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Brake is seeking experienced and committed individuals to join our Board of Trustees. This is an opportunity to contribute at a strategic level to shaping the future of road safety and road victim support, and to create lasting, positive change.

If you have the experience and skills outlined below, and are motivated to contribute at Board level, we’d love to hear from you.

About Brake

Every death and serious injury on the road is a preventable tragedy. Yet, on average, five people die every day on the road in the UK and 79 are seriously injured (10-year average from 2015-2024).

Our vision is a world with zero road death and injury, where we can all move in a safe and healthy way, whoever we are and however we travel. Since 1995, Brake has worked to prevent road deaths and serious injuries, make streets safe and healthy places for all, and support road crash victims through our National Road Victim Service. We campaign to prevent crashes and reduce harm when they occur. We help people affected by road death and injury get the support they need, for as long as they need it. We deliver education programmes to improve knowledge, develop skills and shift attitudes. Attached is a copy of our current strategy..

Our values are:

· Professionalism

· Collaboration

· Integrity

· Compassion

· Inclusion

· Courage

Could your strengths, skills or experience make a positive difference to Brake and our work?

The role
We are currently seeking new talent for our Board of Trustees. The Board has overall responsibility and accountability for the organisation’s governance and strategic direction, and trustees use their skills and experience to set the charity’s strategy and objectives and support their delivery and oversight.

 These responsibilities include

• Attending regular meetings of the Board and its sub-committees where required
• Contributing actively to the Board in helping set the charity’s strategic direction in line with its objectives
• Assisting in evaluating the executive team’s performance against agreed plans
• Ensuring that the organisation complies with its governing document, charity law, company law and all other relevant legislation and regulations
• Working with the Chair, other Board members and CEO/COO to ensure that the organisation uses its resources well and exclusively in pursuance of its charitable objects
•  Providing strategic advice and guidance where appropriate, drawing on personal expertise, while maintaining appropriate separation from day to day operations
• Acting in the best interests of Brake while exercising independent judgement
• Safeguarding the charity’s assets and reputation
• Acting as an ambassador for Brake and using networks to promote the charity’s work and opportunities to help the charity
• Assessing and scrutinising Board papers and contributing to the work of sub-committees
• Acting as a media spokesperson for the charity when required, representing Brake’s vision, values, and work with confidence and clarity.

We are looking for individuals who can demonstrate:

• Firm commitment to the goals and objectives of Brake
• Collaborative and emotionally intelligent
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Ability to think creatively
• Willingness to support the Brake operational team in their work as appropriate
• Ability to make the time commitment to perform the functions of the role
• Strategic thinking and sound, independent judgement
• Confidence to provide constructive challenge and support within a Board environment
• An understanding of, or willingness to learn, trustee responsibilities and governance

We are particularly interested in candidates from diverse backgrounds, including those with lived experience, and with expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Charity fundraising and income generation
• Charity governance and compliance
• Clinical risk management and person‑centred support
• Data, digital transformation and AI
• HR, people and culture
• Insurance
• Legal
• Media, comms and PR
• Policing or emergency services
• Road safety policy
• Trauma informed practice

Formal board meetings take place quarterly, although from time to time, there are additional meetings that take place that you may be asked to join and contribute to, including sub-committees. The expected time commitment is approximately 1 – 2 days per month. Trustee appointments are typically for a three-year term, which may be renewed. Meetings are primarily held virtually, with occasional in-person meetings.

The role is unremunerated; reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.

Equity, diversity and inclusion
Brake is passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that values diversity. We welcome your application regardless of your background or circumstances. We particularly welcome applications from those who are part of the global majority, the LGBTQIA+ community or disabled. We are proud to be a disability confident employer. We don’t want you to ‘fit’ our culture, we want you to enrich it. So, if you have a passion for making a difference and share in our vision for a world where no one is killed on our roads, we would love to hear from you.

Closing Date: Monday 4 May