NOAH is a charity that helps people experiencing homelessness, extreme poverty, and other disadvantages to make positive changes in their lives. We do this by providing care and advice services, training and wellbeing workshops, and opportunities for employment.

We are truly driven by our values of Care, Compassion, and Commitment, which have their roots in Saint Vincent de Paul, whose life was the inspiration behind the founding of NOAH. We seek to recruit trustees, staff, and volunteers who are committed to, and actively live out these values. We are a Living Wage Foundation Employer and are committed to promoting wellbeing and a work-life balance amongst our staff.

Find out about volunteering opportunities with NOAH here

NOAH Trustees

What could you bring as a trustee of a charity that is passionate about supporting people who are experiencing homelessness, extreme poverty, and other disadvantages to make positive changes in their lives?

NOAH Enterprise provides care and advice services, employment and wellbeing workshops, and opportunities for employment. During our 36-year history, we have earned a reputation across Bedfordshire for effectively supporting those who are street homeless, especially EU migrants, and for helping people with very little confidence to get into work. Currently, we operate from six locations in Luton and several satellites throughout Bedfordshire, and we have planning permission to replace our Luton welfare centre with a modern purpose-built facility.

Board member opportunities
There is much more for NOAH to do, and our 2021-26 strategy seeks to build on our strengths and respond to the need. We have a broad remit, an ambitious plan, and a talented and committed trustee and staff team. We are now seeking a further two or three trustees to bring new skills and experience to our Board.

Health and Social Care
The people we work with have a range of complex needs and it’s vital that the support we provide is trauma-informed. We would therefore welcome someone with a senior health & social care and safeguarding background to help us ensure our service provision meets these needs in the most effective and healing way possible.

Retail
We are keen to grow the net income we receive from our retail activities. We currently have three shops and plan to increase this to at least seven by 2026, so would welcome someone with a commercial mindset and strong charity retail background to support us as we deliver this growth as part of our income generation strategy.

Lived experience
We are acutely aware of the privilege that the majority of people enjoy, having not experienced the issues the people we work with have or continue to face, such as racism, poverty, and trauma. We also work within particularly diverse areas, and it is important that our board is representative of the communities that we serve. We are therefore looking for applications from local people from a black or Asian heritage, and/or people who have lived experience of homelessness or poverty, living with trauma, leaving an institutional setting, migrating to a new country, substance use, or any other issue that would enable our deeper understanding of the challenges the people we work with face, and how we can best meet their needs.

These are exciting opportunities to join the Board of a successful and ambitious organisation making a significant impact on the lives of some of the poorest people in society. If you would like to play a leading part in shaping the future of NOAH in these key roles, we would be delighted to hear from you.

How to apply
Eastside People is supporting NOAH Enterprise in the recruitment of these roles. Please click here to apply by submitting your CV and a cover letter which should indicate why you are interested in applying for this role and how you meet the selection criteria.

If you would like a call to discuss the role in more detail, please email Lucinda Shaw, lucinda@eastsidepeople.org to arrange a convenient time. Having a call of this kind will not influence the success or otherwise of your application. We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability, and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you.

The closing date for applications is Monday 3 July and longlisting interviews, held by Eastside People, will take place the following week. Interviews with NOAH for shortlisted candidates will be mid to end of July, dates and process to be confirmed.

Vacancy Application Form

Full Name*
Full Name
Email*
Email
Position Applied for:*
Position Applied for:
Where did you see this vacancy?*
Where did you see this vacancy?
Relevant Skills and Experience
Please provide details of any skills and experience which you can bring to the role, based on the person specification. Applicants will be shortlisted based on evidence of the competencies listed in the person specification - it is therefore important to provide as much detail as possible. This supporting statement will be used in conjunction with your CV.
What relevant skills and experience do you bring to this post?*
What relevant skills and experience do you bring to this post?
Please outline your reasons for applying for this role:*
Please outline your reasons for applying for this role:
Upload your CV
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Max. file size: 500 MB.
Representation & Experience
NOAH is committed to equality of opportunity, supporting and encouraging under-represented groups, and valuing diversity. We seek people from a wide range of backgrounds, who will bring a fresh perspective to the organisation. We are keen that we reflect the diversity of the community we work with and we therefore welcome applications from all sections of the community. We would also like to increase the proportion of our staff with lived experience of the challenges that our clients face so that we can continue to excel and improve our services. The following questions are optional and any information you provide will be treated as strictly confidential.
Have you had personal experience of disadvantage in your own life? (For example, as a result of homelessness, leaving an institutional setting, migrating to a new country, trauma, or poverty) ?*
Have you had personal experience of disadvantage in your own life? (For example, as a result of homelessness, leaving an institutional setting, migrating to a new country, trauma, or poverty) ?
If your answer is yes, please provide details.
If your answer is yes, please provide details.
If you need us to make any adaptations for your interview to accommodate any disability you may have, please tell us what these should be:
If you need us to make any adaptations for your interview to accommodate any disability you may have, please tell us what these should be:
Declaration
I confirm that to the best of my knowledge the information provided on and with this application form is true and correct and can be treated as part of any subsequent contract of employment
Signed*
Signed:
Date*
Date:
By completing this application form, you are declaring that you have the right to work in the UK, and if appointed could provide two references (at least one of which must know you in a professional capacity).
NOAH is committed to safeguarding and ensuring the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. The suitability of all prospective employees or volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment and our Safeguarding Policy and Procedure.
Consent*
We'd love to keep you up-to-date with our news and events by email.
- Yes please, I would love to
- No, I do not want to hear from you

Company Registration: 3248392 - Charity Registration: 1059672