Volunteer Trustee and Treasurer of Friends of Bristol Eye Hospital

What will you be doing?

Friends of Bristol Eye Hospital aims to improve the care and treatment given to patients of the NHS Bristol Eye Hospital, by helping to pay for medical equipment and resources that would not otherwise be provided. We are a small charity which uses our funds efficiently to help in the best ways we can. The Treasurer oversees all the financial resources of the Friends. The majority of our income comes from legacies and donations, supplemented by occasional fundraising activities.  Our expenditure consists only of grants to the hospital or management expenses.  We have a very low expense ratio. We do not have regular expenditure on services which would require minimum levels of income to support them.  We provide grants to the hospital when we can afford them.  If we don’t have enough funds, we defer making a grant until we have sufficient funds! The role requires attention to detail and a head for numbers.  You do not need to be an accountant. Tasks include record keeping and control of all financial transactions, payment of grants and expenses, setting financial strategy, reporting to trustees, chairing the finance sub-committee, liaising with our accountants to prepare annual accounts, presenting accounts to our members at AGMs, correspondence with donors, receipt of legacies and managing Gift Aid claims. We welcome a range of talents to fulfil our objectives, but above all we seek enthusiastic and committed people to ensure we continue to enhance the services of Bristol Eye Hospital for many years into the future.  No medical knowledge is required. We welcome applications from anyone but particularly from patients or former patients of Bristol Eye Hospital or those with visual impairments.  Many of our trustees (past and present) are or have been patients, keen to show their appreciation of the wonderful care they received from the Bristol Eye Hospital, or hospital staff. It is a pleasure to meet and work with hospital management and staff and very rewarding to be able to improve the services BEH provides for its patients. We have supported the Bristol Eye Hospital since 1977 and the hospital has frequently expressed their admiration and appreciation of what we have been able to achieve. The Treasurer is elected by the Trustees and appointed for fixed periods, usually one year at a time. To apply, or for more information and an initial discussion, please contact us via Reach.

What are we looking for?

The Treasurer must be able to (and have experience of):

Chair the finance sub-committee Communicate well with trustees, volunteers, hospital management and staff, members and donors (who are often patients), fundraisers, banks, accountants and lawyers Prepare and present reports for trustees Ensure (with external accountants) that Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts are prepared on time and present the Accounts to members. Maintain records of all financial transactions Manage all methods of donating including online donation platforms and paper forms Manage the payment of grants, liaising with NHS staff Control expenses Maximise interest returns on our funds Maximise Gift Aid and submit claims Oversee Budgets and Risk Assessments for any fundraising activities or events Contribute to publicity, both online and in print, ensuring compliance with financial and charitable requirements Implement and manage processes to maximise efficiency

Qualities include being thorough, having attention to detail with a sense of humour and, sometimes, being patient.  Being ‘a patient’ also helps but is not a requirement!

What difference will you make?

The Treasurer's primary role is to ensure the accurate and efficient governance of our funds.  They will also be expected to play a leading part in the strategic management of the charity alongside other trustees, developing new ideas and implementing change.