Become A Trustee

“I was instantly taken with CCN, I felt that the organisation filled a huge gap that is not part of the justice provision. The true measurement of our success is achieved every time a mentor meets with their charge” – Martin Edwards, CCN Trustee

Join the board at CCN

CCN Trustees meet six times a year, on Thursday evenings, at HMP Norwich. These meetings are in the odd numbered months. In addition, we meet once a year in the Spring to discuss and to formulate strategy, in the Summer for a social event and in the Autumn for some training. Trustees generally serve between 3 and 5 years. We are particularly interested to receive applications from those with lived experience of the criminal justice system, who have been out of prison for 4+ years.

A Trustee has particular duties summarised by the Charity Commission as:

1. Ensuring that CCN is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit;

2. Complying with CCN’s constitution and with the law;

3. Acting in the best interests of CCN;

4. Managing the resources of CCN responsibly;

5. Acting with reasonable care and skill; and

6. Ensuring that CCN is accountable.

We are looking to take on Trustees who can fill some of the gaps in our Skills Audit although the most important things are these: that the appointee has (regardless of prior experience) a passion for and a commitment to our work; and that he/she fits in with the existing Trustees and Staff. We encourage individual Trustees to take an interest in particular aspects of the organisation.

How to apply

If you are interested, we look forward to taking this further. First, we would ask you kindly to complete An Expression of Interest form, prior to informal conversations with our Manager and an existing Board Member. Next you would be invited to attend a Trustee Meeting on a non-participatory confidential basis to give you a flavour. Finally, if you would like to proceed, we would ask you to attend a formal interview.

“I joined the Board of CCN 5 years ago when it was a small organisation trying to improve the opportunities for prison leavers. I believed then and I still do today that everyone is loved by God, and bears His image, however challenging that may seem, and we all deserve a chance to reset our lives when things have gone wrong”.

Chris Tomlinson, Chair of Trustees