Trustees Volunteer Roles
We are looking for a Trustee who can help us strengthen and deepen our reach with stakeholders, communities, and funders.
Ideally you will have some professional experience within the third sector or a personal connection with what we do. However, wherever you are now, you will recognise how significant our organisation is within our community and will share our desire to further strengthen our impact and ensure we continue to be a sustainable provider of services to people with complex needs.
Key Attributes We Seek in Trustees:
· Commitment to the YSS Mission: A keen belief in YSS's mission of fostering independence and empowerment is vital. We believe our Trustees should be driven by a passion for effecting positive change in people's lives.
· Integrity and Ethical Conduct: Upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability is non-negotiable. Trustees must embody honesty and ethical behaviour in all endeavours.
· Strategic Thinking: Effective trustees possess strategic foresight and the ability to analyse complex issues. They contribute valuable insights to shape YSS's long-term direction and goals.
· Leadership Skills: Demonstrating strong leadership qualities is essential. Trustees should inspire others, foster collaboration, and proactively identify opportunities and challenges.
· Financial Awareness: Understanding financial matters is crucial for fulfilling a Trustee’s financial responsibilities to the organisation. Trustees should actively review financial reports and plans to ensure YSS's financial health.
· Diversity and Inclusion: YSS serves diverse communities, and we value diversity in our Trustees. Commitment to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion is paramount.
· Effective Communication: Trustees should possess strong communication skills, articulating ideas clearly and engaging with stakeholders effectively.
· Collaborative Approach: Operating through collaboration is a hallmark of YSS. Trustees should be team players, working collaboratively towards common goals.
· Adaptability and Resilience: Trustees should be adaptable and resilient in navigating change and uncertainty while staying focused on the organization's mission.
· Commitment and Availability: Serving as a trustee requires dedication of time and energy. Trustees must commit to attending meetings, participating in discussions, and engaging in relevant activities.
Principal responsibilities
· Provide strategic direction.
· Monitor performance.
· Ensure compliance.
· Safeguard reputation and values.
· Ensure financial viability.
· Contribute to MD's appointment, support, and performance monitoring.
· Participate in appraisal, recruitment, and disciplinary panels.
Desirable Areas of Skills and Experience:
· ICT and digital transformation
· Legal
· Safeguarding
· Criminal Justice
· Social Care or Social Enterprise
· Accountancy and financial planning/reporting
· Organizational Management
· Human Resources
· Community Development
· Balancing conflicting views sensitively
· Networking and relationship-building
· Commitment to the charity's vision and values
· Strong leadership with credibility and enthusiasm
· Effective decision-making and independent judgment
Summary of the Role: As a Trustee, you'll be responsible for setting strategic aims, objectives, and direction. You'll ensure YSS achieves its objectives, represents stakeholders' interests, and act as an ambassador for the charity.
Structure, Governance, and Management: YSS is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. The Board delegates responsibility for day-to-day management to the Managing Director, aided by the Senior Management and Leadership Team.
Strategy: YSS has a broad 3-year strategy linked to our organizational Theory of Change. Bi-annual strategic reviews are undertaken by the Trustees and Senior Management Team.
Priorities for 2024-2025:
· Implementation of impact measurement metrics
· Creation of staff and service user forums
· Focus on income sustainability and relationships with local authorities and funders
· Further development around our social value strategy
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
In our new Chair, we are looking for someone with leadership experience and board level credentials who can help us strengthen and deepen our reach with stakeholders, communities, and funders. Ideally you will have some professional experience within the third sector or a personal connection with what we do.
However, wherever you are now, you will recognise how significant our organisation is within our community and will share our desire to further strengthen our impact and ensure we continue to be a sustainable provider of services to people with complex needs.
You will be a confident and positive leader and an ambassador on our behalf with the strategic acumen and emotional intelligence to promote our work and vision, and support our Managing Director, and our leadership team
Role Description
Objective
The Chair will hold the Board and Executive Team to account for YSS’s mission and vision, providing inclusive leadership to the Board of Trustees, ensuring that each trustee fulfils their duties and responsibilities for the effective governance of the charity. The Chair will also support, and, where appropriate, challenge the Managing Director and ensure that the Board functions as a unit and works closely with the entire Executive of the charity to achieve agreed objectives. He or she will act as an ambassador and the public face of YSS in partnership with the Managing Director.
Principal responsibilities
Strategic leadership
• Provide leadership to YSS and its Board, ensuring that the charity has maximum impact for its
service users.
• Support the Managing Director to lead and manage the organisation well, give regular feedback on performance and conduct an annual appraisal.
• Ensure that Trustees fulfil their duties and responsibilities for the effective governance of YSS.
• Ensure that the Board operates within its charitable objectives and provides a clear strategic direction for YSS.
• Ensure that the Board is able to regularly review major risks and associated opportunities and satisfy itself that systems are in place to take advantage of opportunities and manage and mitigate the risks.
• Ensure that the Board fulfils its duties to ensure sound financial health of YSS (in combination with the lead finance Trustee), with systems in place to ensure.
Governance
• Ensure that the governance arrangements are working in the most effective way for YSS and that the Board regularly reviews major risks and associated opportunities.
• Develop the knowledge and capability of the Board of Trustees.
• Encourage positive change, where appropriate address and resolve any conflicts within the Board.
• Ensure that the Board of Trustees is regularly refreshed, reflects the wider population and service users of YSS and incorporates the right balance of skills, knowledge and experience needed to govern and lead YSS effectively.
• Work within any agreed policies adopted by YSS.
External Relations
• Act as an ambassador for YSS objectives and mission.
• Act as a spokesperson for YSS when appropriate.
• Represent YSS at external functions, meetings, and events (taking into account time commitments outside of the role).
Relationship with the Managing Director and the wider management team
• To work in partnership and support the Managing Director to ensure that the charity has a clear vision, mission, and strategic direction.
• Support the Managing Director, whilst respecting the boundaries which exist between the two roles, ensuring regular contact in an open and supportive way with opportunity for professional development and external professional support when agreed.
Person Specification
In addition to the qualities required of a Trustee of YSS, the Chair must also meet the following requirements:
Personal Qualities
• Personal gravitas and clear leadership style to lead an ambitious charity and communicate a
sincere commitment to the mission and vision of YSS
• Exhibit strong inter-personal and relationship building abilities and be comfortable in a
leading role
• Strong networking capabilities that can be utilised for the benefit of YSS (particularly in the sectors and services that YSS cover).
• Ability to foster and promote a collaborative team environment.
• Ability to commit time to conduct the role well, including travel and attending events out of office hours.
Experience - all essential
• Experience of operating at a senior strategic leadership level within an organisation
• Successful track record of achievement through their career
• Experience of or appreciation of charity governance (or wider governance) and Civil Society and current issues affecting it, and working with or as part of a Board of Trustees
• Experience of chairing meetings and events and representing organisations externally from public platforms and through effective stakeholder management
Knowledge and Skills - all essential
• Broad knowledge and understanding of the charity sector and current issues affecting it.
• Leadership skills, ability to bring people together.
• A level of financial management and charity finance understanding.
• Good understanding of governance issues (ideally in a charity setting).
Terms of Appointment
Remuneration
The role of Chair is not accompanied by any financial remuneration, although reasonable out of
pocket expenses can be claimed.
Location
YSS operates across Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, and Warwickshire. Our offices are in Blackpole, Worcester.
Time commitment
Between 2 and 3 days per month. The YSS Board currently meet 6 times a year and holds 2 Audit & Risk committee meetings and up to 2 strategy planning days per year. The Chair is also expected to have regular meetings with the Managing Director and may, subject to an individual’s time commitments, represent YSS at essential events. All board members are encouraged to attend YSS events, including visits from our charity Patron and are welcome to make occasional visits to projects to see first-hand the work of YSS, the people supported, staff and volunteers.
The charity’s Chair (and board members) will be elected for an initial term of one year, after which they may be eligible for re-appointment for additional three-year terms, for a maximum of 10-year term.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
YSS is committed to equality of opportunity, supports and encourages underrepresented groups,
and values diversity.
Applications
Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Appointment is subject to eligibility in line with The Charity Commission criteria.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Do you have a passion to make a difference to the lives of children and families? Spurgeons Family Charity is seeking three or four new trustees to join our current Board in bringing prayerful wisdom and strategic guidance over the coming years.
Spurgeons is one of the UK’s leading children’s charities, supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged children and their families for 150 years. Inspired by Christian faith and our founder Charles Spurgeon, we’re here for all families. Together, we create Family Hubs in communities where we’re needed most, with counselling, early years and family support. We partner with local councils and churches to care for every family, putting children and young people first in everything we do. Our services also include helping young carers, providing parenting advice and working with families affected by domestic abuse, and imprisonment.
These services are needed more than ever, particularly as local authorities with tight budgets make difficult choices on where to spend their limited resources. As we prepare for the launch of our new five-year plan in 2025, we are ambitious and hopeful about how we can use our strong financial position and robust level of assets to make a significant impact on many more children’s lives in the future.
To support Board succession planning, we are seeking to appoint new trustees with experience and skills such as:
· Lived experience: we are particularly looking to hear the voice of young people on our Board and especially those with lived experience of children and young people’s support services. We will provide the necessary training, mentoring and support to fulfil the role.
· Fundraising/marketing: this trustee will bring a clear understanding of best practice in fundraising and/or marketing.
· Children’s services: we are looking for someone with senior management or leadership experience in the children’s services sector e.g. within social services/ the care sector, health, education, local authorities or charitable contexts.
· Counselling: this trustee will have understanding and/or experience in counselling, bringing wisdom and insight at a governance level.
· Digital: we seek a leader with experience of digital transformations and entrepreneurship, to provide a strategic view of how Spurgeons can thrive in a digital, audience-focused context.
Given an occupational requirement for these roles to be filled by Christians, we are seeking candidates with a personal and active Christian faith who are comfortable and aligned with the statement of faith outlined on our website.
Spurgeons values diversity, promotes inclusion, and encourages applications from a diverse range of candidates, including those with lived experience of children’s support services. We recognise the need to increase the diversity of the Board, for example in terms of age, ethnicity, disability, gender and LGBTQ+ representation. Our goal, and a key priority in this recruitment process, is for the Board to become more closely representative of our service user community.
The time commitment required of a trustee is likely to equate to approximately 12 days per year.
This is a hybrid role: at present, Board meetings take place in London and committee meetings take place virtually via Teams.
For further information, including full details of how to apply, please see our Appointment Details Pack which can be downloaded in the Application Resources section of this advert.
Application is by submission of CV and cover letter to Laura Bagley at Macaulay Search by the closing date of Friday 24th May 2024. Please contact Laura if you have any questions about this opportunity (please see appointment details pack for contact details).
Thank you for wanting to find out more about becoming a member of Age UK Lambeth’s Board.
Our Board members are unpaid volunteers called trustees. They fill an essential role in ensuring our charity improves the lives of older and vulnerable people around the borough of Lambeth. We hope that this pack lets you know more about the charity, the role of a trustee and how to apply to become one.
We currently have seven Board members with space for up to five more. We want to find people who have a desire to direct services that enable lives to be changed for the better. We want to increase the diversity of the Board bringing different life experiences which match the Lambeth community, broad and diverse as it is. Ideally we want people that bring new skills and experience or enhance those already in place, but this is not essential. It’s not necessary to have previous Board experience.
Please check the Recruitment Pack attached.
We look forward to hearing from you!
How to apply? Whilst we want the application process to be simple, it is for us, a small local charity, a big decision. We need to make sure we have the right people on our Board, which means the process is not necessarily the quickest, but we hope at every point it helps ensure you are doing the right thing for you and us, by becoming one of our Board members. To get the process started, please send us your CV with a covering letter explaining why you think you would make a good Board member for Age UK Lambeth. Be clear about how you think your skills and/or experience will contribute to the effective governance of the charity. We are running a rolling recruitment programme, but if you can get us your application by 17th May you will be in time for our first tranche of interviews with shortlisted candidates, w/c 27th May. Following a successful interview you will be invited to attend a Board meeting as an observer. This gives you a chance to get a proper feel for whether being on our Board is for you. If both parties are happy after that, then you can be appointed as one of our new Trustees.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
The Langham Arts Trust is an extraordinary charity, combining a passion for creative excellence with a gospel mission: to make Jesus’ name known and glorified through music and the arts.
The work of the charity today encompasses a range of exciting musical ventures, from witnessing to non-believers through music and worship, to serving the wider church with the gifts and resources of the All Souls Orchestra. The charity is looking to expand its work with young people, and grow the capacity of the orchestra in order to engage in more opportunities to point people to Christ through music.
The Trust is seeking to appoint a new Chair and Treasurer. These two appointments will be instrumental in managing change and supporting growth for the Trust. In particular, the Chair will lead a refreshment of the Board and be a skilled relationship builder.
This is an exciting moment to join the board of an organisation with a vital, yet under-represented, mission in the UK church music landscape, and an organisation that is changing and growing rapidly.
Carnelian Search have been appointed to lead this search on behalf of Langham Arts Trust.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Our system keeps your personal information hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Support U is a Reading based charity set up in 2010 to provide support to LGBTQ people in the Thames Valley. Our small team runs social, emotional and wellbeing support and social groups and provides some counselling services. We are looking to revitalise our Trustee Board and require a new Chair of Trustees.
This role description includes:
1. Your general statutory responsibilities as a Trustee
2. Specific Responsibilities for your role as a Chair of Trustees
1. Your general statutory responsibilities as a trustee:
· Ensuring that the organisation pursues its stated objects (purposes), as defined in its governing document, by developing and agreeing a long-term strategy
· Ensuring that the organisation complies with its governing document (ie its constitution), charity law, and any other relevant legislation or regulations
· Ensuring that the organisation applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its charitable objects (ie the charity must not spend money on activities that are not included in its own objects, however worthwhile or charitable those activities are) for the benefit of the public
· Ensuring that the organisation defines its goals and evaluates performance against agreed targets
· Safeguarding the good name and values of the organisation
· Ensuring the effective and efficient administration of the organisation, including having appropriate policies and procedures in place
· Ensuring the financial stability of the organisation
· Protecting and managing the property of the charity and ensuring the proper investment of the charity’s funds
In addition to the above statutory duties, each trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the board of trustees reach sound decisions.
This may involve:-
· scrutinising board papers,
· leading discussions,
· focusing on key issues,
· providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, or other issues in which the trustee has special expertise.
2. Your specific responsibilities as Chair of Trustees, including person specification
Your responsibilities as Chair of Trustees include:
· Providing leadership to the organisation and the board by ensuring that everyone remains focused on the delivery of the organisation’s charitable purposes in order to provide greater public benefit
· Chairing and facilitating board meetings
· Giving direction to board policy-making
· Checking that decisions taken at meetings are implemented
· Representing the organisation at functions and meetings, and acting as a spokesperson as appropriate
· Bringing impartiality and objectivity to decision-making
· Planning the annual cycle of board meetings and other general meetings where required, for example annual general meeting
· Setting agendas for board and other general meetings
· Developing the board of trustees including induction, training, appraisal and succession planning
· Addressing conflict within the board and within the organisation, and liaising with the chief executive (if staff are employed) to achieve this.
Person specification for the Chair
· Leadership skills
· Experience of committee work
· Tact and diplomacy
· Good communication and interpersonal skills
· Impartiality, fairness and the ability to respect confidences.
In most circumstances, it would also be desirable for the chair/vice-chair to have knowledge of the type of work undertaken by the organisation and a wider involvement with the voluntary sector and other networks.
Your role also includes the following person specifications, which are universal for all trustees:
· A commitment to the organisation
· A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort
· Strategic vision
· Good, independent judgement
· An ability to think creatively
· A willingness to speak their mind
· An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship
· An ability to work effectively as a member of a team
· A commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
The School Library Association is a charity dedicated to supporting all who work within school libraries – primary, secondary and sixth form.
Our mission is to build a community to share best practice and to work towards all schools in the UK having their own (or shared) staffed library to help all children and young people build their literacy skills and fulfil their potential.
We are looking to appoint an experienced Chair for our Board of Trustees. We particularly want to hear from candidates with charity, business or membership development experience as we look to strengthen our brand, our membership reach, and financial growth.
Our Board currently has a mix of Trustees from business and the school library and educational sectors which helps to strengthen the range of skills and perspectives the SLA and its CEO can tap into. We have recently invested in a new Association Management system, members portal, website and back office system which will substantially improve our ability to personalise our offering to members and our potential reach to new members.
Our Board meetings are mostly online, either in an evening or on a Saturday morning. There are two in person board meetings planned for this year, for which all expenses will be reimbursed
In advocacy terms, our involvement in the Great School Library campaign (our CEO is the joint chair) and Awards, has raised the profile of school libraries considerably in recent years and we wish to continue this journey in the coming years.
The SLA has, over the last 5 years, made huge changes to its organisational and governance structure, Board strength, and employee skills base. Trustees joining us now will help to take us on the next stage of our exciting journey to reach more members and schools and help children achieve their full potential.
Applications will be taken through our website, where you can also access the role description and person specification for each role.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The BGF Foundation is looking for up to three new trustees to support our ambitious grant-making plans.
Our purpose is to support young people throughout the UK. Launched in 2022, the BGF Foundation is an independent charitable foundation. It is supported by cornerstone funding from BGF, an investment company that provides growth capital for small and mid-sized businesses in the UK and Ireland.
We harness the financial resources, leadership and expertise of BGF, its portfolio companies and talent network – collectively one of the UK’s largest and most active entrepreneurial networks. The Foundation has ambassadors in every region who work with us to identify local charities, coordinate pro bono support and build long-term partnerships with them.
To date we have provided multi-year grants to growing charities that support young people: MyBnk, Leadership Through Sport and Business and Social Enterprise Academy. We have also supported a number of charities with smaller individual grants.
We have undergone a strategic review and our focus will now be on open funding rounds for ambitious youth charities who are ready to scale their impact. We focus on areas where our funding, skills, networks and knowledge can make the most impact. These are enterprise, education, employment, mental health and physical wellbeing.
This is a pivotal time for the Foundation, and key to our future success will be up to three new trustees that can broaden our diversity and add to the skills and perspectives of the Board to support this new strategic approach.
We are especially interested in those with expertise in the charity sector (grant-making, strategy and governance), supporting growing charities, or working with young people.
Previous board/trustee experience is not necessary.
Trustees will be appointed for a term of three years.
To apply, please submit a CV and short letter outlining your motivation for applying through our website.
Deadine for applications is 5pm on 23 May.
BGF is an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, age, nationality or socio-economic background. As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide personal information related to diversity and inclusiveness. The information you provide is kept confidential and will not be used to evaluate your candidacy. We collect this data to help us analyse our recruitment processes and implement the necessary interventions that promote greater equity, diversity, and inclusiveness.
The BGF Foundation provides grant funding and pro bono support to charities that are supporting young people throughout the UK
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Could you become a CRT Trustee?
Are you passionate about restoring the countryside? About maintaining working farms and woods, promoting nature- and landscape-friendly farming?
Do you have professional skills in ecology, conservation, environmental land management, nature-friendly farming, countryside education and/or community engagement, fundraising or marketing, and live near one of our major properties? And ... would you be prepared to offer your time and experience as a Trustee?
The Countryside Regeneration Trust is seeking new trustees to help to steer the charity forward at a very exciting time. Our plans for the next ten years will involve greater engagement with local communities around our larger farms in Cambridgeshire, Herefordshire, Dorset and south-east England. We are also stepping up agroecological approaches to land management, with nature at the heart of food production. This includes new activities to restore nature where opportunities exist to do so.
Helping to manage a national charity is not for the faint hearted. Trustees must make important decisions, be prepared to face challenges and be confident in overseeing the management of the organisation – its finances, staffing, policies and other work that is vital for delivering the charity’s objectives. As a national charity, the CRT is supported by a team of staff, contractors and tenant farmers who undertake the day-to-day work of the organisation. The Trustees provide essential oversight for them.
Terms of Appointment
• Attendance at least 75% of Board of Trustee meetings, in Central London or Cambridge, (plus online options). These meetings are normally held once per quarter.
• Trustees work collaboratively the CEO and senior leadership team, in working groups and committees. Typically, these committees will meet 4-6 times a year. These meetings are mostly online; new trustees will join two of these committees.
• Occasional further contribution to provide mentoring, advice, and guidance.
• Trustees are elected for a term of three years, which may be renewed for one further three-year term.
Trustees are the sole members of the charity.
Further information about the charity is available on the website. Our latest annual report and accounts can be downloaded from the Charity Comission website.
To apply, please provide a cover letter setting out your relevant knowledge and why
the position interests you
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The Royal Society for Asian Affairs (RSAA) is seeking to recruit three new trustees to support it at an important point in its development, approaching its 125th anniversary in 2026.
The Society has made big changes in recent years, including expanding its international audience, improving its accessibility to members and non-members, modernising its constitution and governance structures, and developing an ambitious new strategy that gives the Society’s original objectives fresh energy in a 21st century context.
To help us drive this forward, we are looking for an individual with a professional background in fundraising and income generation, ideally in the education sector, and an interest in Asia. Experience of working with charities is important. Familiarity with the RSAA would be useful but is not essential. We are keen to increase the diversity of the board and will particularly welcome interest from individuals from under-represented groups.
Trustees are accountable for the proper and effective operation of the Society, giving strategic direction to the Chief Executive, ensuring the financial health and good financial management of the Society, ensuring that the Society has sufficient funds to support its activities, and protecting the Society’s reputation and independence.
Joining Respond as a Trustee - January 2024
Background Information
Founded in 1991, Respond is a national charity that seeks to transform the lives of people with learning disabilities and autistic people who have experienced trauma. We are committed to bringing about positive change for our clients and their families, enabling them to lead richer and more resilient lives.
Respond's services for children, young people and adults are:
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Survivors' psychotherapy
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Family support services
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Advocacy, including ISVA and domestic abuse services.
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Training, consultancy and reflective practice
Respond supports charities that campaign for equality and inclusion with the aim to prevent abuse and equip individuals and their families to come to terms with their experiences and live more positive lives.
Our specialist training, supervision, reflective practice and consultancy equips agencies and health / social care providers to deliver trauma-informed services. This includes responding to and providing consultancy and training for significant events such as institutional abuse.
Our income base is diverse with trust funds and grants continuing to be a vital part of maintaining core services Respond offers, alongside donations from trusts and foundations. We also continue to have larger ongoing or spot contracts for our work for NHS commissioners and local authorities.
It is a good opportunity to join Respond's Board at this time, following our restructure and as we move towards the last year of our current strategy for 2022-25. Following a challenging period due to changing funding landscape and closure of some services, we will be focused on consolidation and improving impact measurement to secure long-term financial sustainability.
The role of the Board of Trustees
The Trustees (or 'Board members') are trustees of the charity and directors of the limited company. They are responsible for the governance, setting the strategic direction and monitoring the implementation of the strategy. The Board ensures that the charity acts in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
The Board has responsibility for:
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ensuring the charity acts in accordance with its charitable purpose and is providing public benefit and meets its legal obligations;
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making decisions in the best interests of the charity;
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developing the multi-year strategy;
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monitoring the management of the finances and resources of the organisation (operations, budget, property, workforce and tenders);
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monitoring performance, quality and impact;
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appointing and appraising the CEO.
Who we’re looking for
Following a recent skills audit within the current Board, the Board is seeking trustees with the following skills or experiences;
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Finance - This person will have a financial qualification and will enable the Board to ensure the sound financial health of the charity. The person will collaborate with the Finance Director to ensure that the organisation has systems that meet sector best practice and ensures financial accountability. This trustee will be the Treasurer and chair the Finance Committee.
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Human Resources (HR) - This person will have experience in working in HR roles, preferably in the voluntary sector. This person will help review and strengthen Respond’s HR policies, set up and lead the people committee and guide the Leadership team in dealing with complex HR issues including change management.
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Fundraising, Marketing and Comms – This person will work closely with our Head of Development and Commissioning on our income strategy and communications strategy.
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Psychotherapy /working in a trauma informed setting – As an organisation providing psychotherapy and arts therapies for autistic people and people with learning disabilities, we are looking for a trustee with experience of working as a therapist with a systems-psychodynamic approach.
The Board wants to ensure that the charity's 'beneficiaries' are represented in its governance. We encourage applications from people who have lived experience of autism, learning disabilities and/or trauma-informed work (either directly or through family members). How the Board carries out meetings will also be reviewed to accommodate adjustments requested by new trustees with learning disabilities or who are autistic. (Please refer to a separate document if you or someone you know with lived experience may be interested)
Person Specification
The following knowledge, experience and skills are essential for the role:
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a commitment to the mission of Respond;
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senior experience, ideally including one or more of the following areas – finance, human resources, fundraising/marketing, legal, compliance, hard-to-reach communities, caring/social care, psychotherapy, commissioning.
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ability to identify creative solutions to problems within limited resources;
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good analytical skills;
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ability to think strategically;
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independence and flexibility in thinking;
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ability to communicate efficiently and connect with a wide range of people, internally and externally;
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a willingness to meet the minimum time requirement (see below);
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an understanding of the legal duties of trusteeship set out in the Charity Commission's 'The Essential Trustee'; and
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an ability to work effectively as a member of a team and to make decisions for the good of Respond.
Trustees will be expected to demonstrate the following personal attributes:
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good interpersonal skills including listening;
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commitment to excellence and high expectations of self and others;
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values people and the contribution of all stakeholders;
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sound judgment;
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team-oriented with a supportive approach.
Respond is dedicated to developing opportunities for Trustees to be appointed reflecting greater and varied diversity among our Board of Trustees, so we welcome applications by suitably qualified candidates irrespective of gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, marital or parental status, age, sexual orientation or gender identity. We particularly welcome applications from Black and minority ethnic candidates who are under-represented on the board.
What we offer
New trustees will:
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Receive induction and training;
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Develop new skills and competencies;
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Meet new people and develop professional networks;
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Contribute to ensuring that the charity offers high quality effective services to autistic people and people with learning disabilities who have experienced trauma, who are in need;
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An annual appraisal
Time requirement - What is involved?
Trustees attend eight Board meetings per year approximately every six-eight weeks currently on a Tuesday evening 5:30pm to 8pm. Meetings are in London, and remote access is available for trustees who live/work outside London.
Each Trustee is expected to be an active member of the Respond community, committing 5 to 10 hours per month to the charity which may also involve being on a sub-committee such as; Finance Committee, Clinical Governance and Safeguarding Committee each of which meets four times per year, typically during normal office hours online or in London.
Trustees are expected to attend an induction session at Respond prior to their first Board meeting. Trustees are expected to attend all Board meetings. Other meetings are away-days over a weekend.
Trustees are invited to the annual general meeting, which takes place typically in November.
Trustees may claim expenses incurred in effectively carrying out their duties, in accordance with Respond’s Trustee Expenses Policy.
Papers are distributed one week in advance of meetings. In addition, Trustees are expected to review documents and communicate with other board members and senior staff between meetings. Every effort will be made to ensure that trustees with learning disabilities or who are neurodiverse have access to documents in formats that they can understand or have the support available for them to fully participate as trustees.
Occasionally, circumstances may require urgent meetings (either face-to-face or virtual) to examine strategic issues or items requiring Board approval
Duration of the role
Board terms are for a five-year term following which the person can be elected to serve another three years.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Sutton Mental Health Foundation was established as a charity in 1998 and the aim of the Foundation is to support people with mental health needs in the London Borough of Sutton, helping to keep them well and active and helping them to have a voice in mental health care in the Borough. Our vision is to provide a community in Sutton which values mental wellbeing and understands how to respond positively to anxiety and distress. The Foundation works together to promote mental wellbeing resilience and recovery from mental distress.We provide nonclinical support, and we are part of the Voluntary Sector.
The Foundation is seeking to add to the expertise of our experienced, professional Board of Trustees, who are all volunteers. All our Trustees need excellent communication skills, the ability to work effectively as part of a team, strategic vision and good, independent judgement. Although not limited to, we would particularly value the experience and skills in the following areas :
- Company Secretary/Legal Experience
- Fundraising in the following areas – Grant, Corporate and Public
- Marketing
Lived or shared experience of mental health – desirable.
Inclusion is one of our values and we are looking for diversity in the makeup of our Board and that we particularly welcome applications from underrepresented communities.
The Board of Trustees meets every six weeks, in the evening at 7 p.m. for approximately 1 ½ hours in Sutton. Sometimes our Board meetings are on-line.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Based in Portsmouth, The De Curci Trust has over 1700 students on roll across three schools. The Trust seeks a Trustee (Non-Executive Director) to join the Board who ideally has a professional background in:
· Education (school, college or university);
· Surveying / Construction; or
· Public Sector Management.
However, applications from candidates with different professional backgrounds are encouraged; we would particularly welcome applicants from an ethnic minority, as they are underrepresented within the Trust at this level.
Early applications are welcome prior to the closing date, please contact Danielle Skinner, Company Secretary and Governance Professional if you would like an informal discussion or interview at early stage.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Trustees - The Royal Society of Asian Affairs (RSSA)
Approaching its 125th anniversary, The RSSA want to strengthen its Board with individuals with strong backgrounds in marketing and communications, ideally in the education sector. Up to two positions are available.
The RSSA was founded in 1901 as the Central Asian Society. Its journal, Asian Affairs has been published continuously since 1914.
The RSAA’s objective is to advance knowledge of Asia through its worldwide networks, its public events, its publications and its support to research. It is an open, active and internatiuonal network for informed debate about Asia, engaging experts, policy makers and the wider public with experience, analysis and scholarship.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Vision Action is a unique organisation, that works in low- and middle-income countries, supporting national governments to deliver and strengthen their eye health strategies. We work in partnership with local governments, civil society organisations, international and national NGOs, and the private sector. Our ambition is to increase equitable access to eye care services and glasses, and accelerate achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goal.
The role of the Board is to oversee the overall direction and activities of the charity, including its policies and procedures, to ensure that they are consistently in accordance with the charitable purposes defined in the objects clause in its Constitution. The Board sets and monitors the strategic direction of the charity, although the implementation of strategy is achieved through the executive team. The Board must always act in the best interests of Vision Action, taking decisions as a group and not as individuals.
1. Terms of service
For Vision Action the Trustees are Members who have been elected to serve on the Board. Vision Action’s constitution allows for up to 12 Trustees, who can serve a maximum of three consecutive terms of three years. Vision Action is a company limited by guarantee and the Trustees are its legal directors. The Trustee role is voluntary but out of pocket expenses are paid.
Trustees are appointed by the Vision Action Board of Trustees annually at the Board meeting following the Annual General Meeting. The time commitment in being a trustee involves attendance at four Board meetings per year, one of which will be an all-day strategy session. Otherwise, Board meetings are usually half a day in the afternoon of a weekday with at least half the meetings online. Papers are circulated for reading in advance.
In addition to this, it is expected that trustees attend the AGM held on a weekend and occasional Members’ Forums or other Vision Action events, which are usually arranged on the same day as a Board meeting in the evening. There may be other ad hoc meetings or online events to discuss specific topics. Trustees will be expected to commit time to receive a proper induction.
2. Main tasks
Charity Trustees have and must accept ultimate responsibility for directing the affairs of the charity and ensuring it is solvent, well-run and delivering the charitable outcomes for the benefit of the public for which it has been set up. Each Trustee will be expected to join one of the three sub-committees (Fundraising and Investment; Programmes; Finance, Administration and Remuneration). The Committees meet (in person or remotely) at least four times per year, usually timed with or in advance of the board meetings.
3. General Responsibilities
- Ensure that Vision Action complies with its governing document (i.e. its Constitution and Byelaws), charity law, and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
- Ensure that Vision Action pursues its objects as defined in its governing document.
- Ensure Vision Action applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects, i.e. it must not spend money on activities which are not included in the objects, however worthwhile they may be.
- Contribute actively to the Board’s role in the formulation and review of strategy, setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets.
- Safeguard the good name and values of Vision Action and maintain good relations with its members.
- Ensure that all policies are implemented, monitored and reports are acted upon, (including the policies on Harassment and Misconduct, Safeguarding, Recruitment of ex-offenders, Child Protection and Anti- Bribery).
- Strive for Vision Action to reflect the full diversity of society in all its activities.
- Ensure the financial stability of Vision Action.
- Protect and manage the property of Vision Action and ensure the proper investment of its funds.
- Appoint and support the Chief Executive Officer and monitor his/her performance.
In addition to the above statutory responsibilities, each Trustee should attend Board meetings and use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the Board reach sound decisions. This may involve leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, evaluation or other issues in which the Trustee has special expertise; and then always upholding the decisions taken by Board. Trustees are also expected to support Vision Action’s fundraising initiatives.
4. Additional Specific Responsibilities
In addition to the above, we are looking for a Trustee who can be the Chair designate and assume the role of Chair in November 2024.
Vision Action is looking for a Trustee who will be able to support us in 3 key areas:
1) Provide advice and experience at the level of Chair so that they can provide leadership to the Board of Trustees as well as the CEO
2) Act as the Chair designate until they assume the role of Chair of the Board of Trustees in November 2024.
3) Provide insight, knowledge and connections to help us build our reputation and position as a worthy international charity in the eye health sector in the UK and Internationally so that Vision Action can grow its relationship with individuals, bodies and corporates in the sector.
Person Specification
Each Trustee must have:
- A commitment to the mission and value base of Vision Action.
- A commitment to the key policies of Vision Action – on Harassment and Misconduct, Safeguarding, Whistle-blowing, Recruitment of ex-offenders, Child Protection and Anti-Bribery.
- A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort.
- Integrity.
- Strategic vision.
- Good, independent judgement.
- An ability to think creatively.
- A willingness to speak his/her mind.
- An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of trusteeship (training/information will be offered in this area).
- An ability to contribute effectively to the workings of the Vision Action Board and any sub-committees or working groups.
In addition to the above, this specific appointment is looking ideally for Trustees who have:
- Previous experience of leading and Chairing at the senior level in an organisation;
- Previous experience of governing and managing at the Board level;
- Previous Board level experience in the charity sector;
- Willingness to undertake obligatory tasks with the Charity Commission on behalf of the organisation;
- Willingness to stay updated on changes to governance issues and policies that might impact Vision Action;
- A willingness to engage in activities in the vision sector as it relates to the work of Vision Action, including fundraising.
We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds as well as those who may have a connection to the vision sector either through personal or professional experience and those who might come from one of the countries that Vision Action is currently active in – Zambia, Ghana, Sierre Leone, and Ethiopia.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.