Want to strengthen and diversify your charity’s trustee board? Join the METs Programme now.
What is the METs Programme? Volunteer Centre Tower Hamlets (VCTH) runs the METs Programme. We recruit Tower Hamlets residents from Global Majority communities, train them in the basics of charity governance, and empower them to become great potential trustees. We then introduce these volunteers to local registered charities like yours, aiming to create matches that will have lasting impact at governance level. METs is completely FREE.
Why should your charity join?
METs will help your charity strengthen and diversify your trustee board by:
- adding new skills, perspectives and experiences, leading to better, more inclusive decision-making
- increasing involvement from Tower Hamlets residents, giving local communities greater voice in your work, and building legitimacy
- taking action on structural racism and addressing under-representation by increasing involvement of Global Majority residents at governance level.
Is your organisation ready to join?
We have space for up to 10 organisations to participate in Round 5 of the METs Programme. To request a METs organisation application form, or with any queries, please email [email protected] no later than Friday 27 March 2026.
Which organisations can join?
To be eligible your organisation must:
- Be registered with the Charity Commission
- Be committed to equality, diversity and inclusion
- Have at least one general trustee vacancy and be able to appoint new trustee(s) between mid June and 31 July 2026
- Expect to be financially solvent for the next 12 months
- Identify 2 representatives to participate in the programme – ideally this will be your Chair and senior worker (eg CEO), or it can be two trustees. They will provide information about your charity, attend an online matching event on Tuesday 9 June 2026 in the evening, and lead on trustee selection.
What do other Tower Hamlets charities say?
The METs programme has already delivered some great results for local charities. Here’s what some recent participating organisations say;
"As a charity with deep roots in Tower Hamlets, Quaker Social Action is keen to have a trustee board that represents the communities we work with. The METs programme has given us the chance to engage with candidates that we have not managed to reach before. We have been inspired by the prospective trustees we met and the skills, experience
and passion they have to offer. The trustees who joined us through the METs scheme have an excellent grounding in their legal responsibilities and a commitment to make a difference. We are lucky to have them! We found the programme to be well run with excellent support for all involved. We'd recommend the programme to any charity that is
serious about seeking to diversify its board and wants to find new, talented trustees."
Mary Aiston
Co-Clerk, Quaker Social Action
“Step Forward’s experience of taking part in the METs programme this year has been extremely positive. We had previously been trying other avenues to attract new Trustees without much success. Cath and the team at VCTH were always willing to support the Board at different stages of the process. The application form was clear and quick to complete. The Matching Event was extremely well run and was a wonderful opportunity to meet potential Trustees, and also to hear about all the other projects taking part. We were really happy to
make initial matches with so many of the trained Trustees - three of this year’s trainees have been interviewed and accepted offers to join our Board of Trustees. We would recommend the METs programme to any local VCS organisation looking to recruit new Trustees”.
Jennifer Fear
CEO, Step Forward
“As a small charity in one of the most diverse communities in London, the METs programme has been ideal for finding the right people to serve on the governance of Shadwell Community Project, connecting us not just with people who are relevant to the service we provide as an adventure playground venue, but people who are well versed on their responsibilities as trustees. The pitching process was well managed and we were able to bring people on board promptly, again valuable for us as an organisation with limited resources for making new appointments”.
Jonathan Moules
Chair of Trustees, Shadwell Community Project (Glamis Adventure Playground)
Is your organisation ready to join?
We have space for up to 10 organisations to participate in Round 5 of the METs Programme. To request a METs organisation application form, or with any queries, please email [email protected] no later than Friday 27 March 2026.