Welcome to our membership pages, it is the time of year when we start to plan for our next round of governor elections. Have you ever thought about becoming a governor at out Trust? Being a governor gives you the opportunity to represent your local community, help be their voice.

We will have the following vacancies:

• Bedford: 1 vacancy
• Central Bedfordshire: 1 vacancy
• Hackney: 5 vacancies
• Luton: 1 vacancy
• Newham: 2 vacancies
• Rest of England: 1 vacancy
• Tower Hamlets: 3 vacancies
• Staff: 1 vacancy

The elections are due to be held later this year and all the important dates are detailed below:

• Nominations open for members: Thursday, 11 Jul 2024
• Nominations close: Thursday, 8 Aug 2024
• Voting opens: Monday, 2 Sep 2024
• Voting closed: Wednesday, 2 Oct 2024

If there is a governor election in your local area and you would like to find out more you could join one of our online Prospective Governor Workshops. They are being held on zoom on the following dates:

• Wednesday 10 July - 2:30pm–3:30pm
• Tuesday 16 July - 11am-12pm
• Saturday 20 July - 11am-12pm

To join a session or if you have any questions about being a governor, please email us at elft.membership@nhs.net or call on 0800 032 7297

You may be still wondering what is it like to be a governor…..we asked one of new governors Daphne to tell us about her experience. Daphne is a governor from Luton and she joined us last November

Can you tell us a bit about your governor role within ELFT?

I joined our Council of Governors as a Public Governor for Luton in November 2023. The role of Governors is to help the Trust be responsive and accountable to local people, staff and partners. Our Governors come from many different backgrounds and walks of life. Some have been healthcare professionals, while others have been users or carers. Several do not have that experience, but contribute with other, equally important skills, networks and experience. Together, we inform the Trust’s priorities and strategic decisions to improve the health of our communities so that they get more out of life.

Would you say the role itself is rewarding? Are there any aspects of the role that you particularly love?

Absolutely — it’s rewarding and enjoyable in different ways. This has been a special opportunity to grow personally and professionally, connect with others and contribute towards the Trust’s mission to improve the lives of all we serve. For example, I’ve enjoyed learning more about the extensive work to improve population health, such as about the Marmot Review, and learning from others’ perspectives during many interesting conversations. I also value how welcoming both the Council of Governors and the Trust Board have been.

At meetings we often quote a proverb which I think encapsulates our spirit — “You cannot change the world, but you can change the world of one person.”

Would you recommend the Trust as a place to volunteer?

This a unique opportunity to have your say, and be listened, on how ELFT’s services can be improved. You don’t need prior Governor experience, a healthcare or academic background. Though the role involves reading important papers, these are written in a simple language. Plus, our hardworking and supportive Governor and Members Office team are always there to answer questions and provide guidance. I would highly recommend it.

If being a governor isn’t for you, we still need your help, we need your votes, please take moment to vote for a governor, it is simple to do, you will receive an email or voting pack with all the details you need.

Finally, our usual plea - Help us Save pennies – let us have your email address
We are trying to make sure that we make the best use of our money, so, if Trusttalk is posted to you please let us have your email address. You will still hear from us, but it will by email. We would prefer to send you an email version of Trusttalk, not only will we save trees, we will save on postage costs! So please, if you have an email address - let us know, you can email us at: elft.membership@nhs.net please include your full name and address. ……or if you no longer wish to hear from us (and that’s ok), please let us know using the same email address or give us a call on 0800 032 7297

You can contact the membership team or your Governors by phone on 0800 032 7297 or email us elft.membership@nhs.net.

At ELFT, our members are our local community, service users, staff, stakeholder and the voluntary sector, connecting us to all we serve