Trustee

Help shape a healthier future for children and families. Can you help drive the future success of a growing national charity? HENRY is a national charity dedicated to giving every baby and child the healthiest possible start in life. Working with parents, carers, communities and early years professionals, HENRY delivers evidence-based programmes, training and support that help families build healthy habits, strengthen relationships and improve long-term wellbeing. Founded in 2009, HENRY supports over 21,000 families annually, with a particular focus on communities experiencing the greatest health inequalities.

Through direct family support, professional training and advocacy, HENRY works to reduce health inequalities and improve outcomes for babies and young children across the UK. Guided by its values of empathy, respect, collaboration and impact, HENRY's 2030 strategy focuses on expanding reach, strengthening sustainability, maintaining quality and impact, and increasing influence on early years policy and practice.

As HENRY enters an exciting new phase of growth and development, we are seeking trustees who share our vision of a healthy and happy start for every baby and child and who can help shape the future direction, sustainability and impact of the organisation.

The role of a trustee: Trustees play a vital role in the leadership of HENRY. They are responsible for ensuring that the organisation:

• Delivers its charitable purpose
• Uses its resources effectively
• Complies with legal and regulatory requirements
• Is well governed and strategically directed

Trustees work collectively to:

• Set and monitor strategy
• Oversee financial performance and sustainability
• Manage risk
• Support and constructively challenge the executive team

This is a strategic role rather than an operational one.

What we are looking for: We are seeking individuals who bring strategic experience and, ideally, previous trustee or governance experience, alongside expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Marketing and communications: To help strengthen our profile, articulate our impact clearly, and support engagement with key audiences including commissioners, partners and funders.
• Income generation and fundraising: To support diversification of income, including trusts and foundations, partnerships and other funding streams beyond local authority commissioning.
• Legal: Particularly in relation to contracts, partnerships and organisational risk as we expand our delivery model.

We also welcome candidates with:

• Experience of scaling organisations
• Insight into early years, health or family services
• Lived experience relevant to our work

We are committed to building a diverse Board and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, and anyone aged 18 or over.

Our Board: Our Board currently consists of six trustees with a range of experience across finance, commissioning, research, operations, parenting support, digital technology, lived experience of parenting. We are committed to ensuring our Board reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and brings a wide range of perspectives to decision-making.

Time commitment: Trustees are expected to:

• Attend quarterly Board meetings (typically 4 hours) - these are usually held in our Eynsham office or Birmingham.
• Prepare for meetings by reviewing papers in advance
• Contribute to discussions and decision-making
• Participate in sub-committees where appropriate
• Attend an annual strategy day

Trustees are appointed for a three-year term, renewable up to a maximum of nine years.

Support and what you will gain: Being a trustee is a voluntary role, but we aim to ensure it is a rewarding and well-supported experience. You will receive an induction plan, and will be assisted by an existing member of the Board so that you know what to expect as you come on board. We offer:

• Reimbursement of reasonable expenses
• Induction and ongoing training
• Support from an experienced staff and trustee team
• Opportunities to engage with our work directly

As a trustee, you will:

• Contribute to meaningful social impact
• Gain insight into a national charity operating at scale
• Develop your strategic and governance experience
• Work alongside a committed and collaborative Board

Why we are recruiting now: HENRY is entering a new phase of development, with ambitions to grow our impact and strengthen our long-term sustainability. This brings new opportunities - and new challenges:

• Diversifying income beyond local authority commissioning
• Scaling delivery while maintaining quality and impact
• Strengthening our voice in national policy and systems
• Ensuring robust governance as we grow

We are therefore seeking trustees who can bring experience and insight to help guide the organisation through this next stage.

Statutory Duties: To ensure that the organisation complies with its governing document, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations. To ensure that the organisation pursues its objects as defined in its governing document. To ensure the organisation uses its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects. To contribute actively to the board of trustees’ role in giving firm strategic direction to the organisation, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets. To safeguard the good name and values of the organisation. To ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation. To protect and manage the property of the charity and to ensure the proper investment of the charity’s funds. To appoint the directors and monitor their performance.

Other Duties: Scrutinising board papers, leading discussions, providing guidance on new initiatives, advocating for the charity, and addressing other issues in which the trustee has special expertise.

Person specification:

• A commitment to our values
• A commitment to act solely in the best interests of HENRY without regard to personal interest or benefit
• Readiness to take and be accountable for decisions made
• The necessary time to be an effective trustee and being responsive
• The ability to listen actively to other people, particularly those with views that are different to their own, and work effectively as a member of a team
• No significant potential conflicts of interest

Experience, Knowledge & Skills:

• Strategic vision and the ability to focus on practical issues
• Awareness of how the world is changing politically, economically and socially and how this might relate to our work
• Understanding of and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

Additional information: Please note that as a charity working with families and young children anyone offered a role will undergo a DBS check with us. Having a criminal conviction doesn’t necessarily prevent you being a trustee with us.

How to apply: To apply, please complete our application form at the end of the application (maximum two pages) outlining:

• Why you are interested in the role
• What you would bring to the Board
• What you hope to gain from the experience

For more information on HENRY and the position please review our application pack listed on our website. If you would like an informal conversation about the role, please contact our CEO, Beckie Lang on [email protected] or 07842 311229.

Closing date: 9am Wednesday 19th August 2026

Interviews: week commencing 14th September 2026

We are happy to provide support to applicants where needed. Please contact [email protected] We will acknowledge receipt of your application so that you know it has been received. Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by telephone during the week beginning 31st August 2026. Unsuccessful applicants at this stage will be contacted by email. Interviews will be held at our Eynsham office week commencing 14th September 2026.