About St Augustine’s Centre

St Augustine's Centre is a charity that offers a warm, welcome and safe space to people seeking support and sanctuary here in Calderdale; together we share food, stories and build relationships. We offer specialist advice on immigration and asylum support, and one to one support with welfare, housing, health and access to wider services. We provide hot meals, English classes, training, cultural, social and wellbeing activities, trips and volunteering opportunities. We build awareness about human rights, campaigning locally and nationally. We began in 1968 as a Church playgroup and in 2009 became an independent charity, continually evolving and welcoming all, regardless of faith, ethnicity or background. We have 15 staff, 150 volunteers and a community of 650 individuals and families from 57 different countries. 

 

 

We are looking for five new Trustees

St Augustine's is now seeking new trustees with compassion and commitment to support the charity to continue to meet its mission, live out its values and deliver our vision: To ensure that people seeking asylum and refugees become part of Calderdale life, and alongside our local community in Park Ward, are able to feel safe and empowered.

It's important that our board represent a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and diversity, including those with lived experiences of the UK Asylum & Refugee system and young people under 25. It must represent and reflect our community.

We want to expand our existing board of 5 members to 10, and are looking for 5 new Trustees with a range of skills, knowledge and experience including, but not exclusively, the following areas:

  • Human Resources and/or the law
  • Social enterprise/business development
  • Communications and campaigning
  • Fundraising and finance
  • Safeguarding 
  • Knowledge of UK Immigration system

Within these roles we would welcome people who also have local knowledge and connections in Calderdale, experience of leadership, strategic management and governance including policy development.

We are also seeking a new Chair to the board to help us work together to make the St Augustine’s Centre charity even stronger and ensure future sustainability.   

Never been a Trustee before? We will provide you with support.

We are a caring and supportive board and are offering a support and mentoring programme to all new board members who’d like it, so we all understand the duties and responsibilities of being a trustee.

What do St Augustine’s Centre Trustees do?

 

Our Trustees have overall oversight of the charity. They are not involved in the day-to-day running of the charity - this is done by a team of staff and volunteers led by our Centre Director. However, our Board of Trustees collectively make decisions about the approach the charity will take and its future direction. They act as guardians of the vision and values of the organisation.  They make sure we have the policies and procedures to meet our legal obligations and are financially sustainable and accountable. They provide support, ideas and challenge to our staff team so that we can achieve the best we can for our service users and members and demonstrate we are making a difference.

What is the commitment involved?

Being a trustee is a voluntary role.  There is no payment, although expenses may be paid in some circumstances.  We would hope that Trustees would be able to visit the Centre regularly although meetings are likely to continue to be accessible by ‘zoom’.  It’s hard to define the time commitment. The minimum expectation would be to attend Board meetings for 2 hours every 2 months and be on at least one sub-group which might meet monthly for a similar time. Beyond the meetings it is largely down to the individual how much time they want to give. It is not unusual for Trustees to devote half a day a week to the Centre but with flexibility and choice about timing.

Why become a Trustee?

Being involved in something that is making a difference and changing people’s lives can be very rewarding.  It is a role that can stimulate and challenge you as well as being personally fulfilling. It is a great way to give something back to your community. Being involved in decision-making on all aspects of the organisation can also be a great way to develop your skills and enhance your CV and/or your life beyond work

Above all else, St Augustine’s is a truly exciting and dynamic organisation to be part of. There is so much important work going on that new Trustees will have little difficulty finding something that makes good use of your skills and experiences and where you can see very practical benefits to the lives of a diverse range of people.  Why not join us?

Interested?

Find out more about our work by:

Come and say hello at one or more of the following events:

  • 19th June, visit our stall at the Great Together at the Piece Hall for Refugee Week (1.30am – 4.30pm)
  • 29th June – St Augustine’s Centre Open Day, 12noon – 3pm. HX1 5PG. Pop in! 
  • 6th July, 6pm - Zoom open evening event for people interested in becoming a Trustee.

If you have any questions or would like to talk to an existing Board member, please contact  su@staugustinescentrehalifax.org.uk / 07394 937663.

Recruitment Deadline:

Send in your completed application by the 16th July, you will find the form by clicking here.