Trustee Recruitment Join Our Board and Help Shape Our Future
We are seeking new Trustees to join our Board and bring fresh expertise, insight, and strategic leadership as we continue to grow our impact. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute your professional skills to a missiondriven organisation that makes a real difference in our community.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences, and we are particularly keen to strengthen our Board with expertise in the following areas:
Legal
Experience in charity, commercial, employment, safeguarding, or property law.
HR
Experience in HR leadership, people management, organisational development, employee relations, or workforce strategy
Marketing & Communications
Skills in digital comms, PR, brand development, or audience engagement.
Fundraising / Philanthropy
Knowledge of income generation, donor stewardship, corporate partnerships, or grantmaking.
Commercial Tourism
Experience in visitor attractions, hospitality, destination marketing, or customer experience.
Adult Social Care
Understanding of care provision, safeguarding, regulation, or community support services.
Property / Surveying
Expertise in estates, facilities, compliance, capital planning, or asset management.
You do not need previous trustee experience - we value your professional insight, strategic thinking, and commitment to our mission.
About the charity:
COT has been at the forefront of learning disability support for over 40 years. Our innovative approach blends high-quality care, supported living, and life skills development with a thriving 100-acre farm that doubles as a popular family visitor attraction. This rare combination enables people with learning disabilities and autism to gain skills in areas like animal care, horticulture, customer service, and the culinary arts, while fostering a strong sense of community and inclusion.
With a mission to empower individuality and achieve happiness, we support over 96 people in community settings, offering both residential and supported living services and an additional 70 external students in life skills. We are known for our holistic, person-centred approach, and commitment to environmental stewardship and ethical farming. Our close-knit team of dedicated staff and volunteers is guided by values of courage, opportunity-seeking, collaboration, and doing the right thing.
About the Role
As a Trustee, you will play a key role in shaping our strategy, ensuring strong governance, and supporting the longterm sustainability of the organisation. You will work collaboratively with fellow Board members and the senior team to guide our direction and champion our values.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Providing strategic oversight and constructive challenge
- Bringing your professional expertise to Board discussions
- Ensuring good governance, financial sustainability, and risk management
- Acting as an ambassador for the organisation
- Supporting the senior team with insight, advice, and networks
Time Commitment
- 46 Board meetings per year (in person)
- 4-6 Committee meetings (online)
- Occasional support between meetings depending on your expertise
- A typical commitment is around 1015 hours per month, flexible around your availability
What Youll Gain
- A meaningful leadership role in a purposedriven organisation
- The opportunity to use your skills for social good
- Experience in governance and strategic decisionmaking
- A supportive, collaborative Board environment
- The satisfaction of helping shape our longterm impact
We Welcome Diverse Perspectives
We are committed to building a Board that reflects the diversity of the community we serve. We particularly encourage applications from people who bring lived experience, underrepresented backgrounds, or nontraditional career paths.
How to Apply
If you are ready to make a meaningful difference in the lives of disabled individuals and contribute to our impactful work, or would like some more information, please email:
[email protected]
or call 01233 861493 for an information pack.
Our workplace is built on acceptance, respect and inclusion where everyone feels they belong and can make meaningful contributions. We encourage applicant regardless of religion, ethnicity, nationality, disability status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family or parental status. If you need any assistance during the recruitment process, please let us know.
