Join Our Team as a Trustee

A Welcome from the Secretary

Hello and thank you so much for taking the time to learn more about our group and this exciting opportunity to join us as a trustee!

My name is Joanne, and I serve as both Secretary and Events & Publicity Officer for The Fix It Group 23 — a small but mighty community interest organisation run entirely by volunteers here in Leicestershire.

We started this group because we believe in the power of people helping people. At our monthly Repair Cafés, you’ll find neighbours coming together to fix broken lamps, sew torn clothing, troubleshoot radios, share cups of tea, and laugh over toasters that (finally!) work again. It’s about sustainability, yes — but it’s also about human connection, empowerment, and kindness.

Behind the scenes, we take our responsibility very seriously. While we’re not a formal charity or company, we’ve built a robust, transparent governance structure and a committed Leadership Team (our Board of Trustees) to make sure everything runs safely and ethically.

Now, we’re looking for someone with real-world safety experience to join our team as Health & Safety Officer (Trustee – Risk, Safety & Safeguarding). This is a crucial role for us — and not just in a legal sense. We want every person who walks into one of our events to feel safe, welcome, and respected. And we want our volunteers to feel supported and confident in what they do.

If you have electrical safety skills, an eye for risk management, and a heart for community, this is your chance to get involved in something that’s both practical and deeply meaningful. You’ll be stepping into a well-established group, with a full handover provided, plenty of encouragement, and the chance to help shape the next chapter of our story.

Whether you’ve been involved in community work before, or you’re looking to give back for the first time, we’d love to hear from you.

Joanne Liversidge, Secretary & Trustee

About The Fix It Group 23

The Fix It Group 23 is a volunteer-led, not-for-profit community interest organisation based in Leicestershire. We exist to bring people together around a simple but powerful idea: fix what’s broken — in our homes and in our communities.

We run monthly Repair Cafés, where skilled and beginner volunteers help local residents repair everyday household items — from small appliances and electronics to clothing, tools, toys, and more. These events are friendly, practical, and open to everyone.

But we’re more than just a repair service. We’re part of a growing grassroots movement that promotes:

Sustainability – keeping useful items out of landfill

Skill-sharing – empowering people to learn, fix, and feel confident

Connection – creating welcoming, inclusive spaces for all ages and backgrounds

Our Mission

Our work is guided by five core aims:

  1. Reduce waste by encouraging repair and reuse instead of landfill.

  2. Share skills and build local confidence through hands-on learning.

  3. Connect communities through friendly, intergenerational events.

  4. Offer cost-of-living support by helping people avoid unnecessary spending.

  5. Champion environmental and social good through grassroots action.

Our Structure

We’re structured as an unincorporated association, which means:

  • We’re not registered as a charity or company, because our annual income is below £5,000.

  • We operate transparently, with a written constitution, insurance, policies, and a formal Leadership Team (Board of Trustees).

  • All income is used to advance our community aims — not for private gain.

  • We have no paid staff and are proudly 100% volunteer-run.

Despite our modest size, we take governance seriously. We’re fully insured, committed to safeguarding and inclusivity, and guided by the principles in our Constitution and policies.

You can download and read our full Constitution here to understand how we’re structured and governed.

The Role: Health & Safety Officer (Trustee – Risk, Safety & Safeguarding)

We are currently seeking a new Health & Safety Officer to join our Leadership Team as a trustee. This is a vital role within our organisation, responsible for overseeing all aspects of safety, safeguarding, and risk — with a particular focus on electrical safety at Repair Café events.

You’ll help ensure that our events are not only welcoming and inclusive, but also legally compliant, responsibly managed, and safe for everyone involved — from the public to our brilliant volunteer team.

What You'll Do

As our Health & Safety Officer, you will:

  • Lead on event risk assessments, planning and documentation

  • Ensure safe layouts, clear signage, and safe access at all events

  • Maintain our incident log and support accident response

  • Deliver safety briefings to volunteers at the start of events

  • Oversee electrical repair safety, ensuring volunteers working on mains-powered items are competent, briefed, and equipped

  • Set and monitor clear rules on what can or cannot be repaired

  • Promote and uphold our safeguarding and inclusion policies

  • Act as a point of contact for any safeguarding concerns

  • Attend quarterly trustee meetings and contribute to AGM planning and governance

What We’re Looking For

We’d love to hear from someone who:

  • Has practical and current electrical safety knowledge

    • This might include a Level 3 electrical qualification (e.g. City & Guilds 2391/2394/2395), a recognised trade background (e.g. ECS Gold Card), or professional engineering status (CEng/IEng)

  • Understands risk in public or event environments

  • Is confident in enforcing safety protocols respectfully and calmly

  • Is committed to safety, safeguarding, and the wellbeing of others

  • Shares our values of sustainability, inclusivity, and community action

  • Can commit to a volunteer trustee role for one year, starting September 2025

Full Support Provided

You won’t be alone. We know stepping into a leadership role can feel like a big commitment — so we’ll make sure you’re fully supported. You will receive:

  • A full handover from our outgoing Health & Safety/Electrical Lead

  • Ongoing mentorship and support from existing trustees

  • Access to online training (if needed) in:

    • Health & Safety Management

    • Safeguarding Awareness

    • Risk assessment and public event safety

  • A complete induction to our structure, policies, and event delivery

This is a collaborative role within a passionate, respectful team. You’ll be joining a group that values your input, encourages shared learning, and supports you to grow in confidence.

For full details regarding the role, you can read the complete Role Description here.

How to Apply

If you're interested in becoming our next Health & Safety Officer Trustee, we’d love to hear from you!

Joining our Leadership Team is a supported and simple process:

  1. Become a Member – All trustees must first be volunteer members of The Fix It Group 23. This involves completing a short induction and joining us at an event or support session, to get to know how we work.

  2. Complete Volunteer Induction – You’ll receive a full overview of our values, structure, event planning, safeguarding, and health & safety practices.

  3. Be Co-opted onto the Leadership Team – Once you’re inducted and ready, you can be co-opted by the current trustees to start the role. You’ll join our quarterly trustee meetings and begin supporting our events and safety planning.

  4. Settle into the Role with Full Support – A handover will be provided by the outgoing Health & Safety/Electrical Lead, and the existing trustees will support you every step of the way.

  5. Stand for Formal Election at the Next AGM – You’ll then be formally elected at our next Annual General Meeting to continue in the role as a fully ratified trustee.

To express your interest, please email us at thefixitgroup23@gmail.com with a short introduction and a few lines about your relevant experience or interest in the role.

We’re looking for someone passionate about community, repair, and public safety — and we’re here to help you step into the role with confidence. If you have any questions, or would like an informal chat before applying, please don’t hesitate to get in touch — we’d be very happy to talk.