Volunteer Chair

What will you be doing?

You will provide strategic leadership for the Board, ensuring that it fulfils its responsibilities for the governance of the organisation. Working in partnership with the Service Manager, you will support Star Bereavement Support Services in achieving its mission to provide a range of bereavement support services to children and young people in Wakefield.  Our vision is that all bereaved children and young people who live with the region will have access to the appropriate support they need to rebuild their lives when someone important to them has died. Star Bereavement Support Services is a well-established charity within Wakefield District and is recognised for the valuable work it delivers for Children and Young People dealing with loss. As an ambitious and forward thinking organisation with clear aims and objectives, we’re seeking a Chair with experience of driving growth and development with excellent communication and interpersonal skills who can provide highly effective leadership, is values driven and passionate about supporting our services. Our current Chair, has guided the board through a period of change and growth but now needs to focus her time elsewhere so is stepping down, following a suitable handover. We are looking for an experienced chair, deputy chair or trustee to step into the Chair role and join us. We would particularly welcome applications from someone with experience of the sort of work Star is engaged in, or who has worked with CYP in the Wakefield District. Most important in a new Chair is previous senior-level board experience, a background in successfully growing/sustaining organisations, board skills to assist the trustees and a willingness to use skills and know-how to create positive change for children, young people and their families. You will need to be able to commit the necessary time and energy to Star, attend quarterly board and sub-committee meetings, have a real interest in the aims of the charity and demonstrate independent judgement and consistently high standards.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for an experienced trustee to take on the Chair of Trustees role. You will have a full handover from the current chair and the support of the current trustees and staff team.  The role of the Chair is:

To work in partnership with the Service Manager to ensure that the charity is working towards its vision, mission, values and strategic objectives, to steer the charity to achieve its full potential, overcoming challenges and maximising opportunities that arise. To ensure that the board of Trustees fulfils its duties and responsibilities for the proper governance of the charity. To work with the Service Manager achieve the charity’s aims and objectives. To grow and develop the capacity of the board

Knowledge and Skills

Previous experience of being a Chair of a Trustee Board Leadership experience in any of the following:

Bereavement Business Children, Young People and Families Statutory services Third sector/ charity sector

Proven leadership & business skills Management experience gained in the public or third sector or within children, young people, families or a community setting, business or statutory provision environments Knowledge and experience of best practice and good governance relevant to charities and the Charity Commission. Preference for an individual who has lived experience of the impact of loss, working with children and young people in Wakefield district, policy and practice Preference for an individual that has served as a Trustee and or as a Deputy Chair or Chair within a business or charity Preference for someone who has experience in Children and Young Peoples Trauma informed work within a business or charity Sound financial skills with a proven capability in business planning Ability to assist with funding bids, income generation and fund raising

But, overall the key qualities, will be a passion to make change, to hold and to share our values driven approach and a desire to make a difference to those Children and Young People and their families facing loss in Wakefield District.  

What difference will you make?

Song for My Mum Brandon: "When I recorded the vocals, it felt, in a way, like I was speaking to my mum. It filled me with hope and happiness. For example, in the lines, ‘When I'm at my lowest, my moments of despair. I seek help from inside my heart, knowing you'll always be there’. When writing it, it provoked some unusual emotions. Like I said earlier, it made me feel happy and hopeful. But it also made me feel a lot of regret. It made me feel comforted, usually I'd never ever even think of singing but this time I didn't mind it. It was a project of passion and I enjoyed every second of it."