This is an exciting time to join a small and dynamic organisation and help to shape the next phase of development. We put access and inclusion at the heart of our creative process and have creativity at the heart of how we run the organisation including Board meetings. You can expect our Board meetings to be fun, creative and accessible and we are constantly striving to improve our practices and share them with the wider sector.

The trustee role is a voluntary position that helps oversee the running of a charity. The role requires between 1-2 hours each month. We have official meetings quarterly in Bristol that last for up to 2 hours and an Annual General Meeting (AGM) once a year. These meetings may require additional time for preparatory reading supporting documents for presentation. We will have an annual Board away day.  

We encourage all Board members to attend Many Minds activities, performances and events to gain a better understanding of the way we work and provide opportunities for personal development and trustee training.  As a member led organisation, we positively encourage our members to stand for election and currently have 3 members on our Board. 

We are looking to fill these specific Board roles: 

Chair: Someone with previous Board experience and managerial experience. The Chair will need to have good leadership and managerial skills, be diplomatic and fair. They will help to support and encourage staff and other Board members, set meeting agendas and help facilitate change and manage conflict. 

Treasurer: Someone with accountancy experience and strong financial skills. They will oversee approving and presenting budgets, accounts and financial statements, ensure compliance with finance, tax and charity legislation and advise on the financial implications of the organisation's strategic plans.

Artistic Lead: Someone with experience as an Artistic or Creative Director of an arts organisation, a Theatre Director or Lead artist with experience leading arts projects with a community focus, a great grasp of the arts scene and contemporary work being made at the moment as well as an awareness of inclusive practice. They will be able to offer advice and guidance to the Artistic Director on artistic vision, content and practices.

Marketing and Communications: Someone with strong skills in creating marketing and communications strategies, attracting new audiences and a good understanding of the arts and social sectors.

About us 

Many Minds is an award-winning mental health and performance charity that puts people with experiences of mental ill health in the driving seat and advocates for better access to the arts. We put access needs at the heart of the creative process and work collaboratively to make high quality contemporary performance that promotes equality and combats stigma.

 Many Minds is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) that registered with the Charity Commission on 14th November 2017. We are a member-led organisation and anyone who participates in our projects can become a member of the charity. Members are involved in organisational decisions and also sit on the Board of Trustees.  

We are still in our sixth year and have been growing each year. In 2022, we had 270 members and a turnover of over £190k.

Our charitable objectives are:

• To promote the preservation of good mental health and those at risk of mental health problems for the public benefit through participation in the arts in order to increase awareness, understanding and reduce stigma of mental health to the wider public through creative activities, performance and professional theatre productions.  
   
• To improve access to arts and other mainstream services for mental health service users by working in partnership to raise awareness and reduce barriers to access 
   
• To improve confidence, self-esteem, social networks and progression into education, training and employment for mental health service users and those at risk through involvement in creative activities and mentoring.

We have staged 12 performances to date and work by developing strong partnerships with a wide range of social and arts sector organisations including Bristol Old Vic, Watershed, Arnolfini, Theatre Bristol, The Wardrobe Theatre, Bristol Harbourside Festival, Bristol Refugee Festival, Borderlands, Nilaari, St Mungos, 1625 Independent People, Cardboard Citizens, Wyldwood Arts and Bristol Homeless Forum.

Our funders include Arts Council England, Paul Hamlyn, The National Lottery, Quartet Foundation, Bristol City Council and People’s Health Trust. We have also raised charity funds through consultancy work, individual donors and fundraising events. For more info check out our website at www.many-minds.org.

The future 

We are in the process of developing our three year strategy and business plan and new Board members will have input in to this process. We particularly welcome people who identify with experiences of mental illness, identify as, neurodiverse, d/Deaf, disabled and people from minority ethnic backgrounds (or the global majority).