Trustee at Rainbow Home North

Role Type: Trustee

Application deadline: Monday, November 30, 2026 - 00:00

Salary: £

Role description: Board Member

Rainbow Home North is seeking committed, thoughtful and enthusiastic people to join our Board of Trustees. This is an opportunity to help shape our future, strengthen our governance and contribute to work that makes a real difference. We are a small and impactful specialist charity supporting LGBTQ+ people seeking sanctuary in the North of England and those who require support to settle. 

You do not need previous experience as a charity trustee, nor do you need a professional qualification. We are looking for people who care about what we do, can think independently and constructively, and are willing to work collectively in the best interests of Rainbow Home North and the people we support.

About the Role

Trustees are collectively responsible for the governance and strategic direction of the charity. You will help make sure Rainbow Home North remains well-run, financially sustainable, legally compliant and focused on its charitable purposes.

• Help set the charity's strategic direction and monitor progress against its plans.
• Make decisions collectively and in the best interests of Rainbow Home North.
• Provide oversight of finance, risk, safeguarding, people, policies and other areas of organisational responsibility.
• Ask constructive questions, challenge appropriately and contribute to good decision-making.
• Help the Board understand the experiences and perspectives of the communities Rainbow Home North serve.
• Support and constructively challenge the CEO and staff team without taking on their operational responsibilities.
• Ensure that the charity complies with its governing document, charity law and other relevant legal and regulatory requirements.

Trustee Responsibilities

All trustees share collective responsibility for governance and strategic direction and are expected to attend Board and sub-committee meetings regularly and contribute actively to decision-making.

Time Commitment

• Online Board meetings held quarterly.
• Other committees (such as finance) depending on the individual’s interest and availability.
• Some in-person meetings each year, currently held in Newcastle upon Tyne / the North east of England.
• Reading papers and preparing for meetings.
• Occasional additional involvement in Board or charity activities where appropriate.

The expected commitment is approximately 6–8 days per year, although this may vary. We are particularly keen to hear from people who can commit to both virtual engagement and occasional travel for in-person meetings.

Person Specification

We are looking for someone who has:

• A genuine interest in Rainbow Home North's charitable purposes and the communities we serve.
• Good judgement and the ability to consider issues from more than one perspective.
• The confidence to ask questions and challenge constructively, even when you are new to the charity sector.
• The ability to listen, collaborate and respect different views.
• A commitment to acting collectively and in the best interests of the charity rather than representing an individual interest.
• Reliability and the ability to prepare for and participate in meetings.
• A willingness to learn about the legal and governance responsibilities of a charity trustee.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Rainbow Home North is committed to building a diverse and inclusive Board that reflects the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people from under-represented backgrounds.

We particularly encourage applications from:

• People with lived experience of the asylum system
• Individuals from the Global Majority
• Members of the LGBTQIA+ community
• People with disabilities
• Individuals from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds

What We Offer

• The opportunity to influence the strategic direction of a growing charity
• A supportive and collaborative Board environment
• Reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
• The chance to make a meaningful difference through strong leadership

How to Apply

Please send the expression of interest form (found in our Trustee Information and Application Pack) to Jill Hardie:  jill@rainbowhome.org.uk

We look forward to hearing from you!