Job Description

Trustee for Kidney Care UK

Could you be a Kidney Care UK Trustee? Are you passionate about helping those with a life-long condition?

Kidney Care UK is the UK’s leading kidney patient support charity, which for over 40 years has been providing support to kidney patients, and working to improve health and social care services for patients, their families and carers. 

We are currently seeking talented and highly motivated Trustees to join our Board and be part of a committed governing team. This is a great opportunity to be part of the team steering the Charity at an exciting time of growth and transformation and to help improve the lives of kidney patients.

Over three million people in the UK suffer from kidney disease to some degree, and it is incurable. Even the majority of patients with a mild form of the disease are at higher risk of cardiovascular problems, such as heart disease and stroke. A significant number go on to develop life-threatening kidney failure, requiring treatment with dialysis or by kidney transplant. Kidney failure brings with it major life changes that, alongside the many physical symptoms, also cause enormous stress and a whole range of emotional reactions such as anxiety, depression, and feelings of frustration or anger about the illness.

With over 100 patients supported every week, and around £2 million invested in our work every year, we are passionately committed to improving life for everyone affected by the disease. We support patients through advocacy, counselling, a growing range of patient information and by providing small, immediate financial grants for those patients struggling to cope.  We also fund posts in NHS kidney units such as social workers, counsellors, dieticians and youth workers, pay for equipment and fund patient-centred research in partnership with others.

Kidney Care UK’s Board of Trustees wishes to broaden its range of experience and skills.  We are currently seeking two new Trustees, at least one with a strong understanding of finance and someone with significant experience in fundraising. Trustees will ideally have strategic vision, combined with good independent judgement and an ability to work as a member of a team, supporting the staff.  You will also need a passion for helping patients.

We especially encourage applications from people from the BAME community who are currently under-represented on Kidney Care UK’s Board.

Trustees are appointed for three years with an option to serve two subsequent three-year terms.  Trustee positions are non-executive and remunerated on an expenses-only basis. Specific training is available as required.  You would be expected to attend the quarterly main Board meetings in London and Alton, the Hampshire headquarters of the Charity. You would also be a member of at least one of the four sub-committees.

  Interviews are planned to take place between 11th and 15th June.  We would very much like to appoint the successful candidates at the next Board meeting on Friday 13th July in London.

For further information about these roles, please contact the Chief Executive, Paddy Tabor.