Trustee with HR Expertise

The Organisation:

Mendicity is Dublin’s oldest working charity, serving the city’s most vulnerable for 208 years. Today we continue our tradition of support by providing free meals, hygiene facilities, and advocacy to individuals experiencing homelessness and marginalisation. Our centre is open 80 hours a week across 6 days, offering a welcoming space for those in need.

Our Mission:

It is our mission to disrupt and prevent the cycle of homelessness by enabling and empowering individuals to become self-sufficient members of their communities.

From October 2024 to October 2025, there was an 11.3% increase in the number of homeless adults and a 13.5% increase in the number of homeless children. Like all charities, Mendicity has had to adapt and evolve in a changing and increasingly complex country where homelessness has become a deepening emergency and asylum seekers and migrants form a substantial proportion of service users.

Our Service:

Currently located in Island St, off Ushers Quay, Mendicity offers services free of charge, including:

• A meal service (3 meals daily + snacks/tea/coffee)
• Daytime shelter with access to Wi-Fi and charging facilities
• Hygiene: shower, laundry, hygiene packs, clean clothes
• Advocacy, and accommodation & employment support
• Access to GP healthcare through Safety Net Primary Care
• Social Enterprise, offering employment to people experiencing homelessness

The provision of a safe and non-threatening city centre facility offering food, friendship and support to the isolated, marginalised and vulnerable aims to empower people to move away from homelessness to a full engagement in community life.

Mendicity is both a charity and a company limited by guarantee and employs 11 staff.

Website: Home - Mendicity

The Role:

While Mendicity is pleased with its current service delivery, the Board has taken the decision to reflect on the ever-developing complexities of homelessness and to consider its strategic options for the future. It is seeking an additional Trustee with considerable HR experience to support that process.

This is a chance to influence the charity’s future at a time of review and shape the direction of its services and impact.

Responsibilities will include the following:

• Contribute to the development and oversight of strategic plans.
• Contribute to effective governance and risk management.
• Track progress with the organisation’s strategic plan.
• Guide the organisation to meet its service objectives.

Skills and Expertise Required:

• Candidates will have considerable HR experience at a senior level in to provide insight on HR best practice and emerging trends.
• Help to develop and maintain a positive organisational culture and high standards of people management.
• Advise on a best practice approach to change management that will support Mendicity’s future strategy.
• A passion for social justice and homelessness support.
• Previous board experience is advantageous.
• Previous charity experience in Ireland would be an advantage.
• Alignment with the organisation’s Mission, Vision and Values.
• The candidate must be able to dedicate sufficient time to the role.

General Trustee Duties of a Charity Trustee:

• Comply with the charity’s governing document.
• Ensure the charity is complying with its charitable purpose for the public benefit.
• Act in the best interest of the charity.
• Act with reasonable care and skill.
• Manage the assets of the charity.

Board Meetings:

There are approximately 10 Board meetings a year, online and lasting an hour from 5pm in the evening. One is in person. Sub-committees will be formed in the future, as required.