Chair of Trustees

Mary Frances Trust (MFT) is a leading mental health and emotional wellbeing charity supporting people across Surrey to live fulfilling, empowered lives. We work alongside individuals experiencing any kind of mental or emotional health challenge, offering long term, community based support co produced with people with lived experience.

As we enter an exciting new phase of growth, we are seeking a Chair of Trustees to guide our Board and help shape the future of our organisation. This is a pivotal leadership role for someone who is passionate about mental health, strong governance, and community impact.

As Chair, you will:

• Lead the Board, ensuring effective governance and strategic direction.
• Support and constructively challenge the Chief Executive, including annual performance review.
• Foster strong relationships between Trustees, staff, volunteers, Members, the Advisory Group and external partners.
• Act as an ambassador for MFT where appropriate.
• Plan and chair Board meetings and the AGM, ensuring balanced discussion and clear decisions.
• Oversee Board effectiveness, succession planning and compliance with legal and regulatory duties.
• Champion MFT’s values and our commitment to improving mental health and wellbeing across Surrey.

What skills do I need?

Person Specification

You will bring:

• Strong governance and leadership experience.
• The ability to chair meetings confidently and inclusively.
• Sound judgement and the ability to support and challenge constructively.
• Excellent interpersonal, diplomatic and communication skills.
• Understanding of the mental health, wellbeing or wider voluntary sector.
• Capacity to commit 1–2 days per month.
• Commitment to MFT’s mission, values and community impact.

Desirable (not essential):

• HR / people governance experience.
• Experience handling escalated complaints or appeals at Board level.
• Experience of co production or lived experience led approaches.
• Lived experience of mental health issues or caring responsibilities, we value lived experience alongside governance and leadership skills