Join our Board of Trustees

Our trustees come from all walks of life

Whether you’re an experienced trustee or wanting to take your first step at board level, we want to hear from you. We welcome applications from all ages and backgrounds, and in order to enhance the diversity of our board, we would particularly like to hear from people from ethnically marginalised groups, particularly Black African backgrounds, LGBTQ+, people with neurodiverse +/or physical disabilities, and other marginalised groups, and especially those with direct experience of services provided by our hospice.

We're looking for new trustees who can share their skills in one or more of the following areas:

• Legal
• Estates/Facilities
• Retail/Commercial
• General practice

Role of a trustee

At its simplest, the role of the board of trustees is to receive assets from donors, safeguard them and apply them, to the charitable objects of the hospice. The board of trustees must always act in the best interests of the hospice, exercising the same standard of duty of care that a prudent person would apply if looking after the affairs of someone for whom they have responsibility. The board of trustees is responsible for the governance of the organisation and must act as a group and not as individuals.

As a trustee you will receive:

• Induction, training and reimbursable expenses
• Opportunities to make strategic decisions and develop new skills
• Opportunities to work with senior professionals
• The chance to use your skills and experience to improve the end of life care of local people and your community.

Trustees are expected to attend, in person or via tele-conferencing:

• Sessions agreed as part of each trustee’s personalised induction programme
• Bi-monthly Board meetings
• Approximately two Board away days per year, dedicated to strategic planning
• Trustees are strongly encouraged to join one of the seven board sub-committees. These are held virtually via Teams

Previous board/trustee experience is not necessary and the hospice welcomes applications from all ages and backgrounds.

Want to know more about the hospice?

Each year, the Community Hospice cares for around 3,000 people with terminal illness, as well as their families.

Our care isn't restricted to one place - we care for patients wherever they call home or wherever best suits their needs.

We're caring for people throughout our Greenwich and Bexley community, so this might be in beds and outpatient facilities at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, in a patient's home, in care homes and in our local prisons, as well as on our Woodlands Ward at our Abbey Wood location.

We take a holistic approach to care that goes beyond physical needs; offering spiritual, social and psychological care, advice and support. We also support and educate to deliver high quality, individualised and co-ordinated end of life care.

Key dates

• Virtual information events: 5 and 13 August
• Deadline for applications: 18 August
• Interviews will take place during the weeks commencing 1 and 8 September