Mental Wealth Foundation (MWF) Connecting young people with the resources to thrive

We Are Seeking Trustees

Background
The Mental Wealth Foundation offers training and mentoring to young people, and provides award packages to support the growth of youth-led projects. Through this we aim to promote the wellbeing of young people, and facilitate their role in cultivating wellbeing in society at large. We believe that young people ought to play an active role in their education, and that, as W.B. Yeats put it, "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire". Despite being a new charity, the Mental Wealth Foundation is built on several years of advocacy and campaigning, and has has been supported by a number of major organisations involved with student mental health & wellbeing, including Young Minds, Rethink, Action for Happiness, the Charlie Waller Trust, Papyrus, the Matthew Elvidge Trust, NUS, and Leeds Metropolitan University. Campaigns have been delivered at dozens of universities, and there are now hundreds of students across the country promoting mental health and wellbeing through student-led Mental Wealth groups. You can find out more about them and their work by visiting www.mentalwealthuk.com. MWF's approach to wellbeing promotion is informed by the World Health Organisation's 'Healthy Settings' approach and by psychological research. We believe that there is more to the mind than just being ill or healthy, and that we can all build mental wealth in our own lives, and in our communities.

Priorities
In 2012 we aim to: Strengthen the support we offer to Mental Wealth groups and continue to grow the Mental Wealth UK community. Launch a fellowship fund providing small grants and support to students that that have entrepreneurial ideas for promoting wellbeing. Offer coaching and mentoring to any student, or young person not in full-time time employment, helping them develop projects and find meaningful occupation. Influence the debate around Education to try and provide young people with frameworks that support their development. Open a new office in Leeds that provides a working space for volunteers.

Trustee Responsibilities
We are looking to strengthen our trustee board, particularly by adding expertise in the following areas: PR, Marketing, Management, Psychology, Coaching, Mental Health, Education, Fundraising, Events Management, Entrepreneurship.

Charity trustees have legal responsibility for the overall management and decision making of the organisation. You can find out more about the responsibilities of being a trustee at the Charity Commission website. Trustees are expected to attend general meetings at several intervals throughout the calendar, and to take responsibility for certain tasks/functions in the interim between meetings. These meetings currently take place on a monthly basis at agreed dates. All travel expenses are reimbursed. There will be a General Meeting in February 2012. If youre interested in being a Trustee please send your CV to home@mwfnd.org by 10th January.