How To Apply
You are encouraged to contact Steve Mannix, Chair of Trustees to discuss this role informally and confidentially. Please contact him at [email protected] to arrange a convenient time.
To apply for this role, please send a letter of no more than 3 sides of A4 or a video of no more than 5 minutes, explaining what attracts you to this position, and evidence of your ability to meet the specification.
In addition, with your application, please supply:
- Your CV
- Names and contact details for two professional referees
- A completed Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form
Please note we shall not take up references unless candidates are invited to a second interview.
Applications should be submitted to [email protected] by 10:00am on Thursday 4th June 2026.
Here at The OutHouse, we are in an exciting period of development. We have recently received significant investment in our work for the next three years to enable us to expand our services in Colchester and across Greater Essex.
With the LGBTQ+ community in a current state of vulnerability, the work we do and support we provide has never been of more importance.
We are seeking new Trustees to join our Board. We are interested to hear from individuals who have skills and knowledge of the following, in either a paid or voluntary capacity:
- Business development and growth
- Service delivery
- Fundraising and income generation
- Legal, HR and contract management
As a Trustee, you will help lead the organisation, consolidate its current operations and support future expansion. You will work alongside our other committed Board members, Chief Executive and passionate staff team, making a significant difference to the lives of local LGBTQ+ individuals of all ages.
If you believe you are the person to enable us to reach our full potential, then we look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you for your interest in this vital role and for wanting to become a part of The OutHouse’s meaningful history and future impact.
- Steve Mannix, Chair – Board of Trustees
Who We Are
The OutHouse was founded, originally as the Colchester Gay Switchboard, on 5th December 1979.
During our history, a lot has happened for the LGBTQ+ community, in UK law and rights which has slowly led to a greater social acceptance and legal protection. However, with the recent rise in culture wars and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric in the media and UK politics, discrimination is on the rise.
Throughout Colchester and Essex there is significant change commencing. NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICB’s) are being restructured, and local authorities are undergoing Local Government Reform. In addition, a new Mayor will be appointed in 2028 with increased devolved decision-making from Westminster. This is likely to have an impact on funding, resources and service delivery across adult and social care, education and youth services.
Whilst the next few years will be challenging for our community there are a wide range of new opportunities and partnerships to be secured. The OutHouse is committed to ensuring its services remain accessible and relevant. As an organisation we will remain agile, responding first and foremost to the needs of the community within this changing landscape.
The OutHouse has recently transferred its operating model from a charity to a CIO (Charity Commission no. 1204555), providing opportunities for LGBTQ+ people throughout Greater Essex. We work to support LGBTQ+ individuals to find their community and achieve their full potential.
Acting as a rounded resource of support, our services extend to the following core areas:
- Community Engagement - Recognising the various mental, emotional and social needs relating to bettering an individual’s health and wellbeing, whether it be for adults or young people and their support networks.
- Counselling - Providing an accessible Counselling Service of utmost confidentiality and understanding around the nuances of the community; available to both adults and young people.
- Training - Offering bespoke training for individuals and businesses to establish safe spaces through awareness and understanding.
Our Purpose
Our purpose is to provide and advocate for safe and inclusive spaces for everyone from the LGBTQ+ community.
We have recently agreed a set of Goals to focus our work over the next few years. These include:
GOAL 1: Lean & efficient organisation: ensuring The OutHouse is led, governed, managed and resourced in the most efficient and lean way possible, allowing us to meet the needs of our community whilst continually improving.
GOAL 2: County-wide expansion to support the most vulnerable LGBTQ+ community members: including young people, LGBTQ+ adults (including where there is intersectionality), trans+, and aging LGBTQ+ population and families of LGBTQ+ people.
GOAL 3: Embed co-production & evaluation for efficient community led social impact: involve the people who use our services, professionals, and communities in equal partnership to achieve a collective outcome, striving for excellence, quality, and sustainability of our services, whilst maintaining safety.
GOAL 4: Brand, voice & awareness: establish consistency in brand, visual identity, tone of voice; increasing awareness and developing our external voice and profile.
GOAL 5: County-wide influencer of social change: positioning The OutHouse as the leading authority on LGBTQ+ matters across Greater Essex and create a Greater Essex Queer Coalition with local LGBTQ+ organisational leaders.
GOAL 6: Archive our local queer history: ensuring that our archive is preserved and accessible for future generations, capturing important local histories and undertaking research into local LGBTQIA+ life and disseminating our findings.
GOAL 7: Centre of Excellence: achieve ‘Gold standard’ for each area of our operations.
GOAL 8: Sustainability and self-sufficiency: build capacity and capability to enable the organisation to be as self-sufficient as possible.
Trustee Role Description
The duties of a Trustee are as follows:
- Ensuring that the organisation pursues its stated objects (purposes) as defined in its governing document. Trustees will help develop and agree a long-term strategy to achieve this.
- Ensuring that the organisation complies with its governing document/s
- Ensuring that the organisation complies with charity law, company law, employment law and any other appropriate legislation and regulations.
- Ensuring that the organisation only uses its resources for its charitable objectives. The charity must not spend money on activities that are not included in its objects. Even if these are considered worthwhile or charitable.
- Ensuring that the organisation defines its goals and evaluates performance against agreed targets.
- Safeguarding the good name and values of the organisation.
- Ensuring the effective and efficient administration of the organisation. This includes having appropriate policies and procedures in place.
- Ensuring the financial stability of the organisation.
- Protecting and managing the property of the charity and ensuring its funds are invested properly.
- As well as the statutory duties above, each trustee should use their specific skills, knowledge and experience to help the board reach sound decisions.
This may involve:
- Reviewing board papers
- Leading discussions
- Focusing on key issues
- Providing advice and guidance on new initiatives
- Advising on any issues where the trustee has special expertise
Person specification
- A commitment to the organisation and its aims.
- Knowledge and experience of the LGBTQ+ community and awareness of current historic key issues and associated sensitives.
- A willingness to devote necessary time and effort.
- Strategic vision.
- Good independent judgement.
- An ability to think creatively.
- A willingness to speak their mind.
- An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties and liabilities of trusteeship.
- An ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
- A commitment to Nolan’s seven principles: Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty, Leadership
Diversity Statement
The OutHouse is an equal opportunities employer and actively promotes diversity in our staff team and volunteers. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, gender identity, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.
Please let us know if you need this information in a different format.
Applications (details above) should be submitted to [email protected] by 10:00am on Thursday 4th June 2026.
Benefits:
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Colchester CO1 2QX
