Homeless Connect is currently seeking passionate and skilled individuals to join its Board of Trustees. As the representative body for the homelessness sector in Northern Ireland, Homeless Connect plays a vital role in shaping policy, supporting frontline services, and delivering direct assistance to those in need.
This voluntary opportunity is ideal for those who share the organisation’s values and are committed to making a meaningful impact in the fight against homelessness. Trustees contribute strategic guidance and governance, helping to ensure the charity remains effective, accountable, and aligned with its mission.
If you have experience in areas such as environmental sustainability, legal affairs, or risk management—or simply a strong commitment to social justice—Homeless Connect would welcome your application.
About our organisation
We at Homeless Connect believe that having a safe place to call home is a fundamental human right.
Homeless Connect was founded in 1983 to represent organisations working with people experiencing homelessness. Today our services are needed now more than ever. The coronavirus pandemic and soaring cost of living have exacerbated the situation. Poverty in Northern Ireland has grown significantly, and homelessness is now at crisis point which cannot be ignored.
We support the sector by helping to shape government policy, providing quality training, and taking on the preventable causes of homelessness.
Today we still do that and much more. We work collaboratively to create a community of support, by being the voice of the sector and by delivering direct assistance to those in need through our projects. We support frontline staff in a range of ways including training, practical workshops, networking, and shared learning opportunities.
We work closely with service users and people with lived experience because we believe in a co-design approach to homelessness services and the development of policy and strategy.
Working together we seek to shape government policy and public opinion to enable resources that ensure preventative and responsive services.
Role Title
Trustee
Location
Mallusk/Belfast
Description of duties
Trustees are volunteers and their role is unpaid; however, reasonable out-of-pocket expenses will be reimbursed. This does not form any type of employment contract and should not be interpreted as such.
Trustees must ensure that Homeless Connect:
- complies with charity law, and the requirements of the Charity Commission
- act in line with the organisations Articles of Association.
- remains solvent and acts in the interest of its beneficiaries.
- avoids undertaking activities that might place the organisations property, funds, assets, or reputation at undue risk.
- takes special care when investing the funds of the organisation.
Trustees must:
- act collectively as a group and not as individuals.
- ensure that all decisions and actions are consistent with Homeless Connects aims and values.
- follow the law.
- make decisions for the good of the Homeless Connect.
- act with integrity and avoid any personal conflicts of interest or misuse of charity funds or assets.
- not profit from their role.
- contribute to the Board and the governance of the organisation as a whole and provide strategic advice.
- must protect and safeguard all those that come into contact with Homeless Connect.
As a Trustee you will need:
- a commitment to the vision, mission and values of Homeless Connect
- to be willing to meet the minimum time requirement
- integrity
- good strategic vision and independent judgement
- creative thinking skills
- teamworking skills
- an understanding of the experiences, needs and challenges faced by the people Homeless Connect support.
Profile of candidates sought
Homeless Connect Board is particularly seeking Trustees who have skills in one or more of the following areas, but are open to all applicants:
- Environmental/Sustainability
- Legal
- Risk Management
Trustees are expected to bring senior level experience to help support the work of Homeless Connect.
Approx. Time Commitment
The Board meets four times a year, typically on the last Thursday of the selected month, during normal office hours. Meetings generally last around two hours, from 12:30pm to 2:30pm, and lunch is provided.
In addition to the main Board, Homeless Connect operates two subcommittees:
Finance, Audit & Risk, and Human Resources.
How to apply or to seek further info (Contact Name, Telephone Number and email)
To apply please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining why you are interested and what skills and experience you feel you could bring to the Board to:
Paula Maskey, Head of Business Solutions
Paula.maskey@homelessconnect.org
07759129137
