Wanted - a passionate and inspirational leader to Chair the board of Trustees
What difference will you make?
The Chair of Trustees will be someone who will lead an organisation of extremely dedicated and passionate individuals who value every interaction with families. We look for the following attributes but an understanding of what we do and the willingness to learn is also highly valued. Strong leadership and management experience, ideally in a Board or senior executive role A deep understanding of governance and strategy A collaborative style combined with the confidence to constructively challenge Passion for early childhood, social impact, or community work Excellent public-speaking and networking skills Experience in fundraising or corporate partnerships (highly desirable)
What are we looking for?
Person Specification We're looking for someone who brings Strong leadership and management experience, ideally in a Board or senior executive role A deep understanding of governance and strategy A collaborative style combined with the confidence to constructively challenge Passion for early childhood, social impact, or community work Excellent public-speaking and networking skills Experience in fundraising or corporate partnerships (highly desirable) We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and life experiences. We are particularly keen to broaden the diversity of our Board and strongly encourage applications from individuals with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010, including people from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities, disabled people, LGBTQ+ individuals, younger people, and those with lived experience of the challenges faced by the families we support.
What will you be doing?
A Message from our Current Chair At Home-Start Stroud and Gloucester, 2025 marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter. We have a brand-new CEO and a team of engaged, passionate trustees, all committed to supporting families and children through those crucial first five years of life. Working through our dynamic team of staff and volunteers, we're reaching more families than ever, helping young mums build life-changing support networks, meeting new dads in hospital as they navigate the first few hours of fatherhood, and supporting parents struggling with their mental health. We let them know they're not alone. We offer practical help and, just as importantly, really good listening. As statutory services continue to feel the strain, our work has never been more essential. We're proud to partner with the NHS and a range of funders to support families through some of the most challenging moments in their lives. I've been involved with Home-Start since its inception in 1999 and have had the joy of watching our impact grow year by year. I've seen parents helped become volunteers, volunteers become staff, staff become leaders, and I've had the privilege of working alongside an exceptional, committed team. Now, after 26 years, I'm stepping away from Home-Start, confident that we're in a strong position reputable, resilient, and ready to grow. We're now looking for a new Chair to lead us into our next phase. This is a pivotal moment for the organisation. With exciting opportunities in corporate partnerships, individual giving, and a rising demand for our services, we know the right person is out there, someone passionate, forward-thinking, and ready to champion families and children when it matters most. As we always say Childhood can't wait. Warm wishes, Heather Cunild Chair, Home-Start Stroud and Gloucester