Lived Experience Trustee

Leeds, England, United Kingdom

7/22/2025

Job Overview

Lived Experience Trustee

Voluntary position (Non-remunerated)

We’re looking for people from a wide variety of backgrounds to join our Board, but especially people with lived experience to help us make the right decisions for the people we support. In addition, you will possess the wisdom and curiosity to engage in and inform strategic discussions, drawing upon your lived and professional experience to help us achieve our objectives and realise our ambitions.

We offer comprehensive support and guidance to individuals undertaking their first Trustee appointment.

We foster a culture of inclusion for all employees, valuing their unique strengths, perspectives, and experiences. We believe that our diversity enables us to be a stronger team, making better decisions, driving innovation, and delivering superior results. As part of our commitment to increasing Board diversity, we particularly encourage applications from female candidates and candidates from the Global Majority.

For any queries regarding the appointment process, additional information, or to arrange an informal and confidential discussion, please contact Fiona Ruddick (Head of Corporate Governance) via email at [email protected].

Main duties of the job

Trustees are responsible for setting the strategic direction of the organisation, ensuring its long-term sustainability, and overseeing executive performance. We seek individuals with a passion for supporting the provision of quality care and support, who will play a vital role in upholding good governance, ensuring legal and regulatory compliance, and approving business plans.

Established in 1971 as a shelter for homeless men in Leeds, St Anne's Community Services has grown into a leading organisation with 1,400 employees serving the North of England.

We provide a diverse range of housing solutions, including 570 units of accommodation, and support services for over 1,500 individuals facing challenges such as learning disabilities, mental health issues, substance misuse, and homelessness. We collaborate with various organisations, including local authorities and healthcare providers, to deliver our services effectively.

Working for our organisation

St. Anne's wants to reward its employees for their hard work. Employee benefits include;

• Rising annual leave each year to a maximum of 33 days (including statutory holidays)
• 24 Hour Employee Assistance Programme
• Continuous opportunities for ongoing training and career development
• Cycle To Work scheme
• Refer A Friend recruitment initiative
• Flexible working opportunities (where applicable) upon successful completion of probation period
• Group Personal Pension Scheme
• Discounted income protection scheme
• Free car parking at most services
• Free life assurance cove
  
  

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

We are looking for people with a keen interest in supporting us in providing quality care and support, who will be instrumental in upholding good governance, ensuring legal and regulatory compliance, and approving business plans. Trustees will also contribute to strategic discussions with lived experience, and ensure effective systems are in place for managing St Anne's performance. The successful candidate will bring good knowledge of social housing, decision-making, confidence and understanding. We would like someone that will have the ability to collaborate effectively, and a commitment to St Anne's mission and values.

A willingness to engage with detailed reports, confidence in using technology for communication, and a keen interest or experience in co-production delivery within the third sector or housing context are also essential qualities for this role.

Person specification

Experience

Essential criteria

• good knowledge of social housing, decision-making, confidence and understanding. We would like someone that will have the ability to collaborate effectively, and a commitment to St Anne's mission and values.
  
  

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• We are looking for people with a keen interest in supporting us in providing quality care and support, who will be instrumental in upholding good governance, ensuring legal and regulatory compliance, and approving business plans.
  
  

St. Anne’s is working to actively promote equality, diversity and inclusion.

We want people from underrepresented groups such as disabled, black and ethnic minority, Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, and non-binary (LGBTQ+) communities to apply for all our roles.

St. Anne's is a Disability Confident employer. We are actively working to recruit and retain people with disabilities and long-term health conditions into our work force. If you are an applicant who has a disability, you will be offered an interview if you meet the essential criteria for the job. Please contact recruitment on 0113 243 5151 opt 3 if you require any reasonable adjustments.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name Fiona Ruddick Job title Head of Corporate Governance Email address [email protected]