Trustees With Hands On Involvement Volunteer Roles

Been There is looking for an enthusiastic and experienced individual to join a small, supportive and dynamic team as a Trustee. 

What will you be doing?

Main Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Contribute to the development and implementation of our strategic objectives, providing insight, oversight, and direction to ensure the organisation's goals are achieved efficiently.

• Governance and Compliance: Ensure that Been There adheres to all legal and statutory requirements. Monitor compliance with governance best practices and ethical standards.

• Financial Oversight: Oversee the financial affairs of the organisation, ensuring its viability and that all financial resources are managed responsibly and in line with organisational objectives.

• Risk Management: Identify, monitor, and mitigate risks to the organisation, ensuring robust risk management strategies are in place.

• Advocacy and Ambassadorship: Act as an ambassador for Been There, advocating for our mission and values, and enhancing our visibility and reputation.

• Fundraising Support: Play an active role in guiding and supporting the charity's fundraising efforts, ensuring financial goals are met and resources are secured for future sustainability.

What are we looking for?

Person Specification

 Individuals are sought who have a strong empathy with any body image issues and related mental health concerns. Experience, skills and expertise in charity law, an interest in the well-being of people combined with an in-depth understanding of our work and ambitions are particularly sought.

Knowledge, skills and understanding:

• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of governance experience within a board, ideally in the non-profit sector or a related field.
• Skills: Strong strategic thinking, leadership, and decision-making abilities. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge: A good understanding of the legal and financial responsibilities of a trustee and experience in risk management, strategic planning, and organisational oversight.
• Commitment: Ability to commit time for board meetings, committee involvement, and preparation work. Expected to attend quarterly board meetings and contribute to special projects as needed.

NB: Ideally you would need to attend quarterly trustee meetings in the Kingston Upon Thames area, but you are able to attend this remotely if required.

What difference will you make?

Been There is a charity in the form of an app that connects people aged 18 and over with a vetted and trained mentor to help with any body image issues they may be experiencing. This gives them the opportunity to speak to someone who has ‘Been There’ themselves. Our Mentors are here to support, empower and, most importantly, listen.

The Trustees are a core part of the team and very hands on. We have a tight knit team, and your governance support will ensure we are always acting in the best interests of our beneficiaries.

PLEASE SEE ATTACHED JOB SPEC FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A CHARITY TRUSTEE.

Role title: Chair of the Board of Trustees
Location: Flexible (travel to London will be required at least once a quarter)
Salary: N/A (Volunteer role)
Time commitment: 2-3 days per month
Contract: The Chair is appointed for an initial 3-year term with the option of renewal for up to 3 terms. The maximum term for all trustees (including the Chair) is 9 years.

Purpose of the role: 
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced leader to join a growing, impact-focused and ambitious charity supporting refugees to access meaningful employment and build a new life. 

The Chair leads the board, ensuring that it governs Breaking Barriers effectively, in service of our vision and mission. The Chair leads in an inclusive way, supporting the board to work together well, and providing support and challenge to the Chief Executive. The Chair is also an ambassador for the charity. 

The Chair of Breaking Barriers provides visionary leadership and strategic direction, ensuring that the organisation effectively achieves its mission while adhering to its core values. This pivotal role involves governance oversight, board leadership, executive support, and serving as an ambassador for the organisation.

Key responsibilities:

• Strategic leadership and vision: Guide the organisation with a strategic vision, aligning the board and staff's efforts with the mission. Lead the development and review of long-term strategies to ensure responsiveness to community needs and adaptability to the changing environment.
• Governance and oversight: Ensure effective governance, oversee board operations, and ensure compliance with legal, ethical, and functional responsibilities. Monitor financial performance and adherence to non-profit management best practices.
• Resource mobilisation: Support and participate in fundraising strategies, leveraging networks, and engaging with donors and stakeholders to secure necessary resources for the organisation's work.
• Building and leading the board: Ensure the board comprises members with diverse skills and perspectives. Lead recruitment, orientation, and training of board members and facilitate effective meetings and discussions, ensuring productive governance to advance the purpose and values of the organization.
• CEO support and evaluation: Support and maintain a constructive relationship with the CEO, creating a positive and strong working relationship to jointly set and achieve appropriate targets, staying in regular contact and acting as a sounding board to discuss strategic or staffing issues - coaching, supporting and challenging as necessary. Ensuring accountability for organisational performance.
• Ambassadorship: Act as the primary ambassador, representing and promoting the organisation's mission, values, and interests to external stakeholders, enhancing its reputation, and fostering collaboration, fundraising and promotional opportunities.

To view the full job description and person specification, as well as details on our accessible recruitment process, please view the attached recruitment pack.

Other considerations

• As part of our safeguarding commitment to our clients, we carry out pre-employment checks to ensure that successful applicants are suitable to work with adults at risk. These include basic DBS checks, obtaining references and verifying a candidate’s identity and right to work in the UK.
• Breaking Barriers is committed to protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect and for their views, wishes and beliefs to be fully considered when deciding action.
• We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion or belief.

How to apply

If you are looking for a role where you can make a real difference, we want to hear from you. Please apply via Charity Jobs by submitting a cover letter (up to approximately 2 A4 pages), referencing how you believe you best meet the person specification. You are also welcome to include any reasonable adjustments you require for the interview process. Please view the attached recruitment pack for further essential information for candidates.

Closing date for applications is 11:59pm on Thursday 2nd May. Interviews will be held on a rolling basis so please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

We belong to the Experts by Experience Employment Initiative, which advocates and supports organisations to employ more people from a refugee background. With this in mind, we particularly welcome applicants with experience of seeking asylum and/or a refugee background. If you are an expert by experience (a refugee or a migrant with direct, first-hand experience of issues and challenges of the UK asylum or immigration system), you can ask for an independent and confidential support for your job application from the Experts by Experience Employment Network. Please reach out to HR Manager Dani Meier for further details (we are unable to include email addresses in this advert, but you can find contact details on the final page of the attached recruitment pack).

A talking newspaper is a simple concept: articles from a printed newspaper are read out loud into a recording (memory stick or app) for the benefit of those who cannot do this for themselves - e.g. blind or partially sighted or anyone who finds reading a newspaper difficult. 

Lothiansound is a small Scottish registered charity based in Edinburgh, run entirely by volunteers, funded by donations, and managed by a Committee of Trustees.  With the publisher's permission, we produce a weekly audio edition of articles selected from the “Edinburgh Evening News”. This is distributed by returnable memory stick inside a returnable wallet.  New Listeners are sometimes referred to us by SSI agencies, or they can self-refer on request.

Lothiansound’s Listeners are mainly in the Edinburgh area, but might be anywhere in the UK (and sometimes beyond) and receive this service completely free of charge.  We know that our Listeners appreciate us hugely, because they regularly tell us so!

Your SECRETARY role would be to assure the Charity’s handling of administrative matters, including:

• Prepare Agendas and Minutes of Committee Meetings (currently on Zoom) – six meetings per year.
• Prepare Agenda, Notice and Minutes of Annual General Meeting (currently on Zoom).
• Maintain Register of Operating Policies.
• (In association with Chair & ViceChair) Maintain existing good relationship with the landlord of our physical office (in an Edinburgh suburb) which is where our weekly admin/copying teams do their stuff with Listeners’ incoming/outgoing wallets.
• Assist (the Treasurer) in preparation of Annual Report and Accounts.
• Be Lothiansound’s nominee with the Charity Regulator (OSCR).

Your (Trustee/Office Bearer) role can be carried out mainly from home, other than ad hoc visits to the office if necessary.. There is no involvement in recording and distributing the audio newspaper unless the applicant wishes to do so.

No professional qualification is needed. Experience of some of the above matters would be advantageous.  Requirement for competency with word processing, plus clear and accurate communication skills, and ability to convey documents efficiently by email etc. Occasional need for printing out can occur – e.g. simple A4 sheets for notice boards at the office.  Outgoing Secretary will be on hand for initial assistance and transition.

Role: Charity Administrator / Manager / Trustee
Location: Remote
Job Type: Part-time

About Us:
The Spiritual Arts Foundation is a unique UK arts organisation dedicated to promoting the spiritual exploration of artistic expression. We believe in the transformative power of spirituality and the arts to inspire individuals and communities. Our organisation has over 90 professional creative members, including artists, authors, composers, singer-songwriters, filmmakers, and producers, 1200+ members within our ‘Spiritual Creatives’ Meetup group and a rapidly expanding volunteer management team of more than 40 writers, marketers, art historians, social media and digital marketing experts.

Position Overview:
The Spiritual Arts Foundation is seeking a highly experienced and knowledgeable Charity Administrator / Manager to join our team. The ideal candidate will have an understanding of charity law and regulations in the UK, along with extensive practical experience in setting up charities, Community Interest Companies (CICs), and Companies Limited by Guarantee (CLGs). In addition to possessing exceptional organizational and project management skills, the candidate should also have a genuine interest in spiritual subjects and a passion for making a difference in the world.

Responsibilities:

You will be required to:

• Provide expert guidance and support in the setup and registration of charities, CICs, and CLGs, ensuring compliance with relevant UK legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Consult with our legal team on the preparation of legal documentation, including governing documents, constitutions, and articles of association.
• Assist in the establishment of appropriate governance structures, and work with our HR team regarding the recruitment and training of trustees and board members.
• Assist our management and accounting teams to choose optimal bank accounts and obtain the necessary financial services for new charitable entities.
• Consult with our fundraising team to help implement our strategies for fundraising, donor engagement, and income generation.
• Offer strategic advice on staffing requirements, recruitment processes, and employment contracts.
• Help us to identify potential risks and opportunities associated with charity setup and operation.
• Keep abreast of changes in charity law, regulations, and best practices, and ensure that organizational policies and procedures remain up to date.
• Collaborate effectively with internal teams, external stakeholders, and regulatory bodies to achieve organizational objectives.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven experience in setting up charities, CICs, or CLGs in the UK, including a comprehensive understanding of the legal and regulatory framework.
• Knowledge of charity law, tax regulations, governance principles, and financial management practices.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to convey complex information in a clear and concise manner.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team environment, fostering a culture of trust and respect.
• Genuine interest in spiritual subjects and a commitment to promoting values of compassion, empathy, and social responsibility.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and requirements, with a proactive and solutions-oriented approach to problem-solving.

Why work with us?

• Highly cooperative & flexible team structure, filled with inspiring creatives and spiritual scholars.
• Self-promotion opportunities through the Spiritual Arts Foundations networking channels for artists and creatives.
• Gain personal fulfilment by contributing to spiritual growth and cultural enrichment as you support our mission.
• Enhance skills valuable in personal and professional life through hands-on involvement in spiritual arts initiatives.
• Build a network of like-minded individuals, fostering friendships, collaborations, and potential career opportunities in the arts and spirituality.
• Enjoy complimentary access to spiritual events, workshops, and experiences, deepening your knowledge and appreciation of the arts.

This position offers an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in the successful growth of The Spiritual Arts Foundation.