Trustee

Together for Mental Wellbeing

Together for Mental Wellbeing – recruiting for up to three trustees with lived experience of mental distress

At Together, the longest-established mental health charity in England, we want to ensure that everyone who experiences mental distress is valued, can live the life they choose and can determine their own future. We will only achieve this ambition by being service user-led in all we do, and putting the insights from those with lived experience of mental distress at the heart of our decision-making. That’s why we are looking to appoint up to three new trustees with lived experience of mental distress to join our Board in a voluntary capacity.

What we do

Together for Mental Wellbeing is a national charity that supports people who experience mental distress to lead fulfilling and independent lives.

What makes us stand out is that we put people at the centre of their own support – they set their own goals and are in control of how we work alongside them to achieve these. We value people as experts in what works best for them, and draw on their skills and strengths to build resilience and support networks so they can eventually manage without us.

We are committed to promoting service user leadership wherever possible, and ensure the design and delivery of our services, as well as decisions at every level of the organisation, are shaped by the views and knowledge of those we support.

We work with approximately 1,000 people every month in around 70 locations and our services include:

• personalised support in the community
• accommodation based support
• advocacy services, including in secure hospitals
• criminal justice services, including in courts and probation services

For more information, visit .

Our values

We work together to facilitate choice through involvement, by doing what we say, never giving up on people, and looking to constantly improve how we work.

Our Board

We have an effective and collaborative Board of enthusiastic, friendly and committed trustees, who lead the development of Together and ensure that the charity exemplifies good practice.

The opportunity

We wish to appoint up to three trustees with lived experience of mental distress who can draw on their unique knowledge and insights as to how mental distress impacts on people’s lives, and share their passion and enthusiasm to drive the aspirations of the organisation.

Our approach is for the individual to determine whether or not they have lived experience of mental distress. One person’s lived experience is no more or less important than another’s.

We wish to increase the racial diversity of our leadership at Together and would particularly welcome people from black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds. Having completed a skills audit we also encourage applicants with experience of the following areas:

• Public sector procurement/contracting
• Communications and public relations
• Marketing/Branding/social media
• Digital development and innovation, and cyber security
• Fundraising
• Strategic use of volunteers

However, all applications are welcomed and will be considered.

We offer a full induction, along with ongoing training and development opportunities. Although our trustees are unpaid volunteers all expenses related to the role will be paid in full.

Typically trustees will attend around 10 meetings per year, occasional virtual attendance is possible, and be invited to events and visits. With preparation time for meetings this can equate to a commitment of 1-2 days per month.

As a Trustee you will:

• Join a committed and friendly Board
• Help shape our strategic development as a charity
• Influence our innovative projects and initiatives, especially with service users
• Develop new skills and knowledge
• Be supported to attend relevant conferences and other training events
• Help improve the mental health and wellbeing of people and communities

How to apply

To apply, please read the information pack which provides further details on the role and then send a supporting statement (ideally no longer than two pages) and a short CV or career summary, to our Board Secretary by an email via the button below.

Please refer to the information pack for the points which it would be helpful to include in your statement.

If you require reasonable adjustments to support your application please let us know.

We will be in touch with further information after the closing date of 02 April 2024.

If you require any guidance with your application, or if you would like to have an informal and confidential discussion about the role and/or any specific support needs, please contact our CEO, Linda Bryant