Trustee – Feed Up Warm Up (FUWU)

Location: Hitchin / Stevenage / remote

Type: Voluntary

About Feed Up Warm Up

Feed Up Warm Up is a homeless charity in Stevenage and North Hertfordshire. Our mission is to create a supportive community where people experiencing or at risk of homelessness can access person-led, strength-based support to rebuild their lives.

We are looking for the following roles:

Trustees share responsibility for the direction, governance and financial wellbeing of Feed Up Warm Up. As a trustee, you’ll help shape the future of the charity, supporting its long-term sustainability and enabling us to reach more people in need.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are particularly keen to hear from those interested in taking on one of the following roles:

Chair (providing strategic board leadership and good governance),
Treasurer (overseeing finances, budgeting and financial accountability),
Secretary (supporting effective governance through administration, minutes and compliance).

Time commitment:

Approx. 4-7 hrs per month which includes:

Attending monthly Board meetings (up to 90 minutes), held in Hitchin or online
Attending at least two quarterly face-to-face trustee meetings per year
Preparing for meetings by reviewing papers in advance
Undertaking training, compliance and familiarisation, including visiting projects and meeting volunteers

How to apply:

Job descriptions for each role are specified below. Please specify the role you are interested when responding to this post.

All applicants must confirm they are eligible to act as a charity trustee. Please see Charity Commission guidance.

Feed Up Warm Up is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and warmly encourages applications from people of all backgrounds.

CHAIR: Role Summary

The Chair provides strategic leadership to the Board of Trustees, ensuring strong governance, clarity of purpose, and effective support for the charity’s mission to prevent and relieve homelessness. The Chair works closely with the Head of Operations and Strategy to ensure the charity is well‑run, financially sound, and delivering meaningful impact for people experiencing homelessness.

Main responsibilities:

Lead the Board in setting and reviewing the charity’s vision, mission, and strategic priorities.
Ensure decisions are aligned with the charity’s values and purpose.
Support the development of long‑term plans that strengthen impact and sustainability.
Ensure risks are regularly reviewed and managed appropriately
Ensure the Board fulfils its legal and regulatory responsibilities as a charity.
Promote good governance, transparency, and accountability.
Chair Board meetings effectively, ensuring inclusive discussion and clear decision‑making
Work with the Trustees and the Head of Operations and Strategy to ensure the charity is financially sustainable.
Work with the Treasurer to oversee financial planning, budgeting, and monitoring.
Ensure resources are used effectively and in line with charitable objectives

Person Specification:

Essential

Commitment to the mission of preventing and relieving homelessness.
Experience of leadership, governance, and chairing meetings.
Ability to build strong relationships and facilitate constructive discussion.
Sound judgement, impartiality, and integrity.
Experience in the charity sector, housing, homelessness, or social care.
Understanding of charity finance and risk management.
Willingness to devote the necessary time and represent the charity externally.

Desirable

Local networks or community connections.

TREASURER: Role Summary

As Treasurer, you will play a key role in safeguarding the financial health of Feed Up Warm Up. You will help the Board understand and oversee the charity’s finances, ensuring money is well managed, transparent and used to support our charitable objectives.

You will work closely with fellow trustees and the management team, providing insight, challenge and reassurance. You will help the Board make informed decisions while keeping things proportionate to a small, grassroots charity.

We’re looking for someone who brings financial confidence and good judgement, through professional or voluntary experience, and who is comfortable:

Reviewing budgets and management accounts
Monitoring income and expenditure
Asking constructive questions and explaining financial information clearly

Main responsibilities:

Oversee the charity’s financial management and reporting on behalf of the Board
Present clear, accessible financial updates at Board meetings
Support the development and monitoring of budgets and forecasts
Ensure appropriate financial controls and processes are in place
Help ensure compliance with Charity Commission and legal financial requirements
Contribute to longer-term financial planning and sustainability
Prepare the annual accounts for audit and submission to the Charity Commission

Person specification:

Essential

Commitment to the mission of preventing and relieving homelessness.
Experience of financial management, bookkeeping, accountancy, or budgeting.
Understanding of charity accounting (e.g., receipts and payments accounts).
Ability to explain financial information clearly to non‑financial colleagues.
Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
Integrity, reliability, and commitment to the charity’s mission.
Willingness to devote the necessary time.

Desirable

Experience in the charity or voluntary sector.

SECRETARY: Role Summary

As Secretary you will work with the board of trustees to ensure the charity’s governance runs smoothly. You will support the Chair and wider board by managing key administrative, legal, and compliance responsibilities so the charity can operate effectively and transparently

Main responsibilities:

Act in the best interests of Feed Up Warm Up at all times
Contribute to how the charity is run to supporting its long-term sustainability and enabling us to reach more people in need.
Arrange board meetings and the AGM, so that they are properly convened and quorate.
Prepare and circulate agendas and board papers in good time.
Attend Trustee meetings and take accurate minutes, record decisions, and track follow‑up actions with the Chair.
Keep secure, accessible records of meetings and governance documents.
Make sure trustee appointments and resignations follow the correct legal and constitutional processes.
Submit required documentation to the Charity Commission and/or Companies House within deadlines.
Maintain statutory registers and ensure all official documents include legally required information.
Support the Operations Manager in the day-to-day running of the charity

Person specification:

Essential

Commitment to the mission of preventing and relieving homelessness.
A genuine passion for FUWU’s mission and values
Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
Clear communication skills, able to work confidently and collaboratively with a range of stakeholders.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.
Experience with minute-taking, record-keeping, and ensuring accurate documentation of meetings.
Reliability and the ability to manage time effectively to meet deadlines.
Basic familiarity with governance processes or willingness to learn charity governance requirements.