Chair Of Governors Volunteer Roles

Change lives through learning. Opportunities are now available to join the Board of Chichester College Group, the leading provider of FE & skills provision across West Sussex, Brighton and Hove. Do you have the skills and experience needed to support the next step of their impressive journey?

Closing date: 9 a.m. Monday 18th November

Who we are.

Chichester College Group is the largest and most diverse college group in Sussex, with a forecast turnover of approximately £110m in 2023/24.

We offer learning opportunities for all ages, including nursery provision and 14-16, and for all levels, from foundation/entry to university level and professional qualifications. Our offer covers all 15 subject sector areas with a full ladder of learning in the majority of vocational areas enabling students to progress from Level 1 to Level 3 and beyond.

About the role.

Chichester College Group have been on an impressive yet complex journey over the last seven years. The Group has been formed through Chichester College merging with a number of like-minded providers from across the region; Central Sussex College (2017), Worthing College (2019), and Greater Brighton Metropolitan College (2022). Haywards Heath became part of the Group when it opened in 2020. Also, during this time, we have recruited new senior leaders including our CEO, Andy Green and our Chair, Steve Cooper who are both committed to the development of our Group and vision to change lives through learning in support of the communities that we serve and the people that work for us.

Our Board has been focused and dedicated in its support of the college during this period of growth and transition. Indeed, a vital component of our success during this period has been the stability that our Board has provided us. We have now come to a point where a number of our members have served their maximum period as a governor and so we need to appoint new members to bring their expertise to our Board. Given that we are one year post-merger, and with a new strategic plan soon to be launched, this will be an exciting time to join the College as a member of our Board.

As a Governor and Board member, your experience and external expertise will contribute to the successes of our Group, students and people by providing scrutiny, challenge and support in achieving our strategic goals and enabling the continued improvement of learning.

Who we are looking for.

Following recent changes and developments across the Group, we have now entered a period of consolidation for our Board, allowing us to reflect on recent successes whilst moving forward with both ambition and stability. Having reflected on the talents and skills of our Board members, we have identified a number of areas which we feel we need to strengthen, given ongoing development and the upcoming launch of a new long-term strategy. As such, we seek to appoint four new governors to our Board, each with a specific skill set to help us grow and develop in different ways:

• Finance – strategic oversight and professionally qualified
• Capital development, estates management and/or facilities management

All of our governors share a passion for self-development through education and an understanding of the important role that Chichester College Group plays in developing local individuals and bringing prosperity to our region.

Previous governance experience and an understanding of boardroom behaviours and governance processes are important as this will allow you to get up to speed quickly and ensure you can be effective from day one. We do, of course, offer a full induction process and constant support throughout your time on our Board. As we are sure you’d expect, there are parts of our training which are mandatory – such as safeguarding training.

We are looking for people who are comfortable in offering constructive feedback, happy to ask those difficult questions that help us think differently, and individuals who are willing to make a commitment to be visible and supportive advocates of our Group.

You will need to have the capacity and time to commit to this opportunity with a busy meetings schedule and an array of events that Governors are invited to take part in as part of the academic calendar. In return, Chichester College Group provide a comprehensive induction programme, development opportunities for all governors and, most importantly, the chance to impact the lives of all our students through being part of our ambitious and impactful institution.

Peridot Partners and Chichester College Group are, together, committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and our client expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references before any final offer can be made.

Please click 'Apply via website’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the candidate profile and register your interest to apply.

Applications for this role close on Monday 18th November. 

About Us 

Mary Ward Settlement was founded in 1895, and today is a multi-service charity that focuses on empowering people to enrich and transform their lives by offering inclusive education opportunities, legal advice, and community support services. Advancing equality and diversity remains at the heart of Mary Ward Settlement, born from its inception in the Settler’s Movement, and our founder Mary Ward’s vision of ‘equalisation’ for adult learning to open up educational opportunities for all. In 2018 we merged with Blackfriars Settlement, sharing a common vision and foundation, which has strengthened our offering to the communities we support in London. 

We deliver our services from our newly opened, purpose-built  Mary Ward Centre, and from Blackfriars Settlement in Southwark. It's an exciting time for Mary Ward as we now look forward to fully utilising both our new facility and increased outreach as focal points in our communities.

About the role 

The Board of Trustees is an integrated Board, offering strategic oversight and professional expertise across the three charities that make up Mary Ward. The Chair of Mary Ward is more than a conduit between our Board of Trustees and our Senior Management team. The Chair orchestrates support from our trustees which recognises skills and experience, provides guidance and challenge to the management team, and is a visible connector, champion, and leader of our inclusive and warm culture. Our organisation is inquisitive and reflective, excited about learning, committed to community, and our Chair helps us reflect this passion across the group and to our wider community.

Requirements/Person Specification

• Working knowledge of good governance principles 
• Strong interpersonal skills grounded in supportive and positive values
• Strong leadership skills including those of diplomacy, influence, and mediating
• General business senior management experience which includes financial understanding, staff management, operational efficiency and effectiveness
• Commitment to a truly inclusive organisation, understanding equality, diversity, and inclusion has a wide application to reach all of our communities we serve. 

How to apply

Eastside People is supporting Mary Ward Settlement in the recruitment for this role. Please apply by submitting your CV and covering letter.

Please use the cover letter (max 2 pages) as an opportunity to add to the information you have shared in your CV and ensure that you cover the following:

• Why are you interested in a Chair role, and why with Mary Ward Settlement?
• How can you contribute to Mary Ward Settlement as our Chair? Please highlight relevant experience you would like to share with us.

We welcome applications from anyone with a passion for our mission, and from a wide range of skills and experience, and we particularly welcome applications from members of underrepresented groups e.g. candidates bringing diversity in terms of age; ethnicity; socio-economic status and disability. 

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability, and potential. Please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustments so that we can help with making the application process work for you. We would discourage you from deselecting yourself if you are in doubt about meeting all the criteria. Instead, if you have specific questions about the role, please get in touch with Melissa.

Please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustments so that we can help with making the application process work for you.

Chair | Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust via Peridot Partners

Could you Chair the Board of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and lead them in their mission to provide excellent care with compassion?

Location: Royal Preston Hospital, Preston

Salary: £55,000 per annum for 3 days a week (on average)

Applications close at 9 a.m. Monday 7th October

Who we are.

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (LTHTr) is the largest Trust in the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System providing district general hospital services to around 450,000 people in Preston, South Ribble and Chorley and specialist care to 1.8 million people across Lancashire and South Cumbria.

About the role.

With the changing health and social care landscape, the Chair will play a key leadership role at place and system level providing leadership to support the integration and sustainability of services across geographies and organisational boundaries.

The Board has responsibility for setting LTHTr’s strategic direction. and this responsibility is undertaken with due regard to the views of Governors who are vital to ensuring the views of the public, patients, stakeholders and staff are reflected in plans. The Board also listens to the views of clinical teams in deciding what the Trust’s priorities must be.

Who we are looking for

• Someone with extensive Board-level experience leading (as Chair or CEO) a large, complex public sector organisation and, ideally, experience as a Chair of an NHS Trust/Foundation Trust.
• Ability to build and lead an effective organisation and culture across the Board, Council, and Trust.
• Passion and compassion for healthcare, belief in the values and principles of the NHS and a local and national understanding of the NHS.
• Evidenced abilities in good governance and undertaking legal duties, liabilities and responsibilities as an NED and, ideally, Board Chair.
• Membership eligibility for LTHTr.

Particular emphasis is placed on strong leadership abilities, demonstration of appropriate behaviours, good communication skills and an awareness of strategic direction. These are amongst the qualities that Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are keen to identify in their next Chair.

Please click 'Apply via website’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the candidate profile and register your interest to apply.

Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Monday 7th October.

Company Description

When people ask Flora if she likes college, she beams a smile and says an emphatic ‘YES!’ This is one of the very few words she is able to vocalise, but at Henshaws that is not a problem. Students learn to be as independent and as empowered as possible, to live full and rich lives. Flora’s time at Henshaws has been life-changing." Sally and David, parents to Flora.

Henshaws Specialist College in Harrogate is a transformational place. Through our personalised approach to education, learning and care we empower children and young people living with a disability to progress and live life the way they want.

Position

We are currently seeking a non-executive committee Governor with experience of Special Education Needs in Further Education, an understanding of education in a residential setting would be desirable, to join our College Governance Board, based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

This is a voluntary role and as such is unpaid, however reasonable expenses are reimbursed.

To gain a full understanding of the role please email Sarah Greensides, Chair of Governors at sarah.greensides at henshaws .org. uk with any informal queries you may have.

What we are looking for:

· A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort, including attending Board meetings 4 times per year in Harrogate (remote attendance is possible) and join a sub-committee of college that meets termly

· Willing to take an active role in the strategic governance of the college

· Enthusiastic and have an interest in services for disabled young people

· Demonstrate sound independent judgement and integrity

· Have an ability to think creatively

· Be able to work effectively as a member of a team and to maintain good working relations

· Adhere to the Henshaws six key values, Informed, Sharing, Proactive, Inspiring, Compassionate and Empowering

· Knowledge or experience of physical or learning disabilities is desirable but not essential.

We’re keen to ensure our board is diverse in every way and we’re committed to ensuring our governing board reflect our society, our charity and the people we support. We welcome applications from people with a disability, their families and carers.

Becoming a member of the College Governance Board, is a fantastic way to contribute to the life changing work we do. It’s a role which will give back just as much as you put in and often much, much more. It will provide a wealth of skills and connections to support career and personal development

whilst playing an integral part of a well-respected highly valued charity that is moving in a positive direction to meet modern challenges.

Other information

Henshaws Society for Blind People aims to employ a diverse workforce and is committed to equality of employment and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community.

Henshaws is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults. It is a criminal offence for people barred from working in regulated activity to apply for roles that require them to work unsupervised with that particular group e.g. vulnerable adults, children or both. An Enhanced DBS with barring and reference checks will be sought from the successful candidate.

Henshaws reserves the right to check social media accounts of all successful applicants. For more information, please contact the HR department.

Registered Charity No: 221888

Othona is a thriving Christian community that promotes spiritual growth, peace & care for the environment by running retreats at centres in Essex & Dorset.  We operate through 2 charitable entities - a Trust & Company.

What will you be doing?

The two residential centres offer a place for people to be real together through the lived experience of inclusive community.By providing retreats, workshops and a range of other events for groups, individuals and families Othona deepens peoples’ spiritual awareness. We pursue a vision of openness and inclusion for people of all faiths and none, affirming mutual respect and understanding.  

The centres seek to live in harmony with creation, growing some of their own food and maintaining the grounds to encourage biodiversity.  Through these experiences, many deepen their love for humanity and the planet and learn that our Christian faith can make a difference to our well being, experience of inclusion and climate change and make a positive contribution to how we live today to ensure a better tomorrow.

We have a talented board of trustees with skills, vision & faith.  We have good governance, robust policies & committed resident staff who run the centres.  Each centre has a local management committee.  We meet a minimum 4 times a year.  Our assets exceed £4 million & the Company made a surplus of £36,600 last year. The Trust's deficit was £20,000.

What are we looking for?

The Chair is a trustee of the Othona Community Trust and a Director of the Othona Community Company and both organisations enjoy working together as a team on behalf of the whole Community to operate the two centres.  As chair you will be leading a board of Trustees (some of whom are Link Trustees for the centres). 

Alongside your understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship, and commitment to voluntary public service you must be willing to uphold Othona’s inclusive Christian ethos; to think strategically and creatively; and lead the trustees forward, contributing your skills to our team.

If you have any of these experiences it would be great: 

• Previous Trustee or board experience or similar e.g. school governor 
• Strategic understanding of management in residential settings and/or the hospitality sector
• Ability to understand basic financial data and read spreadsheets.
• Experience of working within Charity Commission guidelines

What difference will you make?

You will become part of a lively board of committed people with a heart for lived community & spirituality.  We have started strategic planning for the Community's future with exciting projects that include:

• Updating our charitable objects
• Creating a new & unified website 
• Streamlining our management structure into a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
• Improving the staff accommodation at both sites 
• Fundraising for better guest facilities
• Maximising the bio-diversity & use of renewable energy at our centres

Before you apply

If you would like to explore this role please message us to arrange an informal phone chat. Application: a CV and names of 2 referees one of which will be from your current employer (or equivalent) via Reach Volunteering.

We're looking for three new individuals to join our Trust Board and help us deliver our vision to be champions of excellence in girls’ education.

This is an exciting time to join the Girls’ Learning Trust, as we emerge from the impact of the pandemic and build towards our future. The Trust is financially strong, is led by a team of talented individuals, and all our schools are high performing. Our governance is professional and robust, and we are now looking at the next stage of our development with a new CEO and Executive Leadership Team at the helm of the Trust.

As we look to our medium-term future, we recognise the importance of succession planning and ensuring that we have individuals with the right level of experience in the organisation’s governance. A number of our longest serving Trustees are due to finish their terms of office over the next two years, and we are therefore recruiting a ‘wave’ of three new individuals to join our Board. This will give us the perfect blend of renewal within our current membership, as well as set the organisation up positively for the future.

Key responsibilities for the role include:

• Strategic Leadership: approving and championing the vision, ethos and strategy of the Trust.
• Accountability: holding the organisation and each other to account for driving up educational standards and financial performance.
• People: ensuring the Trust recruits, retains and develops staff with the right skills, experience, qualities and capacity.
• Structures: approving and upholding the governance structure that reinforces clearly defined roles and responsibilities, and ensures the right decisions are made by the right people at the right time.
• Compliance: ensuring the Trust complies with statutory and contractual requirements as required by relevant regulation.
• Evaluation: continually monitoring and reporting against key indicators to improve quality and impact.

The successful candidates:

Although we’re open to individuals from a wide range of backgrounds (your skills and values matter to us more than anything), we’re particularly keen to hear from those with an experience in financial management, estates management and education leadership.

Our commitment:

The Girls’ Learning Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and trustees to share this commitment. In order to meet this responsibility, we follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.

As well as verification of identity, we ask all Trustees to undertake an enhanced DBS disclosure and any further checks deemed appropriate to establish your suitability. 

Closing Date 1 October 2024

About us

We are a charity that matches people who need free legal help with barristers who are willing to donate their time and expertise for those who cannot obtain legal aid and cannot afford to pay.

We are the only pro bono charity to provide access to legal assistance in all areas of law, in all courts and tribunals across England and Wales.

We have been facilitating free legal help since 1996 and have grown into a thriving organisation working with almost 4,500 volunteer barristers. Our team comprises 23 dedicated casework, communications and administrative staff, as well as a committed team of student casework volunteers who work with us daily. We have 13 trustees on our Board which is chaired by Sharif A Shivji KC.  

About Bar in the Community

Bar in the Community (BIC) is a volunteering initiative overseen by Advocate that was set up in 2000 with the aim of matching barristers volunteering their time with management committee positions of local voluntary organisations. Since then, BIC has expanded the breadth of volunteering it seeks to facilitate and now works to find barristers and chambers professionals to fill a variety of voluntary roles across a range of local and national organisations.

The initiative advertises roles from a range of charities working towards many different causes beyond the Bar. Prospective volunteers can become trustees, governors, mentors, workshop facilitators, resource creators and much more. The scheme has opportunities available for every skill set and every level, so these benefits can be found whether volunteers are just starting out in their career, looking to progress to a more senior level, or even retired.

Bar in the Community is a powerful tool for charities who are in need of support from those with a legal background, as well as for barristers and chambers professionals who are keen to give back to the community and gain skills or experience that will positively impact their career.

“I simply don’t think I would be where I am without the experiences I have gained from volunteering. Professionally, board-level volunteering has helped me to build my network, learn from industry greats, test my leadership style, make mistakes and circulate my ideas about how organisations and movements should run.” 

Abiodun Olatokun, Trainee Barrister at Matrix Chambers

"Volunteers from the legal world have numerous skills and abilities which can be applied outside the context of the law. There are real benefits to the public from that shared expertise. Many of us entered the law with the aim of making our society a better place to be. It is worth remembering that you can achieve that goal outside the law too." 

Sharif Asim Shivji KC, Chair of Advocate

About the role

We are looking for two people to join the recently created management committee of BIC at a key stage in our development as we look to further expand the initiative, with a particular focus on engaging more charities and more volunteers.

We want to recruit two candidates with a commitment to volunteering and the work of BIC. We are looking for people with the following background:

1. Marketing and engagement: At present, the most important goals for Bar in the Community are to engage charities to ensure a steady stream of interesting opportunities and to engage volunteers to take on these opportunities. It is therefore essential for the management committee to be able to advise on how to promote opportunities and engage people and organisations.

2. Expertise in volunteering: As one of our key focuses is to engage the Bar in volunteering through BIC we are eager to recruit someone with previous experience working with volunteers and successfully recruiting for volunteer vacancies.

We recognise the need to ensure that Equality Diversity and Inclusion is reflected in all aspects of Advocate’s work including our management roles. We appreciate the additional perspectives diversity brings adds depth and understanding to our work. To that end, we strongly encourage applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds or other underrepresented backgrounds.

Applicants do not need previous management committee experience to undertake this role and we welcome applications from those with all levels of experience.

Time commitment and requirements of the role

Members would attend management committee meetings every three months. These meetings would last approximately an hour and time should also be factored in ahead of the meeting to read the papers. We anticipate these meetings being online. We are eager to recruit people who are willing to actively participate in discussions.

We are looking for candidates with a willingness to commit the necessary time and effort and to apply your experience and expertise to support the Manager of BIC. Those applying should understand the responsibilities of being part of a management committee.

Remuneration

The roles are unpaid positions, however reasonable out of pocket expenses may be reimbursed, particularly to assist with travel costs or caring responsibilities.

The deadline for applications is Sunday the 13th of October. Interviews will be held across the weeks of the 21st and 28th of October.

About you

We are looking for people with or without board level experience, and we would welcome applications from all ages and backgrounds.

In order to continue to enhance the diversity of our board, we would particularly like to hear from people from ethnically marginalised groups, particularly Black African backgrounds, LGBTQ+ people, people with physical disabilities, and other marginalised groups, and especially those with direct experience of services provided by our hospice.

On this occasion and following a recent skills audit of our current trustees, we are particularly looking for people with expertise in any of the following areas:

• Finance and accounting (with a view to succession planning for our current Treasurer)
• Co-production, community engagement and community development
• Property and estate management

Commitments from trustees and from the hospice

Trustees are expected to attend, in person or via tele-conferencing:

• Sessions agreed as part of each trustee’s personalised induction programme.

• Bi-monthly board meetings.

• Approximately two board away days per year, dedicated to strategic planning.

Where they are willing and able, trustees may be asked to join one of the board sub-committees.

Whilst this is an unpaid, voluntary role, out-of-pocket expenses will be reimbursed. A personalised induction programme, training, support and mentorship will be provided.

Person specification

Each trustee must have:

• commitment to the vision of the hospice

• willingness to meet the minimum time commitment

• integrity

• strategic vision

• good, independent judgement

• the ability to think creatively

• willingness to speak their mind

• understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship

• the ability to work effectively as a member of a team and to take decisions for the good

of the hospice.

Previous board/trustee experience is not necessary and the hospice welcomes applications from all ages and backgrounds.

Closing date for applications is Monday 7 October.