Our CEO Sam Smethers celebrates the brilliant work that trustees do this Trustees’ Week and invites candidates to apply to our join board to help us drive systemic change to save lives and stop economic abuse forever.

It’s Trustees’ Week so we are celebrating the contribution of our current trustees – a huge thank you to all of them – and also extending an invitation to you to consider joining us. We are growing and further diversifying our board and so we are recruiting up to four new trustees. Additionally, we are also looking for a new Chair to lead us into our tenth anniversary year. Could this be you?

Being a trustee is one of the most rewarding voluntary roles you can have because you are the guardian of the charity’s mission. You do the vital, but often unseen work of making sure that risks and finances are managed, strategies and plans are in place, and the executive team is both supported and challenged.

I first became a trustee 20 years ago (of both the feminist campaigning charity, the Fawcett Society and single parent charity, Gingerbread) and I realised that I was on a steep learning curve. But the experience I gained on those boards has made me a better CEO today and it has also enabled me to become Chair of another feminist charity, Pregnant Then Screwed. It has been such a privilege to play a part in the causes that I care deeply about. I have also learnt so much from the trustees and staff I have met along the way. It has really enriched my life.

So, if you support SEA’s mission to raise awareness of economic abuse and transform responses to it and you have relevant skills and experiences to bring then we want to hear from you.

We centre survivor voice in all that we do and we particularly welcome applicants from people with lived experience of economic abuse. You can find out more and can apply via the trustee recruitment page on our website here. We want to hear from people from all backgrounds and identities. Closing date is Monday 11th January 2027.

We are also looking for a new Chair who will be a woman with the governance grounding, the leadership experience and the human qualities to lead this board at an important stage in SEA’s development as we grow the organisation and our impact. Because of the survivor-facing work that we do, the Chair role is open to women candidates only.

Our Chair will have experience of operating at a senior level and a solid understanding of governance. You might have developed this through a previous board role, through senior executive work or through other forms of organisational leadership. Importantly, you do not need to have previously held a formal charity Chair role. You do need to be a strong communicator who can represent the charity and speak about our work with confidence in a persuasive and relatable way, with a wide range of stakeholders. Find out more about the Chair role and apply via our website here. Closing date is Monday 30th November 2026.

We are working with the wonderful Anj Handa at Inspiring Women Changemakers. So if you have any questions or would like to discuss either the Chair or trustee vacancies please do contact Anj via email on: [email protected]

We will support you with training and guidance and you will get to work with a truly wonderful team on a cause that is so incredibly important. Go on! You know you want to…APPLY!

Sam Smethers, CEO