Do you want to make high quality, inclusive relationships and sex education a reality for all children and young people?
We are looking for four new volunteers to join our current Board of Trustees. We are keen to recruit people with fundraising, financial management, lived experience or youth participation expertise. The experiences and voices of young people are central to our work, so we are encouraging more young people (aged 18 years old and above) to join our board.
The Sex Education Forum campaigned successfully for the introduction of compulsory relationships and sex education (RSE) in all schools in England. Now we are focused on making sure this promise becomes a reality. We partner closely with young people to understand where the gaps are and who is missing out. We run training for educators and we bring lots of different organisations together to form a community around our shared goal of high quality, inclusive RSE for all, because we know it can make a huge difference to the lives of children and young people.
Being a trustee can be very rewarding. It’s an opportunity to develop yourself and gain skills, and have the chance to help shape what we do and how we do it. Take a look at the trustee role description and don’t feel you have to tick all the boxes. If you share our passion for RSE please read on and consider applying to join us.
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Job Description
Volunteer monitoring work with the IMB gives you the opportunity to make a real difference to people’s lives. You will listen to prisoners and people in immigration detention, talk to staff and see for yourself what is actually happening behind the walls.
The IMB is recruiting for new members at numerous prisons and at immigration detention centres across England and Wales, and at short term holding facilities across the UK. We are looking for people who live within approximately 30 miles (or one hour) of their closest establishment and can commit the time to make 2 to 3 visits per month, although this may be slightly higher during the first year of training and this can be flexible depending on the needs of the Board and the individual. Please visit the IMB website for a full list of all locations we are recruiting to.
Who are the IMB?
We’re a group of ordinary members of the public, doing an extraordinary job. As a passionate, personable individual, you could join us in making a difference. In this unpaid role, you’ll volunteer your talent and time towards securing a decent day-to-day life for every prisoner and detainee. Under the guidance of dedicated mentors and an extensive training programme, you’ll commit to a flexible schedule of visits to a local establishment each month. Although this is an unpaid role, we pay travel and subsistence expenses, childcare or carer costs and, in certain circumstances, contributions towards loss of earnings. Your observations will have an impact as your Board reports its findings to Ministers in His Majesty’s Government.
About the role
With unrestricted access to these unique environments, you’ll gain a rare insight into all aspects of life in custody. Impartial and highly influential, you can decide what shape your visits should take. As an independent monitor, you may spend time in a specific part of the establishment and choose to have your conversations with prisoners or detainees out of sight or hearing of a member of staff. As well as keeping a close eye on daily operations, you’ll play a crucial role in dealing with problems that arise. This could be in response to a confidential request to see a member of the IMB, or to observe the management of the more serious incidents that occur.
Why join us?
More than anything else, this is a rewarding opportunity that makes a real and meaningful difference to the lives of prisoners, detainees and our wider society. Ministers are obliged to respond to the issues raised in your Board’s report. The environment may seem intimidating at first, but you will be fully supported through your training and accompanied during your visits until you feel ready to manage independently. This highly recognised and respected role could provide the experience that opens doors into other careers within the justice system.
Who are we looking for?
There is no one type of person who could be right for the IMB because it’s not about background or skillset. It’s about having the dedication and passion to ensure all people are being treated fairly. For that reason, we’re looking for individuals from all walks of life who will approach the role with no preconceptions. You will need to be willing to work within a challenging environment and have the confidence to report your findings to senior figures. Most importantly, you will be able to talk to people in a way that makes each prisoner or detainee feel respected and reassured.
Closing date for completed applications is 14 October 2024.
Visit our website for more information and to complete the online application form.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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Do you want to make high quality, inclusive relationships and sex education a reality for all children and young people? Join us!
Read on to find out about our trustee vacancies. The information contained in this document is also available from our website here.
About the Sex Education Forum
The Sex Education Forum is the voice of Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) in England. First established in 1987, we have helped support generations of educators and campaigned successfully for the introduction of compulsory Relationships and Sex Education in all schools.
In 2021 we established ourselves as an independent charity. We have a team of six staff, who work remotely, and are passionate about RSE. We have more than 70 Partner organisations and hundreds of members, who we bring together regularly, mostly through online events. We have formed a partnership with the youth-led organisation Make it Mandatory so that we can support each other to meet our shared goal to extend inclusive RSE to post-16 and make a difference to the lives of young people.
What we do
Now that RSE is compulsory, we are focused on ensuring that children and young people get the good quality RSE lessons they have been promised, and that educators have the skills and knowledge necessary to provide inclusive RSE. One of the services that we offer is high-quality RSE training for teachers, foster carers and other youth professionals.
The experiences and voices of young people are central to our work. Some young people, especially those who are marginalised, are still missing out on RSE so we’re paying particular attention to addressing those gaps. We work closely with young people to design and launch our annual Young People’s RSE Poll. This gives us more data about the experiences of young people and what needs to change.
About the board of trustees
Our board is made up of between 8 and 12 volunteers who are all passionate about the work of the charity and committed to ensuring all children and young people can access high quality, evidence-based and inclusive Relationships and Sex Education. Our trustees each bring different skills and types of experience, and are valued for their contribution.
Being a trustee can be very rewarding, because you see the impact that your advice has on the working of our charity. You get to develop yourself and gain skills, and have the chance to help shape what we do and how we do it. Crucially, trustees help us stick to our values and principles and in doing so, make sure that we fulfil our commitment to making RSE accessible to all young people.
Who are we looking for
We are looking for up to four new Trustees to join our current Board. We are keen to recruit people with fundraising, financial management, lived experience or youth participation expertise. We would like to encourage more young trustees (aged 18 years old and above) to join our board. Read the role description below and don’t feel you have to tick all the boxes. If you have some of these skills to offer please give it a go.
Sex Education Forum Trustee role description
- Help develop the Sex Education Forum’s overall strategy to meet our charitable objectives, and evaluate our performance in meeting these objectives.
- Keep informed about the activities of the Sex Education Forum and wider issues of RSE policy and practice which affect our work.
- Bring to the fore the needs and perspectives of the diverse children, young people and educators that the Sex Education Forum seeks to support, and ensure that our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion vision and action plan is implemented and reviewed.
- Be part of the trustee team, who must ensure the financial stability of the Sex Education Forum and that our funds and resources are only used for pursuing our charitable objectives.
- Contribute to good governance of the Sex Education Forum, for example by taking part in regular discussions and monitoring of organisational risks.
- Attend meetings and be part of at least one sub-committee, reading papers in preparation for meetings and carrying out the actions you agree to (travel expenses will be paid when meetings are held in person)
- Use your skills, knowledge and experience to help the Board of Trustees reach good decisions.
This is the role for all trustees on our board. We are also recruiting for four different areas of skills and expertise.
Youth participation role
This role is our internal expert on participation and youth inclusion, providing staff and trustees with guidance and support on how to meaningfully and effectively involve young people in the design and delivery of SEF’s work. We are looking for someone who:
- Has experience designing and delivering participation programmes enabling young people to have a stronger voice within an organisation
- Has experience supporting staff or other adults build their skills and knowledge of working with young people
- Has strong anti-oppressive practice and experience supporting the participation of marginalised, minoritised and racialised young people, including by challenging the systems and structures that impact them the hardest
- Has an understanding of safeguarding
Lived experience role
You might have recently received RSE at school or college and feel that you can support the board in championing the needs of our beneficiaries (children and young people) in everything we do. We are looking for someone who:
- Knows what a positive difference it makes to have inclusive, high quality RSE
- Has experience speaking up for inclusive, high quality RSE for themselves or others
- Understands relationships and sex education issues through their own life experience
- Wants to ensure that marginalised, minoritised and racialised people are fully included in RSE and the running of the Sex Education Forum
Finance role
This role will provide the financial management skills to support Sex Education Forum’s financial health and sustainability and who can bring financial insight to our team. This role offers the opportunity to grow into a more formal Treasurer position. We are looking for someone who will:
- Bring their financial/accounting knowledge to work with the Chief Executive in overseeing the financial operations of the charity.
- Collaborate with the Chair and Deputy Chair of the board to ensure the charity meets its financial governance responsibilities.
- Ensure that appropriate accounting and financial management systems are in place.
- Lead on supporting the Chief Executive with banking related matters, including being an authorised signatory.
- Collaborate with the Chief Executive to ensure that adequate and regular financial reports are presented to the board.
Fundraising role
This role will bring fundraising experience to help us secure funds that will drive our sustainability and increase our impact. Sex Education Forum is at a pivotal moment for growth so we are looking for someone who can:
- Strategically evaluate where fundraising aligns with the Sex Education Forum’s mission and objectives, ensuring that it supports our broader business plan
- Identify and actively pursue funding opportunities for the Sex Education Forum within statutory, charitable trusts and corporate settings.
- Advise on the development of funding proposals, providing support to the CEO
- Provide oversight of Sex Education Forum’s fundraising activities to ensure they are carried out in an ethical, transparent, and legally compliant manner
- Provide written and verbal communication skills to assist in the creation of funding proposals, grant-writing experience not mandatory but would be an asset
Time commitment
Approximately 1-2 hours per week (for example this could be meetings, responding to emails) and attendance at six board meetings per year. At least two of these meetings are held in London, the others are online. Meetings last two hours (online) and around three hours when we meet in person.
Is this role for me?
Previous experience as a Trustee is not required. You can apply if you are 18 years old or above. We are particularly keen to hear from applicants that represent the diversity of young people and educators that Sex Education Forum seeks to support. Full induction will be provided. Travel expenses to attend trustee meetings in London are provided.
How to apply
If you are interested in applying, please complete the application form and email it to us by the closing date (28 October). If you believe you have what it takes to do the job but don’t match every point on the role description, that’s fine - we welcome your application and will be happy to consider it. If you need help with the application or have an access requirement, please get in touch.
For more information about the role
If you would like an informal chat about the role, our Trustees and Chief Executive are very happy to help. Please contact Lucy Emmerson, Chief Executive.
More about the Sex Education Forum
For more details about the Sex Education Forum, please see our website, Instagram, LinkedIn, the profiles of our current board of trustees and our Young People’s RSE Poll. Our certified accounts are available from the Charity Commission.
The information in this document and the application form is available from our website here.
Closing date for applications: Midnight, 28 October 2024
Interviews: Friday 15th November 2024
We hope you will consider joining us at this exciting time for the organisation.
This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.
