Chair of Trustees, innovative homelessness charity

Emmaus Hastings & Rother is an innovative charity based in St Leonards, dedicated to addressing homelessness. The organization provides meaningful work, a supportive community, and a place to live for individuals looking to rebuild their lives. By championing social enterprise and sustainability, Emmaus Hastings & Rother empowers individuals to foster independence and regain confidence. The charity values compassion, inclusion, and long-term solutions to homelessness.

Role Description

We are looking to appoint a new chair of trustees with suitable experience and expertise in leadership, organisational development and governance. Our eight-member board supports the charity’s staff and volunteers in running our residential community and its two shops selling donated furniture, clothes and other household goods – a large showroom at the main site in St Leonard’s and a smaller shop in Bexhill town centre.

Both the community and the social enterprise are well-established and capable of future growth. We welcome expressions of interest and applications from people of all backgrounds and beliefs and are keen to broaden the diversity of our board of trustees.

Our existing chair is due to step down in line with Charity Commission guidelines but we would offer a significant induction and handover period.

Qualifications

• Commitment to Emmaus’s mission and lived experience ethos, and the mission of supporting formerly homeless people.
• Experience within a leadership or governance role.
• Strategic thinking and ability to contribute to planning and oversight of the charity’s activities.
• Governance, legal, financial, or enterprise experience (e.g. housing, retail,social care, H&S, fundraising).
• Good judgement, integrity and the ability to constructively challenge.
• Collaborative mindset, open to different perspectives and teamwork.
• Ability to dedicate time and effort to board & other meetings and to site visits.
• Attend and lead regular trustee meetings.
• Maintain oversight of the charity’s activities.
• Provide professional advice and support to our management team.
• Contribute to the wider Emmaus federation in the UK.
• Act as a local ambassador for Emmaus Hastings & Rother.

What difference will you make?

The chair role offers a meaningful opportunity to support a community helping formerly homeless people rebuild their lives, as well as a business model that makes the community largely financially self-sufficient.

Your insight and professional expertise will help guide our housing & support provision and our social enterprise. More than that, you’ll be part of a global movement working to restore dignity and tackle the causes of social exclusion.

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