved in the homelessness and/or mental health sectors. They must also be willing to support the trustee as they enter their role. We will also ask a member of your board to attend a compulsory training session on inclusivity.

This information pack includes all key dates and information if you need to share more details with your trustee board.

If you are interested, please fill in this expression of interest form to be notified when we will open applications for boards.