Strategic Charity Trustee — Governance & Growth

Join a charity transforming addiction recovery. The Living Room is seeking a trustee with charity or voluntary sector experience to help guide our next stage of growth as a Lived Experience Recovery Organisation.

What difference will you make?

The Living Room is at an exciting stage of development.

As we expand our recovery services across Hertfordshire and beyond, we are looking for a trustee who can help us grow in a thoughtful, sustainable and well-governed way.

We are evolving as a Lived Experience Recovery Organisation (LERO), embedding recovery voices not only within our services but throughout leadership and decision-making. This is an important and ambitious step for the organisation, and strong board support is essential to helping us achieve it successfully.

Your experience within the charity or voluntary sector will help us

• Strengthen governance and board effectiveness
• Support strategic decision-making and sustainable growth
• Ensure good oversight of risk, performance and impact
• Bring insight into charity sector best practice
• Support organisational development as we reach new communities
• Help embed lived experience safely and meaningfully within governance

Most importantly, you will help shape the future direction of a charity that changes lives every day.

As a trustee, you will work collaboratively with fellow board members and the executive team to ensure The Living Room remains resilient, compassionate and focused on delivering meaningful recovery outcomes for individuals and families affected by addiction.

We are particularly interested in people with experience in areas such as

• Charity governance or trustee responsibilities
• Leadership within the charity or voluntary sector
• Strategic planning or organisational development
• Health, social care or recovery services
• Impact measurement, evaluation or outcomes

Previous trustee experience is welcome but not essential. We are equally interested in people with strong charity or voluntary sector experience who understand how effective organisations and boards operate.

The time commitment is approximately 4–6 hours per month, including board meetings and light preparation.

We warmly welcome applications from people with lived experience of recovery, or those who have supported someone through addiction. Your perspective and insight would be hugely valued.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for a trustee who brings both relevant experience and the personal qualities needed to contribute effectively to a collaborative and purpose-driven board.

Experience And Knowledge

You will have a strong understanding of charity governance and how effective boards operate. This may come from previous trustee experience or from a senior role within the charity or voluntary sector where governance formed part of your responsibilities.

We are particularly interested in individuals who can demonstrate experience in one or more of the following areas

• Charity governance, including an understanding of trustee duties and responsibilities
• Leadership within the charity or voluntary sector
• Strategic planning and organisational development
• Health, social care or addiction/recovery services
• Impact measurement, evaluation or outcomes-focused work

You should be confident in contributing at a strategic level, with the ability to see the bigger picture while understanding the practical realities organisations face.

Skills And Abilities

Alongside your experience, you will bring

• Strong strategic thinking and sound judgement
• The ability to analyse information, ask constructive questions and contribute to informed decision-making
• Confidence to both support and appropriately challenge the executive team
• Good communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively
• A commitment to maintaining high standards of governance, integrity and accountability

Personal qualities

We are looking for someone who is

• Committed to the mission of supporting people affected by addiction and enabling lasting recovery
• Values-led, with integrity, empathy and a genuine interest in making a difference
• Open-minded and respectful of different perspectives, including lived experience
• Willing to engage, prepare for meetings and contribute actively to discussions
• Comfortable working as part of a team and sharing collective responsibility

Lived Experience

We warmly welcome applications from individuals with lived experience of addiction and recovery, or those who have supported a loved one. This is not a requirement, but it is highly valued and aligns with our commitment as a Lived Experience Recovery Organisation (LERO).

Above all, we are looking for someone who shares our commitment to strong governance, compassionate leadership and meaningful impact, and who is motivated to help The Living Room continue to grow and support more people across Hertfordshire.

Hybrid

What will you be doing?

We are looking for a committed trustee who understands how charities operate and wants to use their experience to help shape the future of recovery…