What Trustees do for Home-Start

What is a Home-Start trustee?

A Home-Start trustee is a volunteer who sits on the trustee board of a local Home-Start scheme. Each scheme is an independent charity and being a trustee is all about the governance of that charity - making sure things are done, but not necessarily doing them.

Trustees are responsible for:

• making the charity effective
• providing overall direction
• maintaining sound management of funds

Without volunteer trustees Home-Start schemes couldn't function and both families and children wouldn't get the support they need.

Being a trustee can be hard work, but it is also rewarding, giving many chances for personal development and the chance to give something back to your local community.

What does a board of trustees do?

The board of trustees is responsible for:

• the scheme's vision
• leading strategic direction
• compliance with legal and regulatory requirements
• the performance and quality of the scheme
• ensuring that the scheme operates within the Home-Start agreement
• the scheme's property
• financial management and security
• good governance
• the promotion of Home-Start
• employing staff

Their job is to ensure that the resources in the chartiiy are used effectively to further the objectives of Home-Start and for the purpose for which they were given.

How much of my time will it take?

Around eight to ten hours a month.

If you take on additional committments, as a chair or treasurer, you will probably increase the amount of time you spend on behalf of the scheme - but you will be supported all the way with full induction and training, the support of scheme staff, and ongoing training. You will also be supported by Home-Start UK, which exists to provide information, support and guidance to Home-Start schemes.

Why Home-Start needs more trustees
What skills trustees need
Trustees' stories
What our trustees say
Frequently Asked Questions about trusteeship
What our families say about Home-Start
Useful web links
"Rydyn ni'n gofyn"