Thames Reach – Board member recruitment
Thames Reach is a leading London- based charity with a particular focus on rough sleeping, and helping people who are, have been, or are at risk of rough sleeping to find decent homes, build supportive relationships and lead fulfilling lives. The charity provides innovative services aimed at preventing rough sleeping, intervening where people are sleeping rough, and helping people to recover from the impact of life on the streets. As well as street outreach work, our services include tenancy support, emergency shelters, day services, hostels and accommodation, and help with health and employment. We work across London and South East England.
Thames Reach is a strong organisation that is growing in response to need. Our services are rooted in our understanding of the issues surrounding street homelessness, and we use this understanding to influence decision making at a local, regional, and national level. We understand that our continued effectiveness requires us to sustain and develop our financial viability; and to retain and grow our excellent staff and volunteers.
We employ around 400 staff and around 100 volunteers, and our organisational turnover is around £28 million per annum.
We have an effective and long-standing non-executive board with a wealth of relevant experience in both the public and commercial sectors. They provide valuable support to the Executive team, as we as attending board meetings every two month and sitting on one of the three board sub-committees (Finance, Audit and Fundraising; Services; Governance and People) that meet around four times a year. Board members are also asked to participate in an annual away day, usually in the autumn, with separate preparatory visits to our services.
We are now looking for up to three new members. As well as interest in and commitment to ending street homelessness as a board member and the ability and interest in providing strategic oversight for the organisation, we are hoping to recruit members with specific skills in the following areas:
People/ Human Resources
Candidates with current understanding of the recruitment, management, retention and development of staff (and volunteers) in an organisation of Thames Reach’s size.
Lived experience
Candidates with lived experience of street homelessness and/or service use (for example substance misuse or mental health services), and an understanding of how this lived experience can improve and develop services.
Finance/accounting
Candidates with knowledge of financial management in medium large complex organisations, particularly those with knowledge of Charity Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) requirements.
Communications
Candidates with current knowledge of approaches to internal and external organisational communication, with understanding of both conventional and new media.
Thames Reach is committed to achieving a diversity that reflects the communities we serve. We value, respect, and celebrate diversity. We welcome and encourage applicants from all sections of the community regardless of their history of homelessness, sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, or religious belief.
If you are interested in becoming a Thames Reach board member and think that you might have the skills that we need, contact us on boardmembership@thamesreach.org.uk to find out more.
Closing date: Friday 24 April 2026.
