Trustees

City Harvest believes that no good food should go to waste while people go hungry. By working in partnership with farmers, manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, the charity rescues high-quality surplus food and redistributes it to hundreds of organisations supporting people across London. This unique model delivers a dual impact: providing nutritious food to communities facing hardship while reducing the environmental impact of food waste. Collaboration, innovation and efficiency are at the heart of City Harvest’s approach, enabling the charity to respond to growing demand and maximise the difference it makes to both people and the planet.

About the role
The Board of Trustees collectively governs and oversees City Harvest, setting its strategic direction and holding the organisation to account. The Chief Executive and executive team lead and run the charity day to day within the authority delegated by the Board. Trustees contribute their experience, judgement and support through the Board and its committees. They also build constructive working relationships with members of the executive team, who may draw directly on their knowledge and expertise, particularly where a trustee has relevant specialist experience or committee responsibilities.

Recruitment priorities
We are seeking to strengthen our Board by appointing trustees who can contribute in one or more of the following priority areas:

• We are particularly keen to appoint one trustee with substantial current or recent practical experience of leading or directly managing logistics, warehousing or fleet operations. Candidates should understand the operational realities of managing people, health and safety, vehicle operator licensing and regulatory compliance. Experience in food or a related sector would be valuable, but practical operational expertise is more important than sector background or seniority.
• Frontline or community experience of the issues affecting the people City Harvest supports, such as food insecurity, poverty or homelessness. This might include direct experience of working with community organisations, food banks, homelessness or housing services, or strong connections with the communities we serve.
• The ability to support City Harvest’s fundraising and income-generation efforts. This might include fundraising or commercial experience, relevant relationships and networks, or the ability to open doors, develop partnerships and advocate effectively for our work.

These are our priorities for this recruitment. We may also consider candidates who bring other skills, experience or perspectives that would complement the existing Board and make a significant contribution to City Harvest’s future success.

Who we are looking for
Previous trustee or senior leadership experience is not essential. We welcome first-time trustees and recognise that relevant insight may come from professional, voluntary, community or lived experience.

All candidates should demonstrate:

• A genuine commitment to City Harvest’s mission and values, to public benefit, and to equity, diversity and inclusion.
• The ability to understand the responsibilities of trusteeship, think strategically, assess information and risk, and exercise sound independent judgement.
• The ability to listen, build relationships, contribute a different perspective, challenge constructively and support collective decisions.
• The integrity, openness, time and energy to prepare well, participate consistently, maintain confidentiality, manage conflicts and continue learning.

City Harvest’s values are community-focused, aspiring, collaborative, compassionate and trustworthy.

Time commitment
The anticipated time commitment is approximately one day per month. This will normally include:

• Attending four to six Board meetings each year, normally held in person in Central London from 5.00 pm to 7.30 pm, plus an occasional one-day Board session, up to once per year.
• Preparing for Board meetings and attending meetings of any Board committee to which the trustee is appointed.
• Liaising with the Chair, Chief Executive and senior colleagues as appropriate.
• Undertaking agreed activities between meetings, including visiting City Harvest and its partners from time to time, keeping informed and supporting Board priorities.

In addition, appointees should allow approximately three days in total for induction into City Harvest’s work and operations during the first few months of their first year. This is additional to the normal one-day-per-month commitment.