Join the board

Join the board

Joining the Trustee Board is one of the most important and rewarding ways of volunteering for IDAS. Being a Trustee means that you will influence and steer the direction of our important charity.

The trustees set the direction for IDAS and are ultimately legally responsible for its activities. The time, skills and work of our Board is incredibly valuable to us at IDAS. Our trustees ensure that IDAS has a clear strategy, and that our work and goals are in line with our purpose.

Over the next few years, we want to ensure that we have a diverse Board that represents those people we serve and so we welcome applications from Black and Asian women, disabled people and people who are LGBT. All Trustees have the same responsibility for the charity’s governance and have equal opportunity to contribute to decision making, so having Trustees from a diversity of backgrounds helps to create more inclusive and balanced decision making.

What's involved?

Trustees don’t get involved in the day-to-day running of the charity; rather they play the role of critical friend to the Senior Management Team, giving support and challenging them to manage effectively. Our trustees safeguard our assets, both physical assets such as property, and intangible ones, like our reputation. They make sure we use our resources well and that the charity is run sustainably. The Board meets four times a year, and the Board’s committees also meet around four times a year to focus on particular areas of work or projects. All trustees are involved in one or more committees or other special projects, as well as having a good understanding of the charity’s work overall.
“Since the 1990s I have been a Trustee of many charities, some of which I have founded. As a Trustee, it’s important to be motivated by the charity’s cause and values. When I came across IDAS I was immediately impressed with its values and the range of services it provides and so I stepped forward in 2019. I felt I could contribute to the organisation and as it continues to grow and evolve it’s been great to be part of a professional Board on this journey. My Trustee contributions help the staff team to get on with their brilliant job of supporting thousands of victims and survivors of abuse, alongside campaigning to end violence against women and girls.”

What are the benefits?

Being a trustee or a committee member is a challenging but very rewarding voluntary role. You can put your skills and experience to use and make a lasting difference to victims and survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. It’s a chance to learn about the management and strategy of our charity and to develop your leadership skills. You’ll get to work with new and interesting people from diverse backgrounds. Whether you want to do something different, support a great cause or add to your CV, with limited compulsory meetings it’s the perfect volunteering opportunity for busy people.

Interested?

If you are interested in learning more about joining our Board, we’d love to hear from you. We offer an induction programme, a Board Buddy and ongoing training to new members of the Board. We want to widen the board’s viewpoint and decision making and welcome people from all backgrounds.

Apply to join

If you are interested in joining the Board as a committee member or trustee, please read the Information for Prospective Trustees below and send us a form expressing your interest so that we can arrange an initial, informal chat.

Information for Prospective Trustees (PDF)

Other ways you can help

The inside track

Find out more from our staff, volunteers and those we’ve supported.