Our Patrons, Trustees and Ambassadors play a very special role in the charity.

We are currently recruiting for new Trustees and Ambassadors, and on this page you can find out what's involved and how you can apply.

What is involved when becoming a Trustee?

We’re looking for trustees to join our Board from January 2021. 

Norfolk and Waveney Mind, as a registered charity exists to fulfil its charitable purposes. Trustees have a responsibility to understand the environment in which the charity is operating in the area of mental health and to lead the charity in fulfilling its purposes as effectively as possible with the resources available.  

The board of trustees must be effective and work well together, with shared vision to deliver the purpose of Norfolk and Waveney Mind. A good board involves people who represent a broad spectrum of experience, perspectives and opinions and recognises that there will be disagreement at times, but is able to deal with this and see it as a strength.  

Diversity is critical for a board to be effective; enabling varied discussions, active debate and decision making, so that together we can have the greatest impact. We encourage applications from people with lived experience of mental health problems and from all ethnic, socio-economic, religious and professional and personal backgrounds.

As a trustee you will have collective responsibility for : 

1. Ensuring that the organisation pursues its stated objects (purposes), as defined in its governing document, by developing and agreeing a long-term strategy.
2. Ensuring that the organisation complies with its governing document (ie its trust deed, constitution or memorandum and articles of association), charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
3. Ensuring that the organisation applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its charitable objects (ie the charity must not spend money on activities that are not included in its own objects, however worthwhile or charitable those activities are) for the benefit of the public.
4. Ensuring that the organisation defines its goals and evaluates performance against agreed targets and scrutinises the impact of the organisation.
5. Safeguarding the good name and values of the organisation.
6. Ensuring the effective and efficient administration of the organisation, including having appropriate policies and procedures in place.
7. Ensuring the financial stability of the organisation.
8. Protecting and managing the property of the charity and ensuring the proper investment of the charity’s funds.
9. Following proper and formal arrangements for the appointment, supervision, support, appraisal and remuneration of the chief executive (if the charity employs staff).
10. Leading the organisation towards fully achieving its commitment to a society where everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect. 

​She has run her own Coaching and Mentoring Company and her career started in the third sector. Louise’s personal experiences and her time as a carer are key to her person-centred approach to service delivery. 

Louise has a Master’s degree in Social and Public Health Policy, her dissertation focusing on the accessibility of mental health services for women from minority groups. She is also a qualified coach and mentor. For 10 years as a Non-Executive Director and Lay Member, she was Vice Chair at GYW Primary Care Trust , Norfolk and Waveney Cluster PCT and  GYW Clinical Commissioning Group.  Louise also led on Patient Safety & Quality, Safeguarding, and Patient & Public Engagement.

Louise is a Trustee at Centre 81 in Great Yarmouth, providing outreach services for people with physical disabilities. For 2 years Louise was the Chair of the Eastern Local Safeguarding Adults Partnership (ELSAP), which brings together partner organisations from across Great Yarmouth and Waveney.

“Working with a local Mind charity has brought together for me the range of experiences I have had during my career. Mostly, it’s enabled me to assist people with lived experience of mental ill health to be at the centre of changing services for the better – a passion I have held for many years,” says Louise.

Collaborative partnerships, the integration of services across agencies, community engagement as well as co-production are at the heart of Louise's approach, with the aim of providing more streamlined services for people using mental health services.  She feels privileged to be the Chair of Norfolk and Waveney Mind, and to have the opportunity to continue improving services alongside people with lived experience, volunteers, staff and trustees. 

My own journey to this point had been what you might call ‘a bit of a ride’…leaving home at 15 to join the Army, then serving worldwide in some nice and not-too-nice places, finally leaving after 24 years’ service with great memories…but a pair of dodgy knees, a knackered back, one wife and two daughters!

I joined Caterpillar (global manufacturing giant) as an Operations Manager and began a second career, holding various positions in Peterborough (UK), Larne (NI), Atlanta and Chicago (USA), Bangalore (India) and finally back to the UK as General Manager - Global Solutions. Phew!

I still having a dodgy back, knackered knees, one wife and now two married daughters, plus two beautiful grandchildren…but am now truly ‘jet-lagged’. 

I finally arrived in Hemsby, Norfolk, and am trying to slow down, but also looking for something to keep me semi-active; maybe add a little value from some of the experience gained in the 40 years-plus from being involved in the Engineering & Global Business environments.

As a plus, having now moved into house number 28, tips on packing can be supplied free of charge!

It is exciting being a Trustee at this moment within a respected charity, involved in the areas of mental health and wellbeing. These subjects have become national talking points - we are well-positioned to continue with the excellent service provided to date, and maybe - just maybe - we might even look to provide more! Being part of that will be a pleasure.

Janice returned to Suffolk due to family issues and was heavily involved in caring – her Mum had dementia, her Dad became disabled and her brother had mental health issues. 

Janice became a Trustee for Great Yarmouth & Waveney Mind in 2017. After losing her brother to mental health problems, Janice wanted to help others find and receive the support that her brother sadly did not have. 

Steve now runs the Choice and Medication website (local link: www.choiceandmedication.org/nsft), used across the whole of the British Isles, plus Australia, New Zealand and Canada. He is well known globally as the author of the Psychotropic Drug Directory, and nationally as a speaker on medicines to all types of audience - anyone who will listen, in fact. He is also a member of David Nutt’s Drug Science group. 

Steve became a Trustee of Norwich and Central Norfolk Mind in 2014.  Steve and his family have been season ticket holders in the Lower Barclay at Carrow Road for several decades - but don’t hold that against him (!). 

As an Ambassador of Norfolk and Waveney Mind, you will use your communication and network to help raise funds and awareness for the services we provide to support people’s mental health. 

You’ll be a friendly face of the charity in your community, supporting events, networking and giving talks to raise awareness of our services and inspiring people to support us. Help us to ensure no one has to face poor mental health alone.

As an Ambassador you will have collective responsibility for : 

• Making introductions to key community figures, groups and networks who could either help with fundraising, campaigns or volunteer themselves, and improving mental health services (e.g. MPs, mayors, WI, golf clubs, rotaries etc.)
• Sit on local advisory boards and engage in dialogue with local professionals, identify needs within your community and feed back to our Board of Trustees.
• Attending local functions, meetings and fundraising events.
• Speaking on behalf of Norfolk and Waveney Mind at cheque collections and events.
• Managing stands at community events, galas, fetes, balls and sports events to inspire support for our services.
• Taking part in organised bucket collections and providing support at local events.
• Researching and exploring local networks and using your existing networks to increase support for the charity.
• Introducing our fundraising team to decision makers in local companies and the community. 

As an Ambassador, what can we offer you?

• An initial personal meeting with the Chair of our Board of Trustees and CEO.
• Opportunity to use your public speaking, communication and influencing skills to talk about the service Norfolk and Waveney Mind provides.
• Develop your listening and empathising skills.
• Be a part of a friendly team that makes a difference in the local community.
• Have a rewarding experience in a volunteering role that delivers results and see the difference you are making.
• Information about our work and service provision with regular updates on local and national developments. 
• Receive an induction, talk training and pre-agreed out-of-pocket expenses reimbursed within our guidelines. 

Additional Information 

This is a flexible volunteer role, for which we’d recommend a few hours every month, or more if you have the time and local opportunities arise. You will be notified of new opportunities by email and phone for you to choose from. 

Whether it’s minutes or months, hours or days, the time you are able to give by volunteering with us really does help.