Charity Trustee

Role Details

Expenses Given:
Yes

Own Transport Required:
Yes

Disability Friendly:
Yes

Description

Iron Guidance is seeking new Trustees to join our Board during an exciting period of growth.
We are preparing to launch Teesside Children’s University, expanding our reach and strengthening opportunities for children, young people, and families across Teesside. Alongside this major development, we will continue delivering our wider programmes and community projects that support local families every day.
To help guide this next phase, we are looking for individuals who can bring strategic insight, professional experience, and a commitment to improving outcomes for our communities. We welcome interest from people with a broad range of backgrounds — whether in business, education, public services, community development, or other sectors.
Previous board experience is not essential. What matters most is good judgement, integrity, and the ability to contribute positively to governance and long‑term planning.
If you would like to support a charity with strong local roots and a clear vision for growth, we would be pleased to hear from you.
Join us as a Trustee and help shape the future of Iron Guidance.

  • Provide strategic leadership — help set the charity’s vision, priorities, and long‑term direction so it continues to meet the needs of children, young people, and families.
  • Ensure strong governance — make sure the charity operates legally, ethically, and in line with its governing document and safeguarding responsibilities.
  • Oversee finances — approve budgets, monitor spending, and ensure the charity’s resources are used responsibly and sustainably.
  • Support and challenge the organisation — offer guidance, ask thoughtful questions, and help the charity make well‑informed decisions.
  • Champion the charity’s values — act as an ambassador for the charity, promoting its work and strengthening relationships with partners, funders, and the community.
  • Assess risks and opportunities — identify potential challenges and help the charity plan for growth, stability, and safe delivery of services.
  • Attend board meetings and contribute actively — prepare for meetings, participate in discussions, and take shared responsibility for decisions.
  • Ensure accountability and transparency — uphold high standards in reporting, safeguarding, data protection, and public trust.

  • Understanding of governance and charity responsibilities — awareness of legal duties, safeguarding expectations, and the Charity Commission’s requirements.
  • Financial awareness — ability to read budgets, understand basic financial reports, and make sound decisions about resources.
  • Strategic thinking — able to see the bigger picture, plan for the long term, and help shape the charity’s direction.
  • Good judgement and decision‑making — confident weighing up risks, opportunities, and evidence to support safe, effective choices.
  • Communication skills — able to listen well, express ideas clearly, and contribute constructively to discussions.
  • Teamworking and collaboration — comfortable working as part of a board, respecting different viewpoints and sharing responsibility.
  • Problem‑solving skills — able to analyse issues, ask thoughtful questions, and help find practical solutions.
  • Commitment to safeguarding and ethical practice — understanding of safe working principles, confidentiality, and protecting vulnerable people.
  • Community awareness — knowledge of local needs, challenges, and opportunities, especially relating to children, young people, and families.
  • Ability to act as an ambassador — confidence representing the charity externally, building relationships, and promoting its mission.

  • Integrity and honesty — consistently acts in the best interests of children, young people, and families, and upholds the charity’s values.
  • Compassion and empathy — understands the realities faced by local families and approaches decisions with humanity and sensitivity.
  • Commitment to safeguarding — naturally prioritises safety, accountability, and ethical practice in every discussion and decision.
  • Reliability and accountability — follows through on commitments, prepares well for meetings, and takes shared responsibility for governance.
  • Confidence to challenge respectfully — able to ask difficult questions, offer constructive feedback, and support balanced, safe decision‑making.
  • Open‑mindedness — values diverse perspectives, listens actively, and is willing to learn and adapt.
  • Community‑focused mindset — genuinely cares about improving outcomes for children, young people, and families in Middlesbrough and Teesside.
  • Positive and solution‑focused attitude — looks for practical ways forward, even when facing complex or sensitive issues.
  • Team spirit — works collaboratively, supports fellow trustees, and contributes to a healthy, respectful board culture.
  • Ambition for the charity — believes in Iron Guidance’s mission and is motivated to help strengthen its impact and reach.

  • Commitment to the charity’s mission — a genuine interest in improving outcomes for children, young people, and families across Middlesbrough and Teesside.
  • Willingness to take on a governance role — understanding that trustees share legal responsibility for the charity’s decisions, finances, and safeguarding culture.
  • Availability to attend meetings — typically evening board meetings plus occasional sub‑group discussions, training sessions, or community events.
  • Preparedness to read papers and contribute thoughtfully — reviewing agendas, reports, and financial information in advance to support effective decision‑making.
  • Ability to act in the charity’s best interests — putting Iron Guidance’s purpose and beneficiaries first, even when decisions are challenging.
  • Commitment to safeguarding and safe practice — completing required training and supporting a culture where safety, accountability, and ethical behaviour are central.
  • Willingness to undertake induction and ongoing learning — engaging in trustee training, Charity Commission guidance, and relevant development opportunities.
  • Respect for confidentiality and data protection — handling sensitive information appropriately and maintaining trust within the organisation.
  • No conflicts of interest that cannot be managed — being open about any personal or professional connections that may affect decision‑making.
  • Ability to work collaboratively as part of a board — contributing positively to discussions, respecting diverse viewpoints, and supporting collective decisions.

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