Trustee

Elizabeth House Community Centre
Join our Board of Trustees!

Who are we?

The Highbury Vale Blackstock Trust (HVBT) was founded by local residents as a Charity in September
1993 to save and operate Elizabeth House, a grassroot, multi-purpose Community Centre.

Through our community-based approach - acting as a community ‘anchor’ – we build trust and bring
people together so that we can connect residents to practical support and opportunities. Our vision is
for everyone in the local community around Elizabeth House to have a better quality of life through
accessing key services and activities.

The Charity is dedicated to providing a safe and open space, as well as inclusive and flexible services
for the community. We aim to have a meaningful and positive influence on the local community. Our
priority is to respond to the needs of the local community, especially people with high needs or who
are underserved.

Elizabeth House provides a range of services open to all and a place for local people to use, as well as
a space and support for other organisations to deliver their services and activities.

Being a Trustee of the Highbury Vale Blackstock Trust

The Charity and the Community Centre are run through the Board of Trustees. Trustees play a key role
in making sure HVBT and Elizabeth House achieve their purpose and priorities, as well as complying
with all the relevant laws and regulations.

Trustees oversee the overall management of the Charity. They ensure that our work and goals are in
line with our mission and vision. Trustees support the executive team, but also challenge the team so
the organisation continue to adapt and thrive.

Trustees have a collective responsibility. They always act as a group and not as individuals.

You can read more about the role of Trustees on the Charity Commission’s website:
Charity trustee: what’s involved (CC3a) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The  Trustee’s  commitment  to  the  Charity will  include  attending  quarterly  board  meetings  and  the
annual community event (late September). It is also expected that trustees will visit the centre to meet
staff and volunteers, build their understanding of what we do, and provide support to the Executive
Director. At times, the trustees may need to be actively involved in new initiatives, special events, to
lead discussions on key issues or provide guidance in new areas.

Trustees are expected to give around 4 to 8 hours per month, through face-to-face meetings, visits
and active support in specific projects (e.g. events, recruitment, strategy, research).

The roles are unpaid, but the charity can pay reasonable travel expenses.

Going  forward,  we  intend  that  trustees  are  appointed  for  a  maximum  of  two  three-year  terms.
Renewal of terms is not a given and will be led by organisational needs. We also want to make sure

Updated January 2024

that not all trustees retire at the same time, so we welcome new applications on a rolling basis to
make sure the Board has at least seven trustees at all times.

Who are we looking for?

Trustees should all be from the local community, living in Islington, Hackney or Haringey.

While it is important that some Trustees have certain relevant professional expertise, not all Trustees
need  to  have  a  particular  professional  experience  to  be  valuable.  Commitment  to  the  local
community, ability to bring a fresh perspective, and ‘lived experience’ of the types of challenges faced
by users of the Community Centre are as important.

When considering applications for new Trustees, as well as looking at how your experience, skills and
knowledge can support Elizabeth House, we are also looking for qualities which we ask from all of our
trustees such as:

Integrity and good judgement;

•  A commitment to the mission of HVBT;
•  An ability to meet the time requirements;
•
•  An ability to think creatively and work collaboratively;
•  A willingness to speak your mind and respect other’s opinions;
•  An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties and responsibilities of trusteeship (we

can facilitate training on this);

•  A desire to make a difference in your local community.

HVBT  recruits  on  a  rolling  basis  and  may  prioritise  candidates  with  particular  types  of  experience,
knowledge and skills for an effective and diverse board of trustees. At the moment we are particularly
(but not exclusively) welcoming applications from candidates with ‘lived experience’ of the types of
challenges  faced  by  users  of  the  Community  Centre  (such  as  poverty,  food  insecurity,  social
isolation, single parenthood and adverse childhood or youth experiences).

Why join us?

Highbury Vale Blackstock Trust has been running services and activities at Elizabeth House for over 30
years, and we are looking for trustees to join our dynamic team. With local government services being
reduced or cut, Elizabeth House is well-placed to fill the gaps that have been left.

We would love to hear from you if you share our passion for bringing positive change and making a
difference in the local community. Give back, develop your experience/skills and local network.

If you are interested in becoming a trustee, we are very happy to organise a visit and meeting with the
Director director@elizabeth-house.org.uk so you can find out more. If you know Elizabeth House well,
please send a brief expression of interest to introduce yourself and give a little information on what
you would bring to the role, as well as what motivated you to apply. You may wish to attach your CV.

If your application is considered suitable, we will get in touch to organise an interview with a panel
including  other  trustees.  Appointment  is  subject  to  approval  by  HVBT’s  trustees.  Recommended
trustees will be invited to attend the next board meeting.

You can find more information about us on our website www.elizabeth-house.org.uk and by reading
the most recent annual report 2022-23.

Updated January 2024