Become a Governor

Foundation Trusts are based on membership with local people having a say through representation on a Council of Governors.

Why become a governor?

• Have your say about local mental health and learning disability services
• Influence who is on the Trust’s Board of Directors
• Meet some great people and truly make a difference
• Act as an ambassador for our Trust

Who can become a governor?

Anyone who is a member of the Trust and aged 16 years or over can stand for election as a Governor. Our Governors must also live in the designated constituency area.

Do I need any qualifications or experience to become a governor?

You do not need to have any formal qualifications or previous experience to be Governor, all you need is to have a passion for improving mental health and learning disability services within the NHS. We will provide all of the help, training and support that you need to carry out the role of a Governor.

How can I become a governor?

To become a governor, you must first be a member of the Trust, and then you must follow the election process. Please see further down this page for information on governor elections.

Will I be paid to be a governor?

Our governors are not paid, but we are happy to repay any expenses. Please see our Governor Expenses Procedure in the ‘downloads’ box on this page.

How much time is required to fulfill my role as a governor?

Governors are required to:

• make themselves available to undertake any training that the Trust decides is necessary
• be available to attend all four of our formal Council of Governors meetings (half a day each)
• be available to attend our Annual Members Meeting in July (half a day)
• attend our full day board to board workshop in September
• spend time preparing for any meetings that they attend
• be available to observe at our board sub-committee meetings to observe the work of the committee (optional)
• spend time engaging with members