Safeguarding Trustee (Volunteer)
Help Safeguard Vulnerable People Across Hackney
We are a dynamic, mission-driven charity with a turnover of £1.5 million, working at the heart of East London to address food poverty and support our richly diverse community. Our work is impactful, community-led, and more vital than ever.
We are seeking a Safeguarding Trustee to join our Board and provide expert oversight of how we protect the people we serve, our volunteers and our staff.
Why This Role Matters
Every week, hundreds of people walk through our doors, many facing challenging circumstances and vulnerabilities. Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do.
As our Safeguarding Trustee, you will provide strategic oversight and governance support, helping to ensure our safeguarding practices remain robust, effective and aligned with current legislation and best practice. Working alongside our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), you will bring professional expertise and independent challenge to support a strong safeguarding culture throughout the organisation.
What You'll Be Doing
- Champion safeguarding at Board level.
- Provide oversight of safeguarding policies, procedures and risk management.
- Support and challenge the Designated Safeguarding Lead where appropriate.
- Review safeguarding reports and provide governance assurance.
- Help ensure safeguarding remains a key priority across the organisation.
- Support the Board in understanding safeguarding responsibilities.
- Occasionally provide guidance on more complex safeguarding matters.
Time Commitment – Please Read Carefully
We want to be transparent about the commitment required for this volunteer Trustee role.
- We anticipate an average commitment of approximately 5–8 hours per month, alongside attendance at the following meetings:
- 5 Board meetings per year, including one annual away day.
- Approximately 4–5 committee meetings per year.
- A monthly safeguarding meeting.
In addition, the Safeguarding Trustee will be expected to:
- Check safeguarding emails regularly, ideally daily, to identify any reports or matters requiring Trustee oversight.
- Review and comment on safeguarding concerns where appropriate.
- Liaise with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and safeguarding team between meetings when required.
Safeguarding reports are typically received up to three times per week, although there may be some weeks when no Trustee input is required. The majority of safeguarding matters are managed by our experienced safeguarding team and DSL.
The Safeguarding Trustee's role is primarily one of governance, oversight and constructive challenge, rather than day-to-day case management. There may, however, be occasional situations where additional Trustee involvement is required, particularly where complex safeguarding, governance or personnel issues arise.
The 5–8 hours per month is an average, and the actual time commitment will vary depending on the safeguarding matters arising. Occasionally, urgent or particularly complex matters may require additional time or a more immediate response.
What We're Looking For
We would love to hear from individuals with safeguarding experience gained through:
- Social work
- Education
- Health and care settings
- Policing
- Children's or adult services
- Charity or voluntary sector safeguarding
- Similar professional or lived experience
Most importantly, you'll understand safeguarding in practice and be comfortable providing independent oversight, constructive challenge and support.
We'd particularly like to hear from you if...
- You live or work in or around Hackney or East London.
- You have a strong understanding of the communities we serve.
- You are passionate about social justice, community support and tackling food poverty.
- You can commit to the ongoing responsibilities of the role, including regular monitoring of safeguarding matters.
Diversity and Inclusion
We welcome applications from people with lived experience of food poverty or community support services. We particularly encourage applications from people who reflect the diversity of the Hackney community, including people from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority backgrounds, disabled people, LGBTQIA+ people, and those with direct experience of the issues we work to address. We are committed to building a Board that reflects the diverse community we serve.All appointments are made on merit.
The closing date for applications is 12th November 2026.
Safeguarding Trustee Volunteer in London employer: The Little HR Department
GIST Research is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to work on impactful governance and stabilisation programmes in high-priority global contexts. With a flexible, internationally focused working environment and a commitment to employee growth, GIST fosters a culture of collaboration and innovation, empowering its team members to make a meaningful difference in fragile settings. The chance to engage with diverse stakeholders and contribute to sustainable results makes GIST a rewarding place for professionals dedicated to international development.
