Chair of Trustees at Tyneside and Northumberland Mind
Role Type: Trustee
Application deadline:
Salary: £
Role description: Chair
Chair of Trustees
Could you be part of Tyneside and Northumberland Mind’s ambitious future and help us to support more people with mental health?
Tyneside and Northumberland Mind (TNM) is seeking to recruit a Chair of Trustees. Key skills are previous leadership and board experience and a good understanding of charity governance; a commitment to leading TNM; and excellent people skills in relation to both the Board of Trustees and the CEO.
Who we are
Tyneside and Northumberland Mind is an independent local charity and company limited by guarantee. We are affiliated to National Mind and are one of 138 local Mind charities working across England and Wales, providing local mental health services in the local areas, fundraising locally to support those services and supporting people who are struggling with their mental health.
We have excellent reputation in our area and deliver varied and impactful services that are truly transformational for those who access them and the wider community. We have a turnover of around £1.2m, with a mix of funding sources including NHS, local authority grants and contracts, grants from charitable trusts and community fundraising.
Our Mission:
Working together to help make people and our communities stronger and healthier through education, training and support for mental health and wellbeing.
Our Vision:
To be the most trusted mental health and wellbeing charity.
Our Values:
Collaborative: Collaborate and work together
Accessible: Accessible and approachable for all
Respectful: Respectful and inclusive of everyone
Empowering: Empower you to be the best you want to be
Supportive: Support through services and partnerships
1. Role of the Chair of Trustees
In addition to the role of Trustee (see below), the Chair is expected to:
Ensure the effective governance of Tyneside & Northumberland Mind, consistent with the MQM standards.
Ensure effective performance by individual Trustees and the Board collectively, through annual reviews, training, evaluation, external assessment and ongoing feedback.
Ensure all Board Members are made aware of their statutory responsibilities as Trustees and directors.
Ensure an effective and agreed system of delegated authority exists.
Oversee the recruitment and development of the Chief Executive Officer, to set and seek Board agreement to their objectives, to review their performance at least annually, and to line manage the CEO day to day.
Chair Board meetings, to ensure papers are circulated in timely fashion, meetings are conducive to business being carried out, all Trustees feel valued and included.
Oversee the recruitment of Trustees.
Represent Tyneside & Northumberland Mind within the Mind Network and externally.
Carry out the role(s) specified in Tyneside & Northumberland Mind policies, including financial regulations, whistleblowing, complaints and grievances.
Ensure that the organisation’s policies are regularly reviewed and fit for purpose.
Time commitment - This role is voluntary, with expenses paid, with a commitment of approximately 3-4 days per month.
2. Role of Trustee
To ensure that the organisation pursues its stated objects (purposes), as defined in its governing document, by developing and agreeing a long-term strategy.
To ensure that the organisation complies with its governing document, charity law, company law, and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
To exercise a duty of care to ensure that the charity is well-run and efficient.
To ensure the appropriate use of TNM’s charitable funds and assets in pursuit of its objects and strategic objectives and overseeing the effective management of the resources and assets of the charity.
To ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation, including having appropriate policies and procedures in place.
To ensure that the organisation defines its goals and evaluates its performance against agreed targets.
To safeguard the good name and values of the organisation.
To ensure the financial stability of the organisation.
To ensure a robust risk management process is in place to identify and address any risks impacting – or potentially impacting – the organisation.
To follow proper and formal arrangements for the appointment, supervision, support, appraisal, and remuneration of the Chief Executive.
To ensure that all delegation by the Board is clearly recorded through terms of reference, minutes, and job descriptions and that reporting procedures are in place, recorded, and complied with.
To ensure that TNM has an appropriate governance structure in place (including sub-committees) in relation to its objectives, size, and stakeholders to enable Trustees to fulfil their responsibilities.
To assess the Board’s own performance annually.
To ensure that lived experience involvement and leadership is sustained through all aspects of TNM’s work and relationships.
To ensure that TNM is accountable to its members, funders, and stakeholders.
Person specification
Candidates for the Chair role should have the following qualities:
Leadership experience
Experience of working on boards and committees – especially in the voluntary or public sectors
Tact and diplomacy
Developed knowledge of the governance of organisations, particularly VCSE or public sectors
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Impartiality, fairness and the ability to respect confidences
It would be desirable for the Chair to have knowledge of the mental health or health sector and voluntary networks
We welcome lived experience of mental health and wellbeing, either personally or through supporting others.
How to apply
To apply, please send your CV and a short expression of interest (max 500 words) stating why you are interested in the role and what experience, skills and attributes you aim to bring, to our current Chair, Lynda Cox: lynda.cox@tynesidemind.org.uk
Closing Date: Friday 26 September 2025.
Tyneside and Northumberland Mind strives to be an Equal Opportunities Employer. We are committed to being an anti-discriminatory organisation and positively welcome and encourage applications from diverse and marginalised groups. If you require any reasonable adjustments prior to or during the selection process, please let us know what we can do to help you perform your best.
Successful applicants will be expected to undergo company director and charity trustee disqualification checks and may need a DBS check.
If you have further questions about the role, please contact our Chair, Lynda Cox: lynda.cox@tynesidemind.org.uk
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