Strategic Trustee for Addiction Recovery & Governance

Eleven Recovery CIC; Sheffield; On-site; Full time

Job description

We are seeking Trustees to support a new specialist addiction and mental health charity. You will help provide governance, financial oversight, and strategic direction. Lived experience and expertise in either health, safeguarding, finance, or commissioning are highly valued.

What difference will you make?

This Trustee role will play a vital part in strengthening the governance, strategic direction, and long‑term sustainability of our organisation as we transition from a Community Interest Company (CIC) into a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). This is a significant stage in our development, and Trustees will be central to ensuring this transition is well‑governed, compliant, and aligned with our mission.

Our organisation supports individuals affected by addiction, mental health challenges, and neurodivergence. We work with people who often present with complex and co‑occurring needs, where addiction is rarely an isolated issue. Many individuals also experience trauma, anxiety, depression, PTSD, emotional regulation difficulties, and neurodivergent traits. Without integrated and joined‑up support, these needs can become fragmented across services, resulting in poorer outcomes.

Trustees will help ensure we continue to deliver a whole‑person, trauma‑informed, and recovery‑focused model of care that holds this complexity safely and effectively.

Key Contributions

• Deliver high‑quality, abstinence‑based recovery programmes grounded in the 12 Step model


• Provide safe and structured residential and community‑based support


• Maintain strong safeguarding, governance, and risk management systems


• Ensure financial sustainability during and beyond our transition to a CIO structure


• Strengthen relationships with local authorities, commissioners, and partner agencies


• Support sustainable growth while remaining true to our values and purpose

As we transition into a CIO, Trustees will play a critical role in embedding strong governance foundations, ensuring regulatory compliance, and supporting the organisation to mature into a resilient and sustainable charity. This includes helping to shape strategic priorities, oversight frameworks, and long‑term organisational direction.

Importantly, Trustees help ensure that lived experience remains central to our approach. This ensures services are grounded in real‑world understanding, reducing stigma and improving accessibility and engagement for those we support.

Through strategic oversight, constructive challenge, and shared accountability, Trustees enable the organisation to remain transparent, effective, and values‑driven.

Ultimately, this role directly contributes to improving recovery outcomes, strengthening community impact, and supporting individuals and families to move beyond addiction toward stability, purpose, and long‑term recovery.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for committed, values‑driven individuals who can contribute to the effective governance, strategic direction, and long‑term sustainability of our organisation as we transition from a CIC into a CIO.

Our ideal Trustees will share our belief that recovery is possible for everyone and that high‑quality support must reflect the complexity of addiction, mental health, trauma, and neurodivergence in an integrated and person‑centred way.

Core qualities

• Strong integrity, sound judgement, and a commitment to ethical decision‑making


• The ability to think strategically while remaining grounded in real‑world impact


• A collaborative approach, working effectively as part of a board team


• Confidence to provide constructive challenge and support to senior leadership


• Commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion, and reducing stigma


• An understanding of or openness to trauma‑informed and recovery‑focused practice

Key Experience and Skills

• Governance / Chair experience within a charity, voluntary sector, or public sector organisation


• Finance, accounting, or business oversight, including budgeting, financial scrutiny, and sustainability planning


• Safeguarding, social care, or mental health services, particularly within complex or high‑risk service environments


• Community, housing, local authority, or commissioning knowledge, especially relating to integrated support pathways and service delivery frameworks


• Experience of organisational development, change management, or supporting a CIC‑to‑charity (CIO) transition would be highly beneficial

Lived Experience (strongly valued)

• Addiction and recovery


• Mental health challenges


• Neurodivergence (such as ADHD, autism traits, sensory processing differences)


• Trauma or related life experiences

Most important attributes

• A genuine commitment to our mission and values


• The ability to think strategically and contribute to organisational growth


• A willingness to engage, learn, and actively participate in governance


• Integrity, openness, and a collaborative mindset

Hybrid

Purpose of the Role

Trustees are responsible for the governance, strategic direction, and financial oversight of the organisation. They ensure the charity remains compliant, effective, and sustainable while delivering high‑quality, person‑centred support.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure the charity complies with its governing document, charity law, and regulatory requirements


• Contribute to strategic planning and long‑term organisational development


• Safeguard the organisation’s assets and ensure financial sustainability


• Monitor performance, impact, and risk management frameworks


• Ensure safeguarding systems are robust, effective, and regularly reviewed


• Provide constructive challenge, oversight, and support to the leadership team


• Uphold the organisation’s values, ethics, and reputation


• Act in the best interests of the charity at all times

Skills And Experience Required

• Governance / Chair experience (charity, voluntary sector, or public sector preferred)


• Finance, accounting, or business oversight, including budget management and financial scrutiny


• Safeguarding, social care, or mental health services, ideally within complex needs settings


• Lived experience of addiction recovery, offering valuable insight and authenticity


• Community, housing, local authority, or commissioning knowledge, particularly relating to integrated care pathways

Time Commitment

• 4–6 Board meetings per year


• Preparation and reading time


• Occasional committee or strategy sessions


• Approximately 6–10 hours per month

Behaviour and Standards

Trustees are expected to uphold the Nolan Principles of Public Life.

• Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty, and Leadership.


• Maintain confidentiality


• Declare and manage conflicts of interest


• Champion equality, diversity, and inclusion


• Act in the best interests of the organisation at all times

Support for Trustees

Full induction, governance training, and ongoing support will be provided to ensure Trustees are confident, informed, and effective in their role.