Become a Trustee

We are always on the look out for people with a wide range of skills and enthusiasm to help steer the organisation.

View our latest Trustee Information pack here

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As a member of the Board you will work closely with the Interim Chair of the Board, Dr Robin Talbot and Oaklea’s Chief Executive, Jenna Hall, as well as the rest of the Executive Team to help shape the strategic direction of the company, including budget scrutiny, analysis of income & expenditure reports, and review of new project costings. Oaklea recompenses Trustees for valid travel and subsistence expenses incurred on approved Oaklea business.

New Trustees undergo a full induction to help get ‘under the skin’ of what makes Oaklea tick. If you are passionate about making a difference to the lives of disabled and disadvantaged children and adults or just feel this is an area you would like to develop your skills & knowledge, then you could be the person we are looking for. Call us for an informal chat with Robin or Jenna T: 01539 735025 or E: enquiries@oakleatrust.co.uk

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Why we are Trustees…

Trustee Helen Starr puts it simply – it’s about being the beating heart of an organisation!

Easy as ‘ABC’ – Meet our newest Trustee – from Northumberland

Meet Anna Baker Cresswell (known as ‘ABC‘!)– a proud woman of the North East joining us here at Oaklea.

“I’m a proud Northumbrian and have spent the last 20 years in the military charity sector. My beloved Mother had Parkinson’s and she died in 2004. I started a charity in her memory to bring Horticultural Therapy to the military in the UK. I’m really looking forward to helping to steer this excellent and ambitious organisation to support more communities in the North of England. I love public speaking and my two happy places are talking to people about Horticultural Therapy, and my garden.”

Trustee Maxine Denoual on a quality audit at an Oaklea house in Durham

“Whilst carrying out the role you also receive the support to develop your skill set, learning more about the organisation and what makes it tick, and also looking at more ways in which you can contribute. I’ve recently taken on the Role of Chair to the Remuneration Committee.”

Trustee Linda Adey; “What a friendly, supportive group of ‘real’ people I’ve found my trustee colleagues to be! By ‘real’ I mean they all have full and busy lives too so are understanding of others who work under time constraints too.”

Trustee Derek on the Oaklea beat

Derek joined the Oaklea Board in September 2022 and this has enabled him to share his previous experiences working with Charities since he was 16 years old. In Derek’s own words….

“I spent my working life as a Police Officer for 30 years followed by 10 years with the Probation Service. Over the years I have been engaged with numerous charities across the West Midlands, as a Trustee, Treasurer or Chair. I moved to Cumbria in 2021 and was looking to share my charity knowledge with Oaklea.”

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Maybe an input into a Community Enterprise is of interest?

Become a volunteer Board member at our CIC Right2Work – read more here https://www.right2work.org.uk/about-us/our-board-of-directors/

Have a listen to Martin Bell – a Board member with R2W. He works for the British Antarctic Survey and is steeped in the world of business and government organisations. This brings a lot of expertise to the CIC we wouldn’t otherwise have. He has been especially active in giving advice and support to The Furniture Warehouse.