Award-winning youth charity Mentoring Plus is seeking three or more new Trustees to join its Board, in advance of existing members coming to the end of their maximum nine-year tenure.

Since 1998 Mentoring Plus has been supporting children and young people struggling with education, family and emotional wellbeing. Every week our trained volunteer mentors, skilled professionals and youth workers reach over 150 young people across our region, offering time and space to get out of the house, pursue positive interests and reflect on the issues affecting them.

Young people tell us they feel happier, safer, more able to cope in the classroom and more confident about the future. Families appreciate better home relationships and direct support with school and accessing adult services. Schools report that students engage better with education, are more resilient and enjoy improved relationships, and staff are more able to understand individual needs and work alongside families to support them.

Based in Bath and working across Bath & NE Somerset and the surrounding region, Mentoring Plus has trebled in size in the last ten years and now has 22 staff and a turnover over £800,000. It holds two local authority commissions for mentoring services and has a growing paid service project as part of a diversified funding strategy.

Mentoring Plus has the opportunity to respond to growing need and make even more difference, and also the challenge of a donor environment affected by the cost of living and competition for funds. As we drive forward, we’re looking for Trustees who feel aligned to our work and who are able to offer time, knowledge and compassionate challenge across its whole operation.

All applicants are welcome and in particular we are seeking Trustees able to offer one or more of the following areas of expertise:

·         Legal (youth justice, charity law, corporate or contract law, or similar)

·         Social care, mental wellbeing support and/or related areas of practice

·         Education

·         Child safeguarding

·         Running a small/medium sized enterprise within or outside the charity sector

·         Lived experience of challenging circumstances

·         We are seeking at least one Board member aged under 30 (approx) but welcome applications from all ages

Our Trustees devolve day to day management of the organisation to the executive team, but aim to offer scrutiny, insight and constructive contribution to shape strategy and respond to opportunities.

As a community charity, we rely on contacts and introductions to potential supporters, volunteers or businesses in our region and beyond, so this is a key requirement of Board members. We also ask Trustees to help with hosting events connecting with our community and raising funds from time to time.

All new Trustees have a careful induction process and a buddy system to ensure they feel able to access information and contribute to discussions. The Board meets for about two hours at least every two months, in person or online, and corresponds with the executive team regularly in between. Pre-agreed expenses can be claimed.

Safer Recruitment procedures will be followed including an enhanced DBS check and employment references taken and verified.

Mentoring Plus is committed to maximising inclusion irrespective of age, gender identity, sexuality, ethnicity, background, life experiences, disabilities, learning difficulties, lifestyle, beliefs etc, provided that individuals are able to meet the requirements of the role with appropriate support. We operate a strict equal opportunities policy for both adults and young people. Our central Bath premises have parking and are wheelchair accessible.