Volunteer Trustee | HACRO at Reach Volunteering

HACRO helps those who have been on the wrong side of the law in Herts to turn their lives around. Our TurnAround programme helps c100 ex-offenders in order to reduce re-offending.

What difference will you make?

HACRO’s TurnAround project has proved to be immensely successful in achieving our core mission. HACRO is uniquely placed to achieve its objectives due to the impact we have in reducing reoffending and the long standing respect and strong relationships it has with statutory and third sector organisations in Hertfordshire. The board’s next challenge is to shape the strategic direction going forward, to ensure that we comply with best practice as identified in the Charity Governance Code and to ensure the future stability of the charity. This is an exciting time for HACRO and you could be part of the further development of our charity and making Hertfordshire a safer place for communities through helping to turn participants lives around so that they become fulfilled and positive members of their communities.

What are we looking for?

Ideally, the new trustee would have lived experience of the criminal justice system. The ability to think clearly and analytically about the issues and challenges facing a small charity in the criminal justice sector is of paramount importance. An appreciation of the challenges facing our participants is also critical, along with ideas and suggestions as to how they can be helped to turn their lives around. Lived experience would be an asset, but not essential. The skills listed below are also ideal but not essential.

What will you be doing?

HACRO wishes to recruit a trustee with experience and understanding of the criminal justice sector and the issues faced by those who have found themselves on the wrong side of the law. Ideally, the new trustee would have lived experience of the criminal justice system. The board has recently recruited an Adviser to the Board who has lived experience and his contributions are highly valued. HACRO provides a range of engagement activities and courses to support our participants’ rehabilitation and our success rate is impressive. The engagement activities and courses provide participants (many of them the hardest to reach) with structure in their lives as well as enabling them to learn new skills, work alongside role models, develop self confidence, reduce isolation and achieve accredited qualifications. Participants’ mental health and well-being improve, as well as their practical situations through help from our mentors Although the police and probation services are hugely supportive of the work we do, funding is always a key issue faced by the board. We are currently awaiting the outcome of three major bids which would give HACRO stability for the next three years. The board’s Treasurer is a qualified accountant (who also submits the returns and has all other dealings with the Charity Commission) and we also have a part time finance officer and reports are produced monthly so that the Board is always kept apprised of the charity’s financial situation. The current Chair will be required to stand down at the end of 2024 and she has undertaking most of the fund raising bids for the last few years. In order to ensure a succession plan, some of the fund raising is now being done by an outside consultant. Some of our trustees hold specific portfolios and experience in Human Resources would be a bonus.