Board Trustee in Coventry

Become a Trustee at Coventry Cyrenians – help us become a Registered Provider of Social Housing Coventry Cyrenians is seeking three new Trustees to help us become a Registered Provider (RP) of social housing and expand access to genuinely affordable housing in Coventry. We’d welcome an initial informal conversation to explore whether your experience (especially in finance, housing, or commercial and regulated environments) could strengthen our Board at this pivotal moment. Why this matters now Every night in Coventry, people are without a safe place to call home – not through choice, but because they fall through gaps in housing and support. At Coventry Cyrenians, we exist to close those gaps. For over 50 years, we’ve supported single people facing homelessness. Many live with complex challenges, including mental health needs, trauma, neurodivergence, or recovery from addiction. Increasingly, we’re also supporting people who are simply priced out of housing. Each year, we support 350 people through our supported housing and specialist provision. Becoming an RP will enable us to grow our impact and reach more people who would otherwise be left behind. How we close the gaps We provide more than accommodation – we offer a pathway to stability. In practice, that means: Safe, supported housing (self-contained units and shared homes) Skilled staff who work alongside residents to build independence Specialist provision, including female-only and culturally sensitive accommodation Support for people navigating multiple, overlapping challenges We work closely with the local authority, but we focus on single people who might not be able to access statutory support and have few other options. Further details on our work are available in our latest Annual Report and Strategy Where we’re going (and what it means for our Board) We’ve decided to register as a RP, and we’re now preparing our application. Registration will expand our impact beyond supported housing, increase access to genuinely affordable homes, and help us respond to the growing number of people experiencing homelessness due to housing costs. Over the next 12–18 months, our main organisational focus will be getting our governance ready for registration. This includes strengthening Board assurance, risk management, financial sustainability, asset strategy, and compliance. As part of this transition, the Board will evolve from a traditional charity Trustee model to a Non‑Executive Director model, reflecting RP regulatory expectations while retaining our charitable mission and purpose. What we’re looking for We are seeking Board members who want to support our organisation through a significant period of change. Our draft Board Skills Framework and Job Description set out the role in detail. We are particularly interested in people with experience in: Finance Commercial and/or regulated environments Housing (especially social housing or RPs) We also welcome applications from people with lived experience of homelessness/ housing insecurity and from underrepresented communities in governance. The time commitment is approximately 6 Board meetings a year, preparation, and occasional sub‑group work. Most Board meetings are held virtually. Just as important is your commitment to our purpose and your willingness to contribute thoughtfully and constructively to the Trustee team and the wider organisation. Trustee roles are currently voluntary and are unremunerated. Arrangements around expenses are under review as part of the RP application process. Eligibility requirements apply, including compliance with charity law and appropriate checks. What you’ll gain You’ll join an experienced, collaborative Board with strong roots in the local system – including senior leaders from public services, commissioning, and the private sector. This is an opportunity for you to: Shape the future direction of a respected local charity Contribute at a pivotal moment of transformation Work alongside people who are committed, capable, and generous with their expertise Build your Board-level experience as we transition to RP status As a Trustee, you’ll be part of shaping an organisation through a significant period of growth and regulatory transition as we move towards RP status. Could this be for you? If you’re motivated by creating opportunity where others see barriers and you’re ready to bring your skills and energy to a Board that’s ambitious and grounded, we’d love to hear from you. We’ve designed a simple, welcoming recruitment process: Initial conversations: informal discussions with our Chair, Jonathan Price‑Marlow, and Chief Executive, Caron Williams, to explore mutual fit Application: a short expression of interest Meeting the Board: a chance to meet other Trustees and ask questions Appointment: subject to references and due diligence We are hoping to make appointments over the next 4 weeks. Interested in finding out more? To arrange an informal conversation, please contact Jo.Page@coventrycyrenians.org by July 21 to explore whether this could be a good fit — for you and for us. Person Specification Skills Matrix - Housing To support recruitment or annual review and individual development. Board members are not expected to be strong in every criterion. The aim is balance across the Board and honest self-reflection. Board Member Role Outline Purpose of the Role(s) Board Members work collectively to provide strategic leadership, uphold the organisation’s core purpose, which in this case is to deliver safe, high-quality temporary homes and services to people who are homeless. Members support and challenge the executive team, oversee risk and performance, and act as stewards of the organisation’s resources, reputation and long-term sustainability. The Role Focus. On this occasion the Board is particularly interested in appointing Trustees with experience in the following areas: housing, regulation and/or financial governance. Housing Experience This Trustee role brings housing-related insight to support the Board’s strategic oversight, risk management and decision-making as the organisation prepares for Registered Housing Provider status. Experience may include social housing or local authority housing; housing governance, regulation or assurance; building safety, asset management or compliance; housing growth or organisational transition; and tenant experience and consumer standards. Regulatory Experience This Trustee role brings regulatory insight and judgement to support the Board’s oversight of compliance, risk and assurance. Experience may be drawn from regulated sectors such as housing, social care, health, financial services or local government, including familiarity with regulatory frameworks, inspections, assurance processes and regulatory change. Financial Experience This Trustee role brings financial insight to support the Board’s responsibilities for financial sustainability and stewardship of resources. Experience may include financial governance, budgeting, financial reporting, reserves, treasury or investment decisions, and understanding financial risk within complex or changing organisations. Values and Behaviours Board Members are expected to demonstrate: • Integrity and independence - acting in the organisation’s best interests • Sound judgement - weighing evidence, risk and lived experience • Constructive challenge - asking thoughtful questions and supporting improvement • Collaboration and respect - working well with other Board members and the executive • Communication skills - listening, influencing and contributing clearly • Curiosity and a learning mindset - open to new information and continuous development Expectations • Commitment to the organisation’s social purpose and values • Willingness to complete induction and ongoing training • Ability to maintain confidentiality and manage conflicts of interest • Readiness to contribute actively and bring diverse insight, experience or expertise Board Members contribute individual insight while taking collective responsibility for Board decisions. Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership • Shape, approve and review the organisation’s vision, mission and strategic plan • Ensure decisions reflect the needs of tenants, customers and communities • Monitor progress against strategic objectives and adapt to changes in context Governance and Compliance • Ensure the organisation meets all regulatory, legal and constitutional requirements, including those associated with Registered Housing Provider status • Contribute to strong, effective governance, honest reporting and transparent decision-making • Prepare for and participate fully in Board and committee meetings Performance and Accountability • Hold the executive to account for delivery, quality and impact • Ensure KPIs, tenant feedback, audits and assurance reports inform decisions • Support continuous improvement and high standards People, Culture and HR • Champion a positive, inclusive and respectful culture • Ensure equality, diversity and inclusion are visible in decisions and behaviour • Promote strong leadership, wellbeing and organisational learning Tenant and Community Focus • Keep tenant voice and lived experience central to Board conversations • Support meaningful engagement and a strong service-quality culture • Ensure the organisation delivers safe, fair, accessible services External and Ambassadorial Role • Represent the organisation professionally and positively • Build constructive relationships with partners, stakeholders and regulators • Uphold the organisation’s reputation and act in line with its values Time Commitment Typically, 6 Board meetings per year, plus committee work as agreed. Preparation time for reading papers. Attendance at strategy days, training and occasional tenant or community events.