Haig Housing Trust provides housing for veterans and their families. We’re looking for a passionate, experienced individual to join our Board of Trustees and help us drive real change.
As a Trustee, you’ll not only have the opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of those who served our country but you’ll be in the vanguard of shaping the future of a respected charity with ambitious plans.
You’ll work in collaboration with a dedicated board and team making a lasting impact on the lives of veterans’ and their families.
Thank you for your interest in Haig Housing Trust.
Our purpose is to provide quality homes to improve the lives of veterans and their families. We have a long and proud history of supporting our beneficiaries. We have over 1,500 properties across the UK on small well-managed estates, ranging from six houses to 360 homes on our largest estate in Morden. Homes are available at an affordable rent. We also offer extensive support, advice and signposting to assist those in housing need. We believe housing is fundamental to building thriving communities.
This is an exciting time to join our board. Now under the recent Patronage of HRH The Princess Royal we have ambitious plans to improve our housing stock, grow the support we offer our beneficiaries and ensure they remain at the core of everything we do. We have a strong leadership team, a robust financial base and are confident about our future.
Due to planned retirement we want to strengthen the Board with a trustee with a legal background. We want to stress that no board experience is necessary to apply – we will help you to learn and grow. What we do ask is that you are committed, curious and collaborative. If you share our passion for helping those who have served in the Armed Forces and their families and want to play your part in delivering a better future for them, we’d love to hear from you.
Our Strategy
We are on an important journey to improve our impact, growing investment in our properties over the next five years. We froze rents in 2022, allowing us to keep increases to below inflation over the last four years. We want to build our profile, thinking creatively about the needs of the veteran community and on how to innovate our service delivery for their benefit. With our new chair, the Board of Trustees will shape our strategic goals, ensuring that we continue to deliver housing that is fit for the future.
Our Wider Influence
We work collaboratively with the Confederation of Service Charities (COBSEO), public and private sectors to build partnerships to deliver for the ex-Service community. We are building an integrated veterans’ housing sector, with options for veterans and their families in need into permanent homes
Haig residents gather every year to commemorate Armistice Day
Our Finances
We are in a strong financial position. Total income in FY 2023/24 was £12M. Using our reserves we spent £20M, including more than £14M directly on property costs. We are debt-free with a strong balance sheet. We own our properties, have strong reserves and are diversifying our income, growing fundraising so that we can modernise our homes and increase our impact.
Our People
Haig Housing is served by an experienced and motivated group of people, dedicated to our mission.
Board of Trustees – we are governed by a diverse Board of independent, non-executive trustees with a wealth of professional, charity and Armed Forces experience. Trustees meet formally every quarter and delegate specific issues to three committees (which also meet quarterly) that report to the Board. The current committees consist of Finance and Risk, Estates and People.
Executive team – we have c60 staff, based in Victoria, led by the Chief Executive and a Senior Leadership Team of five.
Role responsibilities
- Trustees bring their own experience to a Board, using their skill and judgement to enable good decision-making. We ask that candidates commit to:
- Attending four board meetings, a strategy offsite and four sub-committee meetings a year.
- Developing a good understanding of our operations and the environment in which we operate.
- Meeting the people we help and the teams that support them.
- Helping the board ensure the highest standards of governance and strategic focus.
- Monitoring the performance of Haig’s activities in a constructive and collaborative way.
- Making time, skills, and experience available (in and outside of regular board meetings).
Person Specification
Essential
- Clear empathy for Armed Forces veterans and their families and a passion for our mission.
- A collaborative, engaging style that promotes positive relationships at all levels and with partners.
- A willingness to help us develop and deliver better customer service.
- Commitment to help us grow our standing with public, private and civil society organisations.
- Willing to learn about those areas of running a charity with which you are not familiar
- Personal integrity and credibility that grows confidence at all levels with everyone you meet.
- Able to make the time commitments of the role.Desirable
- Experience of operating in the charitable sector.
- Connections within the military and veterans’ sectors.
- Legal experience (in a relevant sector)
The overall time commitment is around 1 day a month on average. Board usually meets in person in London each quarter; committee meetings are remote. Trustee are appointed for renewable terms of office of three years. The role is unremunerated, although expenses are reimbursed.
Induction
New Trustees are supported with an induction programme, including briefings, induction pack and an allocated mentor. Periodic updates are provided as part of the Board’s regular training.
How to Apply
To express interest please contact Shirley Skinner shirley.skinner@haighousing.org.uk. Applications by CV and covering letter (max 2-sides A4). Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Registered Charity No. – 1125556Scottish Charity No. – SC040058
