Volunteer Trustee Secretary to provide assistance to the Chair of the Board

What will you be doing?

Launched in 2014 in response to a lack of affordable counselling services, the Sarah Agnes Foundation (SAF) is on a mission to ensure that people living in poverty are given equal access to therapeutic support. By working with private clients and community organisations, SAF aims to remove the financial barriers faced when accessing counselling and psychotherapy. SAF is currently recruiting for an individual to join its Board of Trustees in the role of Secretary. The charity secretary is primarily responsible for the smooth and efficient running of meetings of the trustee board and any sub-committees, providing assistance and support to the chair of the board of trustees. The charity secretary may also be closely involved in monitoring the compliance with various legislative and regulatory requirements affecting the charity and its activities, and ensuring that the trustees’ decisions are acted upon, and that all decisions made by the trustees are in accordance with the governing document, reflect the objects of the charity, and continue to provide public benefit.  Main Responsibilities • To liaise with the chair to plan, arrange, produce and circulate agendas and supporting papers for trustee meetings and for drafting the subsequent minutes.  • To act as charity secretary and ensure that company law, charity law, and regulatory requirements of reporting and public accountability are complied with.  • To ensure that all meetings comply with the requirements of the governing document.  

What are we looking for?

The position of a Secretary is voluntary with a minimum term of three years and a maximum term of 9 years. The role includes the following responsibilities:  • Arranging and administrating trustee meetings and any sub-committees in line with legal, and other regulatory requirements, and in accordance with the governing document.  • Supporting the trustees in fulfilling their duties and responsibilities, organising trustee induction and ongoing training.  • Being an initial point of contact for stakeholders and interested parties.  • Acting as a counter signatory on charity cheques (including any electronic transactions) and any applications for funds.  • Writing of letters to businesses requesting support for fundraising events and thank you letters as appropriate.  • General administrative support to the Committee Chairperson as and when the need arises  • Acting as co-ordinator for all policy updates and reviews. Skills required to be a SAF Secretary 

First and foremost, you must share the charity’s vision and values.  You need to be passionate about SAF’s work and the impact is has on people’s lives.  Strategic and critical thinking. Knowledge of charity law and governance Understanding of the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of a charity Trustee. 

We are particularly interested, but not exclusively, in attracting candidates who live in London or Northamptonshire, and understand the communities we serve.  

What difference will you make?

You will have a direct impact on supporting the board to ensure the charity adheres to charity law and governance enabling SAF to ensure all decisions are made in the public benefit.