SUFRA - NW LONDON

RecruitmentPackTrusteeRegistered Charity Number 1151911.About UsSufra is a charity in North West Londonthat prevents hunger, fights povertyand builds community. With the helpof our volunteers and partners, wecoordinate a network of food banks,kitchens, a community shop and café.These act as a gateway for guests toaccess more holistic support –including welfare advice, asylumsupport and our award-winningcommunity garden. We aim to workwith our guests to find solutions totheir challenges together, whilstcampaigning against the causes ofhunger and poverty. Our Accreditations:Sufra holds multiple Quality Standardaccreditations, including Trusted Charityat Level 2, the Advice Quality Standard(AQS) and the Green Care Quality Mark.We are also registered with theImmigration Advice Authority (IAA).Our VisionA community united to address thecauses and consequences of poverty. Our MissionSufra NW London provides food aid,welfare advice and training to people incrisis, whilst working with the widercommunity to campaign for an end topoverty.Photo credit: Digital IslandPhoto credit: Digital IslandAbout the RoleWe are recruiting a Trustee to work closely with the Chair, other BoardMembers and staff to help the charity meet its vision and strategicobjectives.   This is an immensely rewarding role, working in adynamic charity built on an ethos of sharing, hospitality, andinclusivity. Through your involvement, you will be able to convey the charity’spassion and commitment to supporting vulnerable people anddemonstrate the impact of our interventions in transforming the livesof beneficiaries. Candidates should have a clear understanding of the responsibilitiesinvolved in being a charitable Trustee and previous experienceworking at a strategic governance level.   Previous Board experienceis not mandatory but would be an advantage. Sufra NW London Trustees bring a wide range of experience to theorganisation and foster an atmosphere of constructive challengeand support.   We’re open to applications from anyone with relevant senior levelexperience, but are particularly interested in hearing from those withdemonstrable expertise in the following areas: Medium/large charity operations & company law and regulatorycompliance  Safeguarding  Provision of welfare advice & care services  Housing provision 2.We are embedded in the localcommunityWhat we doFood Aid andEssentials SupportTraining, volunteeringand Courses CommunityKitchensMigrant Support Advice ServicesFood GrowingOur Values and Principles1.We take a holistic approach,based on human rights3.We respect the dignity of our guestsand the needs of the planet.Our Impact 19,982877coats distributed at our winter warmer coat drivetotal food bank recipients (including thoseattending several times over the year) reachedthree course community meals served25,5141,144people benefitted from our Advice Services,OpenARMS Programme and Signposting Serviceof produce harvested in St. Raphael’s Edible Garden596kghours volunteered16,000Some of our achievements in 2024-25...Our 2030 strategy outlines a vision and general framework for long-term organisational development with key milestones. The Board hasagreed to review and update this strategy at its midpoint to ensurecontinued relevance.Our strategic Priorities for 2030 are:     1. Improving access to healthy food and other essentials 2.Building social and financial resilience 3.Growing food with the community 4.Engaging and empowering the community 5.Changing the systems and policies that drive poverty 6.People and Culture 7.Infrastructure, Systems and Processes 8.Finance and Fundraising What will our work look like in 2030?  Sufra will be a larger and better-resourced charity delivering a widearray of interconnected activities designed to benefit some of the mostvulnerable individuals in London. We will collaborate with an increasednumber of partners and we will be recognised for our holistic andinnovative approach as well as the community engagementopportunities we offer. We will have more influence over policydecisions at local and regional levels and, through our advocacypartners, at the national level. Ensuring people can access nutritious food, often in a social setting, willcontinue to be at the core of our work, and we will maintain ourinclusive and hospitable approach. However, we will not identify as afood bank. In addition to improving access to nutritious food for ourguests, our focus will be on empowering and training residents tobetter manage their finances and support others they know; building asense of community through volunteering, food growing, and socialprograms; and working with stakeholders to campaign for changes topolicies that cause and perpetuate poverty. Our aim will not be to see an increasing number of people, but toprovide more in-depth, programmatic support that is measurablymore effective at reducing financial crises and improving wellbeing. Our 2030 Strategy What will our work look like in 2030?  We will manage several community hubs where these activities takeplace, and their locations will not necessarily be limited to the LondonBorough of Brent. Each hub will focus on its local community andemploy a grassroots approach that engages guests and volunteers inthe design and delivery of programmes and activities. These hubs will operate in partnership with local authorities, faithgroups, businesses, or voluntary sector organisations. Each hub islikely to offer a community kitchen, café, shop, and/or emergencyfood aid service. Alongside food services, each hub will providesupport and training from our Advice Team, access to volunteering,engagement activities, and opportunities to participate in advocacyand campaigning initiatives. Social activities will also be available,alongside talks, film screenings, and other events designed to engagelocal people on relevant issues, such as the plight of refugees andasylum seekers. We will collaborate with local residents and partner organisationsacross multiple sites to grow and harvest fresh fruits and vegetables,which will be made available to those in need through markets orother means. We recognise that the benefits of community foodgrowing extend beyond the harvested food; they include building asense of community, creating a social-therapeutic space for localresidents, and providing accredited horticultural and ecologicallearning and training opportunities. Our guests and volunteers will be our most important resource. We willenhance the quality of our volunteer experience and providecommunity members with a platform to effect change within theorganisation. There will be ample opportunities for local people andguests to volunteer across our hubs, and we will empower them tosupport others in their community and help us advocate for policychange. The voices and lived experiences of guests and volunteers,along with the data we gather, will inform a wide range of materialsthat will be used to influence public debate and policy decisions onareas that most impact those we support—from written reports andvideos, to podcasts and TV/radio content. Our Strategic Priorities ContinuedOur Board of TrusteesAshraf Mohammed (Chair)Ashraf became a Trustee in March 2024. He cameto the UK when he was 5yrs old and grew up inCardiff. Ashraf had a career as a commercialsolicitor in central London for 20 years and in2004 moved to the Philippines to work for aleading multilateral development institutionwhose aim is to reduce poverty in Asia. Ashraf hasworked on many poverty reduction projectsacross Asia.Asad Bhojani (Treasurer)Asad joined the Sufra Board as Trustee andTreasurer in 2025. He is a qualified Actuary withover 25 years of experience in finance and riskmanagement, at some of the largest FTSE 100companies. Asad is focused on strengtheningSufra’s financial resilience and long-termsustainability.Helena Krawitz (Deputy Chair)Helena joined as a Trustee in 2019, and wasappointed Deputy Chair in April 2020. She is a specialist in strategic communicationsand marketing, having worked in the financialand professional services over the last 20 years. Lucy Bannister Lucy joined as a Trustee in 2021. Lucy works inpublic affairs and campaigns on national policy.She is currently at Southwark Council, havingpreviously worked for the Joseph RowntreeFoundation and the Living Wage Foundation. Shehopes to use her policy knowledge andinfluencing skills to help Sufra address thecauses of poverty. Our Board of TrusteesSanya SyedSanya is a seasoned marketing leader with over15 years of experience in both the corporate andcharity sectors, specializing in global strategy,growth marketing, and fundraising. CurrentlyGlobal Head of Marketing at an internationalNGO, Sanya previously worked as a MarketingConsultant at Adobe. She was drawn to Sufra NWLondon for its holistic approach to not justalleviating food poverty, but empoweringvulnerable communities, and is eager tocontribute her expertise to its mission.Rozia HussainRozia joined Sufra in 2024. She specialises inresearch, evaluation and impact measurement,and she has worked in a variety of sectorsnamely higher education, local government, thearts, culture and heritage sector, and the thirdsector including charities and communityorganisations. Rozia is passionate about equity,diversity and inclusion, and hopes to use herskills and expertise to work with underservedcommunities in Brent.Zemira BraganzaZemira joined as a Trustee in March 2024. She is aHR professional with 25 years plus experience.Zemira is currently the Head of Reward andPeople Services at Govia Thameslink Railway,having previously worked for Transport for Londonand the NHS. Zemira has been a resident of Brentand Harrow for 48 years and hopes to bring herexperience of Human Resources to help drive andinfluence Sufra’s long term strategy which aims toaddress the root causes of poverty.What Trustees do at SufraAttend scheduled Board Meetings, review all Board Papers includingQuarterly Management Accounts, and scrutinise and approve thecharity’s Annual Budget and Audited Accounts. Trustees must ensure that there are effective mechanisms in placeto monitor the performance of the Director and Senior LeadershipTeam and evaluate the charity’s impact. Work with other Trustees to ensure the charity is governed to thehighest standards and adheres to all legal and regulatoryrequirements in line with the Charity Commission’s guidelines. Asguardians of the charity’s assets, Trustees are responsible for theirsecurity, deployment and proper application. Support Trustees and the Senior Leadership Team to agree andperiodically review the charity’s strategic direction and BusinessPlans, ensuring they support the charity’s vision and mission, andmonitor progress towards agreed strategic objectives.  Participate in individual and collective Trustee development andtraining to keep abreast of the Charity Commission’s guidance onCharity Governance. Trustees participate in  annual appraisals withthe Board Chair.  Support the Senior Leadership Team to mitigate and minimise risk,keep the Risk Register current and relevant, and review and improvethe charity’s policy framework and quality standards.  Work collaboratively to ensure that Board-related decisions andpolicy reviews are made by the Trustees acting collectively, andparticipate in Subcommittees as appropriate. Abide by the charity’sCode of Conduct and ensure the fundamental values and guidingprinciples of the charity are articulated and reflected throughoutthe charity.  Act as an ambassador for the charity and champion it’s cause.Support fundraising initiatives by leveraging networks andproviding strategic advice. This may involve attending occasionalexternal events, ceremonies and meetings. Support the Senior Leadership team and staff in areas where theTrustee has specialist knowledge or expertise. Who we’re looking forAll trustees must have the following:• Experience in the voluntary sector or transferrable skills from thepublic or private sector.• An understanding of charity governance and the legal duties,responsibilities and liabilities of a Trustee.• A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to theirduties as a Trustee (attending 6 meetings per year and committeemeetings as required - approx 8 hours per month).• A commitment to the organisation and its values and objectives.• The ability to work effectively as a member of a team and awillingness to challenge respectfully.• Strategic vision and an ability to think creatively. • Excellent communication and leadership skills.• Sound, independent judgment.• Integrity and pragmatism.• Competent IT skills.• For this post in particular, experience running welfare adviceservices is strongly desired. Photo credit: Digital IslandWhy you should applyMake a real difference: Becoming a trustee for Sufra NW Londonpresents a unique and rewarding opportunity to contributemeaningfully to a dynamic organization dedicated to combatingfood poverty and improving lives for people in Brent. Sufra NWLondon operates at the intersection of community support, foodaid, and education, offering a comprehensive approach toaddressing the root causes of poverty. Strategic experience: being a trustee at Sufra is a fantastic wayof  acquiring strategic experience. You will have the opportunityto hone your critical thinking, problem-solving and analyticalskills as well as developing strategic sensibilities and teamworking skills.Enhance your CV and professional development: getting involvedas a  trustee will provide professional development from learninghow organisations are run, to planning finances, and strategicleadership. This experience can be the perfect boost to your CVand set you apart. Expand your networks: by applying to become a trustee, youhave the chance to be part of a compassionate and dedicatedteam, leveraging your leadership to create positive change andcontribute to building a more equitable and resilient society.Photo credit: Digital IslandHow to applyHow to apply If you’re interested in applying, please email a CV and coverletter to susanarndt@sufra-nwlondon.org.ukWe will be reviewing applications as they come in and willinterview people on a rolling basis. We’re happy to set up aninformal discussion about the role too so you can find out more!The deadline for applications is the 5th of January 2026 at 9am. Diversity and Equality We’re committed to inclusivity and representing the diversity ofthe communities we serve. We therefore welcome applicationsfrom all backgrounds and all sections of the community.Applicants will be treated fairly throughout the recruitmentprocess and we will ensure there is no unfair discrimination onthe basis of race, ethnic origin, disability, gender, religion or belief,age, sexual orientation or any other relevant characteristic. Photo credit: Digital IslandPoverty in Brent and across London is relentless, butso is our community’s determination to fight back.Every week, we meet people facing impossiblechoices—parents skipping meals so their childrencan thrive, neighbours supporting each other throughcrisis, and volunteers giving their time to make sureno one is left behind. Together, we’re not justresponding to crisis - we’re building a future whereeveryone has the chance to flourish. "- Rajesh Makwana BEM, Executive DirectorJoin us!Registered Charity Number 1151911.