Compass support board trustee volunteer roles
About Us
Now in our 30th year, The Eikon Charity supports children and young people across Surrey to feel and be safe, heard, and supported.
Growing up in today’s world can be incredibly challenging. That’s why we empower children and young people to find the inner and outer resources they need – skills, knowledge and resilience – as they develop and navigate life.
So, we create spaces for them where they can be themselves and talk about their thoughts and feelings. They understand better than anyone what’s happening in their own lives, so we listen, without judging.
Background to the role
At Eikon we are poised to deliver an increase in our vital, evidence-based services across Surrey and the South-East, as well as to share our model of success and influence children and young people’s services across the UK. We know, and others know, that what we do has an impact on our children and young people who, tragically, need more of everything we offer as their challenges increase.
We are now looking for passion, commitment and bold leadership from our new Chair. You will have had a senior career in the public, private or voluntary sector, you’ll have grown an organisation sustainably, leading with vision and courage, and engaging and influencing stakeholders internally and externally. You will be entrepreneurial and forward-focused with ambition to effect the change that you will believe in as wholeheartedly as we do. You will lead the Board in a way that ensures we remain relevant and fit for purpose for our next season of growth and impact, while also retaining our resilience and sustainability. You will ensure our CEO and senior leadership team are empowered to lead as effectively as possible in an increasingly complex and challenging environment.
Qualities we’re looking for:
- Visionary leadership: demonstrates bold, strategic thinking and the ability to inspire and guide the Board and executive team toward long-term sustainable growth
- Commitment to mission: passion for the charity’s purpose and a deep understanding of its social impact
- Influencing & advocacy: skilled in representing the charity externally, influencing key stakeholders, and acting as an ambassador for its work
- Integrity & diplomacy: exercises sound judgment, tact, and discretion in complex and sensitive situations
- Inclusivity & collaboration: fosters a collaborative and inclusive Board culture, encouraging diverse perspectives and constructive challenge
What your day to day in this role will look like:
You’ll show bold and strategic leadership and build a good relationship with our CEO, along with the rest of our leadership team. Efficiency and effectiveness will be key in this governance role, as well as maintaining external relations.
How to Apply:
Eastside People is supporting The Eikon Charity in the recruitment of this role. Please click here to apply by submitting your CV and a cover letter both in Word doc format.
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 the Chair role at Eikon?
○ Having read the information pack and understanding who we’re looking for, what relevant experience, skills and personal qualities would you bring to this role?
We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential. If you have a disability or require reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process, please contact us so we can support you appropriately.
The closing date for applications is 27 October. Shortlisting interviews will take place shortly after and shortlisted candidates will have an interview with the panel at Eikon during the week beginning 3 or 10 November.
Registered Charity
Helping young people feel safe, heard and supported
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Actively Interviewing
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Invitation to apply for the position of Society Chair
A. Description of the Society
The Society is the third oldest local conservation charity in England, founded in 1897 by many of the public figures who campaigned to procure the passing of the 1871 Hampstead Heath Act, which saved Hampstead Heath as a public open space in perpetuity, and who went on to found the National Trust.
The Society is an unincorporated association, constituted by its contractual constitution, and is a registered charity. Its charitable objects are as follows:
3. (a) to preserve those parts of Hampstead Heath which are subject to section 16 of The Hampstead Heath Act 1871* in their wild and natural state, and also to preserve the natural and characteristic features of the later additions to the Heath, so far as is consistent with their enjoyment by the public;
(b) to promote and maintain the amenities and characteristics of the environs of the Heath, and of the buildings and streets of Hampstead; and
(c) to promote public interest in the study of natural history, conservation, and the history of the areas referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Rule 3.
*[Section 16 provides: The [Metropolitan] Board [of Works] shall at all times preserve, as far as may be, the natural aspect and state of the Heath, and to that end shall protect the turf, gorse, heather, timber and other trees, shrubs, and brush-wood thereon.]
The Society’s geographical remit is limited to Hampstead Heath, the fringes of the Heath, and the old borough of Hampstead (now legally subsumed into the London Borough of Camden).
It is governed by a ‘general committee’ of some 15 trustees which is supported by (i) three subcommittees (each of approximately a dozen members) responsible for the distinct areas of Hampstead Town, Hampstead Heath, and local planning applications, and (ii) a Plaque Selection Panel which is responsible for the erection of plaques on buildings in Hampstead Town commemorating famous residents.
The Chair, along with principal Society officers, is elected annually at the annual general meeting.
The Society has approximately 2,000 members and is in sound financial and reputational shape. Further details of the Society may be found on the Society's website.
B. General role of the Chair
The general role of the Society Chair includes the duties outlined in the English Charity Commission document entitled “The essential trustee: what you need to know, what you need to do”, namely:
· help plan and run general committee meetings and in members’ meetings
· take the lead on ensuring that meetings are properly run and recorded
· take the lead on ensuring that trustees comply with their duties and the charity is well governed
· act as a spokesperson for the charity
· act as a link between trustees and committee members.
Reference should also be made to “A Chair’s Compass - A guide for chairs of charities and non-profit organisations”.
Given the local remit of the Society, it is desirable that the prospective Society Chair should be resident in Hampstead (including West Hampstead), Belsized, Highgate or Hampstead Garden Suburb. The prospective Society Chair will be invited to join the general committee and ‘shadow’ the current Chair for the appropriate period before taking over.
C. Core and specific tasks of the Society Chair
Convene, set the agenda for, and chair bi-monthly meetings of the general committee, and approve the draft minutes of those meetings
Convene and set the agenda for the Society’s annual general meeting in June of each year, deliver a verbal annual report at that meeting, and approve the draft minutes of that meeting
Write the annual trustees’ report for inclusion in the annual return to the Charity Commission
Settle and approve the Society's annual financial statements as prepared by the Treasurer and the Society's auditors/examiners
Write a column of approximately 2,000 words for the Society's newsletter published in January, May and October
From time to time, as an observer, attend meetings of the Society's three subcommittees (Town, Heath and Planning) and the Society’s Plaque Selection Panel
Support the Society’s vice-chairs in their chairing of the Society’s three subcommittees (see above)
Oversee recruitment to the general committee and, as required, the Society's three subcommittees
As required, be the public or official face of the Society in dealings with the media, and the City of London Corporation (the freehold owner of Hampstead Heath and the sole trustee of the Hampstead Heath registered charity), Camden Council (including Hampstead Ward local councillors) and other local or governmental bodies
As required, lead (even if only in a titular or nominal sense) campaigns run by the Society
Attend and, as required, host Society events, including the New Members Party, the Xmas Party and Society lectures (usually two to three a year)
Maintain relations with other non-governmental bodies with which the Society has regular dealings in matters of common interest, including the Vale of Health Society, the Highgate Society, the Hampstead Garden Suburb Residents Association, the Hampstead Neighbourhood Forum, Heath Hands, the Kenwood Estate, Keats House, Camden History Society, the London Forum and Civic Voice
Identify, and suggest to its editor, items for inclusion in the Society's newsletter
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.