Join our Board of Trustees

Are you passionate about supporting victims and witnesses to get the help they deserve? Do you have lived experience of crime?

Then you could help us deliver exceptional support to victims and witnesses of crime.

Our Board of Trustees provides strategic oversight of our work supporting victims and witnesses of crime and major incidents across England and Wales.

As a Trustee, you work closely with other Trustees and our Senior Management Team and develop a good understanding of how our services are delivered and the impact they have.

With your help, we can ensure that we continue to deliver the very best service to victims of crime, to get the support they need and the justice they deserve.

About Victim Support

Victim Support’s vision is a world where there are few victims, but they will have stronger rights, better support and real influence in the criminal justice system.

We provide free confidential support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for people affected by crime and traumatic events in England and Wales — regardless of whether they have reported the crime to the police or when it occurred.

Most of our services are delivered locally through skilled staff and volunteers who are deeply rooted in their communities. We adapt our services to meet local needs and pride ourselves on being responsive to local demands. However, we also run the National Homicide Service providing a dedicated, comprehensive service for those bereaved by murder and manslaughter and a national Supportline.

We are independent of the government, the police, local authorities and the criminal justice system but our unrivalled national overview gives us the ability to share best practice and innovate in our services as well as champion victims’ rights from a strong evidence base.

Board of Trustees

Our Trustees have a duty of care towards Victim Support and are responsible for overseeing the work of the organisation.

We are looking for Trustees who reflect and represent the people and communities we support, and the voices we champion. Therefore, we particularly welcome applications from individuals with a lived experience, or working knowledge, of crime, victims’ services or the criminal justice system. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, experience and industries that can help us ensure we deliver the best service to all our diverse service users.

We are continually working to improve diversity on our Board and welcome all applicants but particularly from candidates from minority communities. You do not need to have been a trustee before, or have held a senior position, and we welcome applicants of all ages. We provide a comprehensive induction on appointment as well as ongoing training to all our trustees.

This is a rewarding role in which the successful applicant will make a positive difference to people who have been affected by crime and traumatic events.

As a Trustee you will…

  • Be an ambassador for Victim Support and for our work
  • Help shape to the strategic direction of Victim Support
  • Make sure Victim Support has policies in place that comply with current legislation and promote good practice
  • Make sure that staff, money and other resources are used appropriately, and that this is always monitored properly
  • Support the income generation and outward facing activities of the charity
  • Spend time with different elements of our services, getting to understand their work and ensuring they know what the role of a Trustee is
  • Make sure that the needs of victims, witnesses and families affected by tragic incidents and crime are always at the centre of decisions taken by Victim Support
  • Participate in the cycle of meetings and make sure that decisions taken at meetings are implemented
  • Attend training sessions to promote your knowledge and professional development in the role of a VS Trustee.

Interested in applying?

If you are interested in applying, or would like to find out more about the role, please contact us at governance@victimsupport.org.uk, so we can advise you when recruitment will open.