When Oxfordshire Mind needed to strengthen their board of trustees, they turned to Charisma. It is the kind of brief we genuinely love: finding the right people for an organisation doing vital mental health work in their local community, with a board that needs to reflect and serve that community well.

A relationship built on trust

Oxfordshire Mind came to us because of the strong working relationships Charisma has built with Mind organisations across the UK. That existing trust meant we could get started quickly, with a clear understanding of what the organisation stands for and what good governance looks like in a charity of this nature.

Before anything else, we took the time to sit down properly with the Charisma consultant and the Chair. Those conversations matter enormously. We needed to understand not just the skills and experience required for the new trustees, but the culture of the board, the direction Oxfordshire Mind is heading, and the kind of people who would genuinely thrive in those roles.

Keeping it local

One thing that became clear very early on was that location was not simply a practical consideration. It was central to the brief. Oxfordshire Mind is deeply rooted in its local community, and the organisation is careful not to overlap with the areas served by neighbouring Mind affiliates. That community focus needed to be reflected in the trustees they appointed.

With that in mind, we centred our search within a 30-mile radius. It was a deliberate and focused approach, drawing on a combination of targeted advertising, our own website, and direct headhunting to reach the right people. Finding excellent trustees who are also genuinely local is not always straightforward, but that combination of channels gives us real reach into the communities that matter.

Quality over quantity

From that search, we identified five candidates to take through the Charisma screening process. Every single one of them met the client's criteria. That is not something we take for granted. It reflects the care that goes into the initial stages of any search: understanding the brief thoroughly, assessing candidates rigorously, and only progressing those who are genuinely well-matched.

Each candidate was presented to Oxfordshire Mind with a full CV, a supporting statement, and a consultant summary. We believe in giving our clients everything they need to make confident, informed decisions, without having to wade through unsuitable applications or fill in the gaps themselves.

A swift and successful outcome

The process moved quickly from that point. All five candidates attended interviews with the client, and Oxfordshire Mind offered trustee roles to three of them. Three new trustees joining a board is a meaningful outcome, bringing fresh perspectives, new skills, and renewed energy to the governance of an organisation doing important work.

The whole process was completed in a professional and efficient timeframe, which matters when a board has gaps to fill and work to get on with.

What this appointment reflects

Trustee recruitment is one of those areas where getting it right really counts. Trustees are not just names on a letterhead. They set the strategic direction, hold the executive team to account, and carry a genuine legal and ethical responsibility for the organisation. Finding people who bring the right skills and who are also aligned with the values and mission of a charity like Oxfordshire Mind takes careful thought and a thorough process.

It is also, we would argue, one of the more rewarding types of recruitment. The people who put themselves forward for trustee roles do so because they care. Connecting them with an organisation where they can make a real contribution is exactly the kind of work we are here to do.

We are proud to support Mind organisations across the UK, and this appointment with Oxfordshire Mind is a great example of what thoughtful, community-focused recruitment can achieve.

Work with Charisma

Whether you are a large national charity or a locally rooted organisation like Oxfordshire Mind, we bring the same level of care and commitment to every search. If you are looking to strengthen your board or appoint trustees who will genuinely make a difference, we would love to hear from you.

Get in touch with our team