Volunteer Marketing /comms trustee for children's adventure playground in Twickenham

What will you be doing?

For nearly 50 years, Marble Hill Playcentres has provided children with a unique and exciting environment to play, create and interact socially, with our distinctive towering rope swings, zip wire and outdoor play equipment in the beautiful landscape of Marble Hill Park in Twickenham.  Our Adventure Playground (for 5 -15 year olds), One O’Clock Club (for under 5’s) and SENsational Saturday Club (for children with additional needs) encourage children of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to participate in outdoor adventurous play and express themselves physically, mentally and socially, whilst having fun.   We have lots of plans as we approach our fiftieth anniversary, including site improvements, new services and new partnerships, and lots of fundraising, as well as celebrations!  This will take energy and focus from trustees, whilst maintaining a clear and united sense of the purpose and value of the Playcentres.  Developing a plan for marketing and comms will be important, and helping keep everyone on task including the playground manager and possible volunteers.   We all meet monthly in Twickenham on a Tuesday evening, and get involved at the playground when time allows.  

What are we looking for?

Previous experience of marketing or communications A commitment to Marble Hill Playcentres and its beneficiaries A willingness to devote necessary time and effort – 5-10 hours per month typically, to attend Board meetings and take on specific initiatives Good, independent judgement and an ability to plan and problem-solve An ability to work effectively as a member of a team A willingness to contribute to topics outside your immediate area of interest A commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.

We will appoint trustees mainly on the basis of shared passion to protect and steward the Playcentres for future generations of children and their families to enjoy, and believe that diverse experience is relevant to this.  Previous board/trustee experience is not required and we seek applicants from all backgrounds and ages. 

What difference will you make?

The Playcentres is needed now as much as it ever was, playing a unique role for many otherwise inactive children as a source of physical activity, autonomy, and enjoyment of the outdoors, and with a wide range of benefits to both children and families in terms of social contact, life skills and peer support.  All of this means that good governance and sound decisions to strengthen and secure the Playcentres for the future are critically important.  There is tremendous potential to capitalise on the affection in which the adventure playground and One O'Clock Club is held by the local community, building up local relationships to enable more people to be involved, exploring new partnerships, and using funding judiciously to invest in our buildings, play structures and operations for the long-term.  As a trustee joining us at this point, you have an opportunity to genuinely influence the direction of a high-profile charity, and gain instructive experiences both through helping to structure and build up our marketing and comms, and through your contribution to wider decisions and actions.  According to research conducted by Getting On Board, 96% of trustees felt they had learned new skills, 86% felt being a trustee was a good complement to professional and family life, and 84% felt being a trustee made them happier!