We’re Hiring: Trustee (Lived Experience of the Criminal Justice System)
Have you experienced the criminal justice system first hand and want to use what you’ve learned to help others?
Finding Rhythms uses music as a catalyst to empower people to improve their lives. We deliver creative projects in prisons and in the community, supporting people at risk of offending to rebuild confidence, strengthen belonging, and shift how they see themselves.
We are looking for a new Trustee to join our Board. We’re particularly keen to hear from people with lived experience of the criminal justice system because we believe the best decisions are made when the voices of people with first-hand experience are part of shaping them.
You don’t need previous Board experience. If you care about helping people build brighter futures and want to use your experience to make a difference, we’d love to hear from you.
About Finding Rhythms
Many of the participants who benefit from the work of our charity are currently serving prison sentences, are prison leavers or are at risk of offending. We also support people who have already accessed addiction or mental health services.
Working with professional musicians, participants write, record and release original music — often sharing their stories for the first time. Alongside this creative work, participants also receive support to improve their employability, including the opportunity to gain a King’s Trust qualification.
Since 2013, we’ve worked with more than 1,300 people across over 35 prisons and within the community, helping them build confidence, develop skills and create positive futures through music.
About the role
Our Trustees help guide Finding Rhythms, making sure we’re delivering the greatest possible impact and that we are planning well for the future.
Trustees do not get paid, so this is a volunteer role which has a huge impact without a massive drain on their time.
We’re looking for someone whose lived experience of the criminal justice system can bring a different perspective to our Board. Your voice will help us make better decisions, challenge our thinking and ensure our work stays relevant to the people we exist to support.
You’ll work alongside people from a range of backgrounds and your lived experience will be valued as expertise in its own right.
You won’t be expected to know everything about being a Trustee from day one. We’ll provide a full induction, ongoing support and opportunities to develop your confidence in the role.
We’d love to find someone with:
• Lived experience of the criminal justice system.
• A willingness to share your experiences and perspectives to help shape our work.
• An interest in helping people create positive futures.
• Enthusiasm to grow into the role, if this is the first time you have been a Trustee.
• The confidence to contribute to discussions, ask questions and work with others to make good decisions.
• A commitment to our values of creativity, equity and social change.
What we’re able to offer you in return:
• A Trustee position within a growing charity making a real difference.
• A supportive Board committed to ensuring every Trustee feels able to contribute.
• A full induction and ongoing support – no previous Trustee or Board experience is required.
• The opportunity to influence an organisation which believes lived experience is a vital form of expertise.
• The chance to help create opportunities for people rebuilding their lives.
What we’re asking of you:
• You will attend four Board meetings each year (typically held in Central London in the evening between 5.00pm and 7.30pm, and your travel expenses will be paid).
• You will also need to allow around 3–5 hours a month on average to prepare for meetings and stay involved with the charity.
• There will also be opportunities to attend performances and events throughout the year.
• Trustees join the Board for an initial three-years, with the opportunity to serve two additional terms (maximum nine years).
Who is eligible to be a Trustee
Trustees are charity directors, so applicants must be eligible to serve as a Trustee under Charity Commission rules. This includes confirming you are not disqualified from acting as a Trustee and, where applicable, that you are compliant with any relevant licence conditions.
To apply
If you’re interested but aren’t sure whether you’ve got the right experience, we’d still love to hear from you.
Please send an email to info@finding-rhythms.co.uk telling us:
• A little bit about yourself.
• Why you’d like to become a Trustee with Finding Rhythms.
• Any work, volunteering, hobbies or life experiences which you think would help you contribute to our work and our Board.
If we think there could be a good fit, we’ll invite you for an informal chat with our Chair of Trustees. This will be very much a two-way conversation to help you decide if this opportunity is right for you.
As part of our commitment to providing an excellent candidate experience, everyone who takes the time to submit an application will get a response from us, even if your application is unsuccessful.
