Role description
This is a voluntary position, with reasonable travel and out-of-pocket expenses reimbursed, but, it is a fulfilling one, with the potential to make a profound difference locally. Stroud Hospitals League of Friends is fortunate to have healthy reserves and have used those wisely over the years to enhance the two hospitals and Weavers Croft, and to support local healthcare organisations. Whilst the League of Friends is not a household name in Stroud, it is held in high esteem for its impact by many organisations with which it collaborates. The League of Friends has developed sound systems and nurtured excellent relationships with its partners.
As the Chair of the trustees you will lead the culture and strategic direction of Stroud Hospitals League of Friends. You will ensure that the charity trustee board functions effectively, meetings are led inclusively, and the board carries out its duties to ensure that we meets our purpose in line with regulatory and governance frameworks, and within our Constitution. You will ensure robust financial oversight, including the approval of budgets, major grants for hospital equipment, and statutory annual reporting. This will be aided by the financially qualified Treasurer, the experienced trustees, and our efficient and knowledgeable part-time administrator, with whom you will work closely.
Most importantly you will you will act as the principal face and ambassador for Stroud Hospitals League of Friends with NHS personnel, both clinical and executive, and with the leaders of our numerous partners, our members and volunteers, to work collaboratively with them to represent our interest and values and to foster strong working relationships to fulfill our aims.
Person specification
We welcome applications from a wide range of experience. The most important quality is that you are passionate about the Stroud area and the healthcare delivered to it by the NHS and other providers, principally local charities, to effect positive advances in healthcare provision for local residents and improve the clinical environment for patients, their families and staff.
- Experience in health, well-being or the wider voluntary sector would be helpful, though not essential
- Previous Chair or trustee experience would be helpful, or leadership and management experience, though not essential
- The ability to chair, plan, and facilitate productive board and committee meetings.
- Excellent communication skills and to be capable of tact and diplomacy where required
- Ability to work with confidence and effectively alongside clinical professionals, hospital executives, and dedicated volunteers and to foster strong working relationships
- Be confident in the role as the key representative for the League of Friends
- When required, along with trustees, recruit, induct, and support new Trustees, ensuring the board has a diverse and balanced range of skills.
How to apply
Please send a CV and a short covering letter (no more than 2 sides of A4) outlining why you feel suited to become Chair and your understanding of the role that the League of Friends plays in the hospitals and community, and of any challenges that a League of Friends might have to navigate. The closing date for applications is Monday 7th September 2026. Please send completed application to:
info@stroudleagueoffriends.org
Further information about Stroud Hospitals League of Friends can be found on our website (https://stroudleagueoffriends.org/)
If you have any specific queries or wish to have an informal chat about the role with our interim Chair, Roma Walker, then please contact info@stroudleagueoffriends.org.
We are advertising the position throughout the summer months but do not intend to shortlist and interview until mid-late September and appoint in October 2026. Dates will be confirmed nearer the time.
About Stroud League of Friends
July 2026
Stroud Hospitals League of Friends was formed in 1948 at the inception of the NHS. From the outset, the League of Friends has made a significant impact in the development of the two hospitals, Stroud General and Stroud Maternity, and Weavers Croft which provides NHS mental haelthcare. For example in fundraising for the building of the theatre and the development of the endoscopy service to name just two at Stroud General. We focus our resources, and any influence we may have, in ways that develop, enhances and protects services, principally through refurbishment, and the provision of state-of-the-art equipment which would not otherwise be provided by the NHS. We also support healthcare in the local community by funding community led health care projects.
In recent years we have helped fund the refurbishment of Cashes Green and Jubilee wards and a major renovation of the Minor Injuries and Illness Unit. Our contributions have enabled these projects to be completed and equipped to a much higher standard, and in total our support for these has been £845,000. Our total spend over the last 8 years alone on refurbishments, equipment and services has been over £2million.
We also support the Stroud Maternity Unit, again to a higher specification raising it above usual standards. Last year we funded the refurbishment and redecoration of the ward area and adjacent conservatory. Additionally we fund a wide range of perinatal groups such as yoga, singing, and infant sleep, which take place both within the unit and other locally accessible venues. This provision is recognised by the NHS Trust to be an exemplar of best practice and a model to be aimed for by other maternity units around the country. As far as we can establish Stroud Maternity Unit is unique in the country for its range of this additional support, all of which is funded by the League of Friends.
In recent years we have also supported local healthcare charities such as Horsfall House in Minchinhampton, where we fund free respite care, the equivalent of a year of bed nights, to those families who need it most. We also fund Hope for Tomorrow who provide chemotherapy and other cancer treatments, by covering the cost of the one day a week van visit to Stroud Hospital.
Initially in response to the Covid pandemic, we supported smaller charities and in 2020 we granted a total of £143,296 to 14 local health providers and made a further two tranches in 2021 and 2024, totaling a further £121,800. Most recently The League has been supporting Longfield Community Hospice and has agreed to a £90,000 grant for 2025 and further £90,000 for each of the next two financial years. The funds will support the provision of their ‘Hospice at Home’ nursing care for residents in the Stroud and Stonehouse areas. We also have exciting developments in the pipeline.
The League of Friends is a membership organisation and also has a dedicated band of volunteers who work within the hospital. We work closely with the hospital staff, the NHS Trusts and local partners. Our significant support, backed by our healthy reserves, gives us, as a League of Friends some influence. These achievements have only been possible by the continued support from the people of Stroud and surrounding district who have contributed generously over the years, enabling us to allocate funds in this way.