Board of Trustees

Charity trustee

As a trustee of the National Appropriate Adult Network (NAAN), you can shape the future of fairness in police custody for children and vulnerable people.

You do not have to have been a trustee previously – we are happy to support anyone who is interested in taking up the opportunity.

Applications are encouraged from all, including from people from black and other minoritised communities and/or those with lived experience of the criminal justice system. Please see "Equity, diversity and inclusion" below. 

We are particularly keen to speak with applicants from a law, policing, fundraising, commercial or marketing background, or who are practising appropriate adults, but welcome applications from all those who are passionate about our cause.

Key information

• Job title: Trustee
• Renumeration: This is an unpaid role, with out-of-pocket expenses.
• Deadline for expressions of interest: Friday 25th September 2026.

About appropriate adults

Children from aged ten and vulnerable adults (including people with mental ill health and learning disabilities) can be arrested and detained in police custody. Appropriate adults (AAs) play a crucial role in supporting children and vulnerable adults to understand and exercise their legal rights to fair treatment by the police. Find out more about AAs here.

About the National Appropriate Adult Network

NAAN is a national charity. We work with our 100+ member organisations, providing an independent national centre of specialist expertise and innovation, committed to improving the effectiveness of the AA safeguard for children and vulnerable adults detained or questioned as suspects by police. Find out more about NAAN here.

Like every charity, NAAN has a Board of Trustees (a group of unpaid non-executive directors) who ensure that the charity is effective in carrying out the purpose for which it was set up. Trustees have responsibility for overseeing the work of the charity, ensuring it is financially stable, well-run and fulfilling its charitable obligations. The day-to-day running is delegated to the executive team.

Staff

NAAN has three employees: Chris Bath (Chief Executive), Grev Wallington (Effective Practice Manager), and Kate Tokley (Operations Manager), all of whom have a friendly and productive working relationship with the Board.

The trustee board

The Board is made up of people who are either:

• elected by our membership from within our membership; or
• co-opted by the Board to broaden its skills and experience.

This vacancy will be filled by co-option.

Click here for more information about the current Board members.

The role

The following are shared duties of the Trustee Board:

• To ensure compliance with the governing document, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
• To ensure pursuance of the objects as defined in the governing document.
• To ensure resources are used exclusively in pursuance of the objects.
• To contribute actively to the Board’s role in giving strategic direction to the organisation, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance.
• To safeguard the good name and values of the organisation.
• To ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.
• To ensure financial stability.
• To protect and manage the property of the charity and ensure the proper investment of the charity's funds.
• To appoint the Chief Executive Officer and monitor their performance.

Read more about the role and legal responsibilities of trustees here.

Commitment

The specific time commitments will depend on your choices and approach to the position. However, the role will certainly involve:

• 4 days per year for Board meetings, usually between 1-4pm on a weekday.
• 1 day per year for the AGM.
• Ad hoc availability for supporting the CEO, and other Board Members when necessary.

Board meetings alternate between being held online and at a venue in central London.

About you

We are seeking an individual with:

• A commitment to justice and fairness
• Recognition of the need for a distinct approach for children and vulnerable people
• The desire and ability to contribute at the national level
• Independence of mind
• Ability to work constructively and collaboratively with people from different professional backgrounds and perspectives in the interests of children and vulnerable people

Useful skills and expertise could include:

• Practical and/or strategic policing experience in one or more of: custody, investigations, children, mental vulnerability (e.g. mental health, learning disability, neurodiversity, brain injury)
• Experience developing equality, diversity and inclusion strategies and plans
• Experience of working with underrepresented or underserved communities in the UK
• Knowledge of the working of Boards and/or charities
• The ability to generate and scrutinise ideas and proposals
• Knowledge of commercial income generation and/or fundraising
• Experience of long-term planning
• Lived experience of the criminal justice system

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The agencies and people that NAAN deals with are diverse, and we want to get the best results for them. Having a Board that is diverse will help us to achieve the maximum impact for the young people and vulnerable adults that AAs support.

As we set out in our EDI statement, we are conscious of the role of privilege and power in people's experience of the criminal justice system, in the AA role, and in our organisation - including in the selection and development of our people. We actively seek to build a diverse Board of Trusteesm across age, gender, sexuality, socio-economic background, ethnic background, disability, and lived experience of the criminal justice system.

How to express your interest

Informal discussion

• We are committed to making the application process as accessible as possible and are happy to provide further information and to answer any other questions regarding this opportunity.
• If you’d like an informal chat about the role beforehand, or have any questions, please email admin@appropriateadult.org.uk to arrange this.

Express an interest

Please email admin@appropriateadult.org.uk, we would be grateful if you could tell us about:

• The reasons for your interest in being a NAAN trustee.
• Your relevant background (you could include a CV or LinkedIn or other profile).
• Contact details including a phone number.

The closing date for expressions of interest is Friday 25th September 2026.