Helpforce was founded in 2016, originally as a charitable trust, by Sir Tom Hughes-Hallett, the former Chair of Chelsea & Westminster Hospital. Sir Tom realised that the NHS needed help to maximise the impact of volunteering and subsequently brought to life his vision of seeing volunteering become an integral part of patients’ journey, in the establishment of the charity.

The charity's core mission is to accelerate the growth and impact of volunteering in health and care. The work of Helpforce has evolved since its founding, but the charity has always been driven by a desire to transform the experience of patients, their carers, staff, and volunteers, through the power of volunteering. Helpforce partners with health and care organisations to increase volunteering opportunities and accelerate their impact, better enabling organisations to maximise the potential of volunteering to improve outcomes for people and services.

Since its inception six years ago, the organisation has undergone rapid development and has dramatically scaled its programmes. Before Helpforce, volunteer programmes varied widely across the NHS and volunteers were often underused or ineffectively deployed. Helpforce has contributed to the inclusion of volunteering in the NHS long-term plan, and helped create a new public awareness of the impact of volunteering in larger health systems.

Helpforce currently partners with 90 NHS Trusts and eight integrated care systems. The charity has historically worked with hospital trusts, but has broadened its work to include mental health and community trusts, shifting to impact within Integrated Care Systems. Helpforce is now looking to bring on two or three new Trustees to join the Board and support the charity through the next stage of its exciting journey.

The successful candidates will play a proactive role in the ongoing development of the organisation. The Board has overall responsibility for ensuring Helpforce meets its legal and regulatory obligations.

The main responsibilities of the Trustees include:

• Helping to define and support the organisation's purpose, vision, goals and activities
• Shaping strategy and overseeing and driving impact
• Bringing insights of risks and opportunities from your specific area to the Board
• Driving organisational delivery and improvement
• Drawing on networks, as appropriate, to support Helpforce's work

The new Trustees will be instrumental in ensuring that Helpforce fulfils its mission and strategic objectives in a way that is driven by its values, remains financially sustainable and delivers improvements in health and patient care. Trustees will ultimately play an important role in determining the future strategy of the organisation as it embarks on its next stage of growth and expansion.

Helpforce is seeking Trustees who will build on and develop the charity's mission and work. The successful candidates will possess a high level of empathy and commitment, with a genuine desire to improve and support health and care systems through the power of volunteering. Additionally, having a strong interest in volunteering more broadly, either professionally or personally, would be encouraged in the incoming Trustees.

The new Trustees will bring at least one or some combination of the following skillsets:

• Community-based care: individuals will possess a background operating in, or an understanding of the role communities in supporting people with their health and care, either in the voluntary sector, community health, social care or local authorities. This may have been gained working in charities, social care, or at local authorities.
• Entrepreneurial business background: while a charity, Helpforce has experienced a tremendous amount of growth in the past six years. Someone who has operated in a start-up environment or brings an entrepreneurial lens to the Board would be highly valuable. Demonstrably high commercial acumen, particularly around developing new revenue streams through business development, would be of particular interest to the Board.
• Technology/platform expertise: individuals will have a technology background, with strong interest in those with expertise in tech-enabled development and digital platforms. This could have been gained across the public or private sector, with candidates coming from high-growth environments of similar scales to Helpforce being especially relevant.

The successful candidate will be able to work at a strategic level whilst understanding the detail and complexities of delivery, appreciating the difference between a non-executive and executive role. Although prior non-executive experience is welcome, applications are welcome from individuals who have not held such roles before.

Candidates must be based in the UK.

Sir Tom Hughes-Hallett, Founder and Chair
Dr. Anna Dixon, Deputy Chair
Claire Riley
Claire Newton
Jayne Blacklay
Karen Bonner
Rosemary Arbiter
The Hon. Michael Samuel
Prof. Sir Mike Richards

The culture of the organisation and the Board is friendly, open and inclusive. As a small charity, the Board is engaged with the work of the executive team and by extension the larger organisation. Willingness to be supportive and bring dedication and enthusiasm for the charity mission is an essential part of the Board's working culture.

This role is unremunerated, but pre-agreed travel expenses will be reimbursed. Trustees are appointed for a three-year term, which is renewable once.

Board meetings are currently held in a hybrid format, and when in-person they have historically been held in London on weekdays from 10:00am - 1:00pm. Circumstances permitting, Helpforce also holds an in-person strategy day. Trustees will likely be asked to sit on one of the charity's two sub-committees which are held virtually: Finance & Audit or Nomination & Renumeration. Time commitment is estimated at 7-9 days per year, including four Board meetings and further ad hoc engagement.

Helpforce welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. As individuals from ethnic minorities, or of international heritage, are currently under-represented on the Board, applications from those candidates would be particularly encouraged. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where diverse candidates can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.