The Plant-Based Community Cookery School
The Plant-Based Community Cookery School
Posted Wednesday 5th November 2025...
Introduction
Made in Hackney (MIH) is seeking to further enhance the composition of the charity's Board with diverse skills and experiences through the appointment of new Trustees from late 2025/early 2026.
Charity Overview
MIH opened its doors in 2012 as the UK’s first fully vegan community cookery school. Today, we are a thriving charity on a mission to tackle health inequalities, improve access to nutritious and climate-friendly food, and bring communities together through the power of plants. At the heart of our work is a commitment to social justice, supporting those most impacted by systemic inequality while striving to build a fairer, more sustainable food system for all.
We pride ourselves on being a values-led organisation, with our work and ethos being anchored by the following core values:
■ Compassion - inclusive, respectful and embracing diverse lived experiences
■ Community-minded - bringing people together, collaborating and supporting others
■ Courageous - pushing boundaries and leading the way
■ Committed - focusing on high-quality and high-impact
More information about our work can be found in our latest Impact Report: 2023-24 Impact Report
The Trustee Position
You will join a proactive, collaborative Board; responsible for the overall direction, vision and strategy of MIH, with legal responsibility for the charity’s management and administration. You will enjoy being part of an exciting and dynamic organisation and the community it serves; with a key part of being a trustee being to contribute to the work of the organisation by sharing skills, contacts, experience and new perspectives.
We are looking for motivated individuals who can bring fresh, innovative ideas to help in implementing our ambitious plans for the future, and are particularly interested in candidates who have experience in one or more of the following areas:
■ Digital marketing
■ PR and communications
■ Change management
■ Risk, compliance, governance
■ Finance
We are also interested in recruiting Trustees that live within the borough of Hackney.
We expect all MIH Trustees to:
■ commit to the charities aims, principles and values, including principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion
■ think creatively and strategically, exercise good, sound, independent judgement and work effectively and with diplomacy as a member of our proactive and passionate board
■ actively contribute in giving strategic direction to the organisation, reviewing policies, goals, and targets, and evaluating performance
■ support our dynamic MIH team to think through ideas, problem solve and provide constructive challenge when needed
■ safeguard the charity’s reputation and protect its ability to deliver its core mission
Trustee Duties
Trustees are expected to ensure that MIH:
■ Has a clear vision, mission and strategic direction and is focused on achieving these
■ Complies with and pursues its objectives as defined in its governing document
(constitution), charity law, company law and other relevant legislation or regulation
■ Applies its resources appropriately in pursuance of its objectives, for the benefit of the public
■ Has clearly defined goals and evaluates performance against agreed targets
■ Regularly reviews its long-term strategy and business plan
■ Has financial stability and effective, efficient administration, with appropriate policies and procedures in place
■ Makes sound decisions to protect and make best use of its assets for the benefit of the public, ensuring the proper investment of the charity’s funds
■ Follows proper, formal arrangements for the appointment, supervision, support, appraisal, and remuneration of senior staff, and to support this process
Person Specification
■ The ability to understand complex strategic issues, critically assess, analyse and resolve difficult problems
■ Strong business and commercial acumen
■ Resilience, and highly developed interpersonal and communication skills
■ Experience of committee work, knowledge of charity governance and/or fundraising
beneficial
■ An understanding of the voluntary sector and previous experience as a charity volunteer or Trustee are both desirable but not essential
Hours, Remuneration and Time Commitment
■ Voluntary role, 3 year term / commitment
■ Unremunerated, travel expenses paid
■ Onboarding:
○ In-person induction meeting with key team members
○ Time to review induction documentation to fully understand the role and
expectations of a Charity Trustee, attending additional training if considered
necessary
■ Ongoing Support:
○ Attendance at quarterly Board meetings, at least 1 per year in-person (held in the evenings)
○ Attendance at an annual in-person strategic planning meeting
○ 4-10 hours a month to read papers, attend ad hoc board meetings, contribute to sub committees – e.g. on areas such as Safeguarding, DE&I, HR, Finance, and future strategic topics
○ Active engagement with the Charity’s work, including attendance at at least one MIH event per year
○ Other support may involve providing advice and
Location
Made in Hackney is based at Liberty Hall (E5 9AA). Board Meetings are usually held in Central London or online.
Eligibility and Equal Opportunity
We value diversity in all forms. We therefore support and encourage people from diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply.
We positively welcome applications from people with lived experience of food poverty in the UK.
We also recognise the need to give young people opportunities and exposure and so if you are a young person (aged 18 - 25) looking for your first Trustee position please do not hesitate to apply.
How To Apply
Please send a CV and Cover Letter stating how you feel your skills are relevant to the role of
Trustee to Tim Cook (Executive Director) at tim@madeinhackney.org
Deadline to Apply: Sunday 30th November 2025
