Volunteer Trustees at West Sussex Mind

What does the opportunity involve doing?

No of openings: 3 to 4 vacancies

Location: West Sussex – with meetings held remotely and at The Gateway, Worthing

Pay: Voluntary - Expenses will be paid

Commitment: Initial 3 years term – Board/sub-committee meetings take place bi-monthly

West Sussex Mind Values: Excellence, Equitable, Open, Together, Curious, Unstoppable

National Mind Excellence Awards 2025: Winner for Equality & Diversity; Highly Commended for Effective Services

Can you help us to achieve our vision and ensure that everyone experiencing mental health problems gets both support and respect? Right now, we are looking for three or four new trustees to join us.

We are looking for people who are passionate about mental health and have an interest in how organisations are run to join us and help us achieve our mission. As a trustee, you will work collaboratively with the other members of the Board to support West Sussex Mind to achieve its strategic goal.

What induction, training and support is offered?

As a new trustee you will be able to take part in a range of activities to help you settle in to your new role. You will be assigned a buddy who will be a current trustee; they will work with you during your induction period and continue to support you after this.

We have a trustee handbook which will be available to you, this will provide you with all the relevant governance information and policies that you will need in your new role.

You will be added to our new online learning library where relevant courses will be automatically allocated to you. You will also be added to our supporters network where you will be sent news and updates.

You will have regular reviews including a three-month, six-month and an annual review to see how things are going and to ensure you have all the support you need.

What skills or qualities are needed?

We are open to candidates from a wide range of backgrounds; however, we are particularly interested in those who have the following experience and lived experience:
- Equality, diversity and inclusion, particularly with experience of embedding anti-racism practice to help guide us with our active pledge to becoming an anti-racist organisation
- Lived experience of mental health problems and accessing services
- Mental health or health and social care professionals
- Finance and accountancy, for example a chartered accountant

We welcome applications from anyone regardless of their age, disability, ethnicity, heritage, sexuality, gender and socio-economic background.

We particularly encourage applications from disabled candidates, black, Asian, and minority ethnic candidates, women and those from the LGBTQ+ community as these groups are under-represented on our Board.

We would also actively encourage those with lived experience of mental health to join us in this important role.

You don’t need to have previous experience of being a trustee, but you do need to be self-motivated, willing to learn and to make a commitment to us. In return, we will support you in realising your potential in the role.

We are looking for people fully committed to achieving positive outcomes for people with mental health problems.