We would like to hear from anyone who would be interested in joining the CARA Board of Trustees. Please see our CARA Trustee Role Description below for details of what is involved, and the qualities, skills and expertise we are looking for. If you would be interested in becoming a CARA Trustee, please contact us explaining why you would like to become a CARA Trustee, and providing a brief summary of the skills you would bring to the CARA Board.
Please note that this is an unpaid role. Trustees' travel and other expenses will be covered.
Role Description
CARA (Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse) works with victims and survivors of sexual violence and child sexual abuse, providing independent, specialist support and promoting and representing their rights and needs. CARA works with adults of all genders, young people (aged 12-19) and children aged under 12 from across mid and north Essex.
Over the last 8 years, CARA has grown significantly. Our client numbers have more than quadrupled and we now offer a wide range of services to victims and survivors of all ages and genders. We currently have a team of 40 full and part-time staff and over 20 sessional counsellors.
CARA is interested in hearing from people who might like to join our Board. As a CARA Board member, you will have an opportunity to be actively involved in the running of a forward-thinking and fastdeveloping feminist charity. Our Board of trustees provide strategic direction and governance to CARA, supporting the management team and overseeing all aspects of our work. CARA’s Board of Trustees are also registered as our directors for the purposes of company law.
CARA trustees have the following statutory duties and responsibilities:
• To set and maintain vision, mission and values.
• To develop strategy.
• To establish and monitor policies.
• To set up employment procedures.
• To ensure compliance with CARA’s governing document (constitution).
• To ensure accountability.
• To ensure compliance with the law.
• To maintain proper financial oversight.
• To respect the role of staff.
• To maintain effective Trustees performance.
• To promote CARA.
Other duties:
In addition to the above statutory duties, each trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the Board reach sound decisions. This may involve:
• Scrutinising board papers.
• Leading and contributing to discussions.
• Focusing on key issues.
• Providing guidance on new initiatives.
A CARA trustee should have the following qualities:
• Integrity
• The skills and experience to make informed decisions on governance of a charity.
• A commitment to CARA and our vision, mission, aims and values.
• Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort.
• Strategic vision.
• Good, independent judgement.
• Ability to think creatively.
• Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship. Please refer to the Charity Commission guidance
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
Our current Board have a wide range of skills, and we regularly conduct skills audits to ensure our Board has the expertise needed to ensure CARA’s effective governance. To enhance our existing Board of Trustees, we are particularly seeking applications from people with the following skills and experiences:
• Business acumen
• Income generation
• Knowledge of the Women’s Sector
• Property and premises management.
People from Black and minority ethnic groups are currently under-represented on CARA’s Board of Trustees, and we particularly welcome applications from people from these groups. Applications from survivors of sexual violence or child sexual abuse are always welcome.
All members of CARA’s Board of Trustees are required to make a minimum commitment to the organisation. This includes attendance at Trustees meetings, which are held every other month, starting at 7.30pm. Meetings are usually held on Zoom, but occasional travel to Colchester for face-to-face meetings is also required.
All trustee appointments will be conditional on an enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check, and satisfactory references.
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!
Do you want to help stop needless deaths from sepsis and help improve recovery of those affected by Sepsis. UKST are looking to recruit additional Trustees to its established Board
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that affects 245,000 people in the UK every year. At least 48,000 of those people lose their lives to the condition. We believe that earlier diagnosis and treatment across the UK would save thousands more lives a year.
The UK Sepsis Trust (UKST) was founded in 2012. Founder and Executive Director, Dr Ron Daniels BEM, is an NHS Consultant in Intensive Care:
“We seek to save lives from sepsis, and improve outcomes for survivors, by educating healthcare professionals, raising public awareness, providing support for those affected by this devastating condition and political lobbying. We will protect people by enabling the prevention of severe infection and the treatment of sepsis, whist helping to ensure antibiotics are used responsibly.”
The UK Sepsis Trust has ambitious plans to increase awareness, educate wider networks beyond direct care health professionals and provide support to an ever-increasing population of survivors and bereaved. We are seeking to diversify the existing Trustee Board by gaining access to broader and deeper skills, backgrounds, and experiences. Our Trustees work in partnership with our Chairman and Chief Executives to ensure our resources are applied to maximum effect to achieve our purpose – through a clear vision and strategy, whilst exercising stewardship to operate an appropriate framework of governance.
We are particularly interested in candidates from various backgrounds including:
- Clinical/Sepsis
- Finance & Charity governance
- Corporate Fundraising engagement
- Digital, web and apps
Key Tasks and Responsibilities will include:
- Working with the Chairman, fellow Trustees and Management Team to ensure UKST’s cultural values and ethos are fully understood and adhered to throughout the organisation
- Encouraging team-working and collaboration across the charity’s activities including supporters and volunteers
- Along with fellow Trustees, making decisions that will best enable the charity to carry out its purposes. Contributing to balanced and informed decisions about the long term as well as the short-term requirements for UKST
- Ensuring the Charity’s assets and resources are only used to support it carrying out its purpose
- Providing ad hoc advice to the Management Team on specific topics relevant to their skills and knowledge
- Keeping up to date with Charity Commission legislation changes
- Continually monitoring the Trust’s progress to determine if strategic priorities need to be adjusted
Person Specification
- Significant leadership experience and commitment to our purpose
- Ability to drive organisational change and navigate growth
- Willingness and ability to understand responsibilities and liabilities as Trustees of a Charity
- Ability to think creatively and strategically, exercise good, independent judgement, and work effectively as a Board member
- Effective communication skills and willingness to participate actively in discussion, and numeracy to the extent required to understand the financial records and accounts
Time Commitment
The time commitment of the Trustees is variable but as a minimum they are required to attend the following:
- The Trustees have four formal meetings each year with the management team (2 of which are in person in either Birmingham/London).
- In addition there are four informal meetings with the management team along with regular Trustee only meetings which are all held virtually
- The Finance and Governance Trustee would also be required to attend four finance and audit committee meetings per year.
If you are interested in joining the team please apply with a cover letter and CV.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
About BelEve UK
BelEve engages with girls and young women to support them in gaining skills, confidence, and self-belief to fulfil their potential, despite barriers in their lives that might suggest otherwise.
Through carefully crafted programmes, mentoring, events, and campaigns, bringing individuals and groups together helps to motivate them, reduce isolation, combat differences, and build strength across communities from the girls who are at the centre of these. Through the programmes, beneficiaries improve their social mobility, as well as their life and career prospects.
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced Chair who can lead our Board and support our Chief Executive to drive our charity’s long-term success, sustainability, and impactful growth.
Our new Chair will be an ambitious and visionary leader with a strong track record of governing complex organisations through change.
We are open to your professional background if you bring effective governance experience, strategic thinking and a good understanding of issues affecting the lives of girls and young women.
We are looking for a Chair with experience and expertise in the following areas:
- Experience of being a Chair
- Track record of relationship building, with stakeholders, partners, decision-makers, team, and Board
- Governance and organisational leadership experience
- Experience in creating strong partnerships with stakeholders and successfully influencing decision-makers
- Understanding of risk management and mitigation
- Ability to encourage positive change and innovation where appropriate.
- An understanding of the key challenges the organisation aims to tackle from issues impacting various communities of young women and girls
- Extrovert, Fun, Dynamic, and Engaging
- Values Led
For more information, please access the attached recruitment pack, our contact information can be located there.
How to Apply
If this role is of interest, please submit your CV and supporting statement via the link below.
Your statement should be up to 2 pages long (no more than 900 words), addressing the following statements:
- Please outline your demonstrable commitment to BelEve UK's mission and purpose and your motivation for applying.
- Detail your previous experience and capabilities which you believe make you suitable for this Chair role.
Closing Date: Thursday 9th May 2024 at 23.59hrs
Our Commitment
BelEve is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from people from all sections of the community. We would like to encourage applicants from black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and those with disabilities.
BelEve is a girl-focused charity with a mission to empower girls to become leaders of their world.