Volunteer Committee Member

What will you be doing?

The Management Committee of Sholing Valleys Study Centre have legal responsibility for the development of the organisation and carry out the day-to-day operations of the organisation. The charity is in need of new Trustees to oversee the management of our activities. We are looking for people interested in either community engagement, conservation, environmental issues, or youth education. The appointed person will sit alongside the rest of the Management Committee, which meets every month on the second Wednesday (in the evening). Additionally you will be expected to attend an Annual General Meeting, usually held in November (also in the evening), to stand for Committee.  Duties include

make sure that the charity complies with its governing document comply with charity law requirements and other laws that apply to the charity do what you and co-trustees (and no one else) decide will best enable the charity to carry out its purposes with co-trustees, make balanced and adequately informed decisions, thinking about the long term as well as the short term avoid putting yourself in a position where your duty to your charity conflicts with your personal interests or loyalty to any other person or body not receive any benefit from the charity unless it is properly authorised and is clearly in the charity’s interests; this also includes anyone who is financially connected to you, such as a partner, dependent child or business partner participate in operational matters

What are we looking for?

We are very interested in helping our Trustrees develop new and exisitng areas with experience. Whether skills based with volunteer management, grant writing, project and event management, community outreach, or knowledge based with conservation and environemental best practices. For further details on specific examples of how this would work in practice, please send us a message.   All of the below are non essential, but would aid a successful application 

An interest, knowledge or enthusiasm for nature, community, or education An ability to work effectively as a member of a team An ability to communicate effectively An ability to make sound, independent judgements An ability to think creatively An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship

What difference will you make?

Spanning around 20 acres, Miller’s Pond is one of Southampton’s largest and most diverse Local Nature Reserve. Since 1988, Sholing Valleys Study Centre has been working as a registered charity to preserve Miller’s Pond its surrounding areas, whilst educating the public about this unique environment and the wildlife found here.  In addition to the legal responsibility for the management of the organisation, the Trustees can also carry out the day-to-day operations. After consulting with our members and the public, we are developing a broader range of activities to widen our engagement.  This includes:

Mental and Physical Health support in the form of Social Prescribing references additional weekday workdays for Southampton Day Services and other community groups

New Trustees have the opporyunity to be supported to develop and support these and additional activities. Responding to community need, and generating relationships with groups and charities, and seeking funding to deliver new projects.