Meet the Team

Carole Longden

Founder and CEO

Hannah Train

Co-Founder & Trustee

Tom Donnison

Operations Manager

Laura Daniels

Corporate Events Coordinator

Dawn McCarroll

Green Therapy Gardeniser

Lani Dines

Trustee

Bruno Mason

Volunteer

Martin Dempster

Corporate Events Coordinator

Wil Hepworth

Trustee

Mark Drummond

Station Garden Supervisor

Rosemarie Gardner

Corporate Engagement Lead

Jon Knight

Horticultural Specialist

David Ball

Harvest Share Volunteer

Ian Burrows

Trustee

Daniel Joyce

Volunteer

Peter Shum

Wellbeing Walk Leader

We are hiring - Trustees wanted!

Finance Trustee

A finance trustee is wanted as member of a charity's board of trustees who will be responsible for the charity's finances. You will ensure the charity's money is used wisely and in line with its mission. 

Responsibilities

  • Monitor finances: Review management accounts, financial reports, and budgets 

  • Advise the board: Provide advice on how to carry out financial responsibilities 

  • Ensure compliance: Ensure the charity complies with legal requirements and financial regulations 

  • Report to the board: Report to the board on the charity's financial health 

  • Assist with fundraising: Help secure funding to support the charity's work 

  • Oversee the annual audited accounts process: Ensure the annual audited accounts process is overseen 

Purpose

The finance trustee's role is to ensure the charity is financially stable and accountable to its donors and stakeholders. They also help the board make strategic decisions. 

Contact carolelongden@forestofhearts.com or call 07774 424404 to apply.

Lead Safeguarding Trustee

Responsibilities

The lead trustee for safeguarding usually takes on three main sets of duties related to safeguarding in addition to their wider responsibilities as a trustee.

Strategic

  • Consider the organisation’s strategic plans and make sure they reflect safeguarding legislation, regulations specific to our activities, statutory guidance, and the safeguarding expectations of the Charities Commission.

  • Work with the CEO and designated safeguarding lead regularly to review whether the things the organisation has put in place are creating a safer culture and keeping people safe.

  • Check the organisation’s risk register reflects safeguarding risks properly and plans sensible measures to take, including relevant insurance for trustees liability.

Effective policy and practice

  • Make sure there is an annual review of safeguarding policies and procedures and that this is reported to trustees.

  • Ensure policies and procedures are effective.

  • Call for audits of qualitative and quantitative data (either internal or external) when they’re needed.

  • Learn from case reviews locally and nationally, to improve your organisation’s policies, procedures and practices.

  • Oversee safeguarding allegations against staff or volunteers, together with CEO and designated safeguarding lead.

  • Be a point of contact for staff or volunteers if someone wishes to complain about a lack of action in relation to safeguarding concerns.

Creating the right culture

  • Champion safeguarding throughout the organisation.

  • Support the trustees in developing their individual and collective understanding of safeguarding.

  • Attend meetings, activities, projects to engage with staff, volunteers and beneficiaries to understand safeguarding on the ground.

  • Work with the chair, CEO, designated safeguarding lead and communications team in order to manage all serious safeguarding cases.

  • Support regular safeguarding updates for staff, volunteers and beneficiaries.

  • Make sure you have ways of gathering the views of staff and volunteers in relation to safeguarding and sharing these with the board.