Board of trustees treasurer volunteer volunteer roles

The role of a Treasurer is an unpaid, voting role sitting on the UK Board of Trustees and reporting to the Chair of Trustees. In line with our policy, all trustees initially start in a non-voting advisor role to ensure that both they and the board are happy to formalise the trusteeship before transitioning to a full voting trustee position.

The Treasurer will work with the UK Operations Manager and the UK board of trustees to share the responsibility for overseeing the financial health and sustainability of Sreepur Village and will liaise with the Overseas Director based in Sreepur Village.

Treasurer Role

· Oversee the financial affairs and ensure they are legal, constitutional and within accepted accounting practice 

· Review the appointment of new auditors and work to ensure financial reports are clear and timely 

· Hold monthly budget review meetings with the UK Operations Manager to oversee accounting and financial controls

· Ensure appropriate risk management is in place and is reviewed by the board on a regular basis

· Introduce new financial forecasting and reporting systems and ensure protocols and processes are appropriate

· Be main point of contact with the investment fund managers and oversee investment policy

Governance Role

• Contribute to the strategic planning process
• Be an ambassador for Sreepur Village representing the organisation and linking it to its stakeholders.
• Attend at least three meetings a year (virtual or in person) or as advised by the Chair of Trustees if the number of meetings changes.
• Attend or host fundraising events, where possible.
• Respond to emails and other correspondence within five working days or an agreed time frame

This role involves leading on HR within the organisation. This involves ensuring the highest standards of governance in policies and practice related to employee relations, recruitment, retention, reward, and recognition, as well as staff and trustee development.  It is the responsibility of the HR trustee to assess risks and measure the impact of HR interventions, implement organisational policies and practices in the context of furthering charitable objectives and evaluating how they impact beneficiaries and staff.  The HR trustee also needs to ensure the long-term strategic oversight of the organisation’s personnel and staffing requirements in relation to the overarching goals of the charity. 

 Key tasks:

• To review and recommend current and future strategic resourcing, training and development and annual budgets and plans to the Trustee Board 

• To actively contribute to policy setting, strategic direction, goal and target setting, and evaluate performance against targets, budgets, plans and charitable objectives 

• To ensure that HR activities and interventions are linked to the organisation’s charitable objectives and complement the organisational culture 

• To ensure the Trustee Board monitors and reviews the performance of staff and identifies appropriate development opportunities 

• To monitor whether the service complies with its governing document and standards and if the needs of the beneficiaries are being met

Other responsibilities, along with the Board of Trustees, include:  

• To manage the charity’s resources responsibly, including ensuring the charity’s assets are used only to carry out its purpose, avoid undue risk and not over-commit the charity.

• To ensure the board regularly reviews its structures, roles, relationship to staff and implementing changes if and when necessary.

• To develop a long-term strategy for the food bank with clear objectives which can be monitored and adapted.

• To work alongside the Treasurer and the board to ensure the organisation’s financial dealings are systematically accounted for and on time, independently examined and made publicly available when necessary.

• To ensure the charity is accountable, actively complying with statutory accounting and reporting requirements and the law. 

• To help promote the organisation to a wide audience of potential funders and beneficiaries and community stakeholders.

• To ensure the food bank has appropriate procedures to: comply with current legislation and good practice; including employment, health and safety, equal opportunities etc.

• To act with reasonable care and skill, giving your time, thought and energy to your role.

• To prepare for and regularly attend and participate in board and subcommittee meetings and any trustee away days.

• To provide ad hoc support to the staff team and volunteers from time to time.

• To act at all times in accordance with the foodbank’s trustee code of conduct.

The Trustees may also undertake additional work for the charity between meetings subject to their availability and skill set.

About you: 

Warrington Foodbank are seeking to recruit Trustees with an interest in helping others, who are willing to uphold the foodbank’s values, and who can bring life experience to the board of trustees, including lived experience of hardships which led to needing emergency food provision. Our ideal candidates would demonstrate: 

• A knowledge of, and commitment to, the work of Warrington Foodbank. 

• Experience of working in a HR role.

• Willingness to actively participate in discussions concerning needs of the foodbank’s beneficiaries, staff, and the trustee board.

• Willingness to act in the best interest of the charity. 

• Sound, independent judgement and an ability to think creatively. 

• The ability to work effectively as part of a team and demonstrate a willingness to learn and develop.

Benefits of volunteering: 

• Use your existing skills to make a difference. 

• Meet new people who share your passion to eradicate poverty in the local community. 

• Make a real difference to the running of the food bank. 

Support

A full trustee induction is in place to support the prospective candidate within their role, as well as access to local voluntary action trustee training. 

Impact of your role: 

By supporting the governance of the food bank, you are part of a team providing a vital holistic support function in your local community, ensuring a dignified experience to anyone visiting or anyone who comes into contact with Warrington Foodbank. 

Please Note:

• You must be 16 or over and must not be disqualified from acting as a trustee and declare any conflict of interest while carrying out the duties of a trustee.

• Trustees are appointed for a three-year term of office.

• This is a voluntary position.