Volunteer Charity Trustee

What will you be doing?

Are you looking for an opportunity to help support a small Scottish Charity? Are you looking to make a difference in the lives of our communities? Do you have a passion/interest in outdoor learning or nature? We are looking to expand our charity board. This is a voluntary position, but we will offer the following incentives to members/trustees: - Access to training to support you in the role where possible - Opportunity to develop projects/online of interest that fit in with the remit of Under The Trees (UTT) - Staff/team building sessions to strengthen our relationships. - FREE spaces at our sessions either for your child or you! We meet quarterly, with our AGM once a year, and maintain an active WhatsApp group where we have regular chats. We have various smaller working groups dedicated to specialised tasks.  Role: Treasurer Salary: Volunteer position Location: Scotland (Falkirk based) Under The Trees is a Company with Charitable Status, based in Central Scotland. We became a charity in 2018, having moved from a sole trader to a CIC to charity status. We operate across central Scotland providing outdoor learning opportunities to all age groups, backgrounds, and abilities. We work in areas of deprivation, providing the opportunity for people to get outdoors, engage with each other and engage with nature. We achieve this through applying for funding to allow us to deliver the projects taking the cost barrier away from our customers. Our charitable aims are promoting the promoting the health and wellbeing of our communities and developing a love and awareness of our natural world. During the COVID-19 pandemic we were working flat-out delivering sessions and training along with lots of cleaning. Having emerged into a slightly different world we now have lots of housekeeping to do in order to ensure the future smooth running of Under the Trees and the continuation of our important work. We are looking to strengthen the experience on the board by recruiting someone with experience of financial management at a senior level within similarly sized, or larger organisations so that we can improve our accounting processes to make answering funder financial queries easier.  

What are we looking for?

Person Specification(Knowledge, skills, qualifications, competencies)

A genuine interest in Outdoor Learning and Wellbeing and a passion for the type of work carried out by Under the Trees. We would prefer a qualified accountant (CA, ACA, ICMA etc) or someone who has recently retired but was previously an institute member. Experience which will help guide the choice and implementation of a new accounting system. Experience of working on a Board or senior executive working group. Experience of financial risk assessment. Previous charity experience would be helpful but not necessarily essential.

What difference will you make?

You must act in the interests of the charity and as a member of the Board comply with the 2005 Act (this provides a broad framework that all Trustees must work within). Work with the Chair and Trustees to drive our agreed strategy that promotes effective governance, continual improvement, growth, and future sustainability, increasing our profile and retaining a culture of openness and transparency. Ensure attendance and contribution at all Board meetings and as required meetings/development opportunities. Participation in the succession and development needs of the Board . Work closely with the Chair and Trustees providing strategic support, advice, and effective communications. Promote the culture of the Essentia Foundation and engagement with key stakeholders. Ensure confidentiality in matters relating to the Essentia Foundation. Keep updated in relation to relevant legislation and regulations. Comply with Charity Trustee Duties as outlined by the Scottish Charity Regulator: OSCR. Notify the Board of any conflict of interest.

Person Specification(Knowledge, skills, qualifications, competencies)

A genuine interest in Outdoor Learning and Wellbeing and a passion for the type of work carried out by Under the Trees. We would prefer a qualified accountant (CA, ACA, ICMA etc) or someone who has recently retired but was previously an institute member. Experience which will help guide the choice and implementation of a new accounting system. Experience of working on a Board or senior executive working group. Experience of financial risk assessment. Previous charity experience would be helpful but not necessarily essential.