Volunteer Chair of Trustees for Eggcup

What will you be doing?

Eggcup has supported about 1000 households weekly through throughout the pandemic through our outlets and food coop. Hundreds of volunteers have played their part alongside our six fantastic full-time staff covering overall management, administration, warehousing, outlet/volunteer supervision, and gleaning. We have worked with our city council to deliver hardship schemes, including the Household Support Fund. As HSF4 comes to an end, we look back on a great achievement of supporting so many people through a time of strain, and we look forward to setting new goals and structuring new activities. This is a time of energising and creative change for our charity. Over the next financial year, we expect to refocus away from low-cost commercial food management and onto acquisition of surplus food throughout the region. We aim to continue our food club outlets as we grow our affordable meal-production operation and open a city centre cafe. We are seeking a new Chair of Trustees to confidently guide strategy and analyse our approach as we move into this new phase. The ideal candidate would have knowledge of commercial food systems, as well as an interest in food sustainability, and would also hold values around fairness in society and the reduction of inequality and poverty. We are looking for someone who can confidently represent Eggcup to external organisations, who can offer light-touch supervision to our charity manager, who can analyse data effectively, and communicate clearly in meetings and in writing. The role is likely to require 2-4 hours per week as well as monthly meetings which take place via Zoom. It would be helpful to be able to visit the operation but the role can be undertaken remotely. The chair role does require commitment but the organisation has all the pieces in place for an enthusiastic person to come in and help to grow and shape the next stage of our food adventure. Energy and creative problem-solving are at least as important as experience, and we would encourage anyone who is interested to get in touch for an informal chat with our current Chair of Trustees.

What are we looking for?

Experience in commercial food sector would be very helpful but not essential.  An understanding of poverty and inequality is important and a commitment to values around a fairer and more equal society is essential.  Experience in business design would be great.  The capacity to cut through chatter and get to the core issues is essential.  You don't need to be brilliant at finance, but you have to understand the bottom line and ensure that strategic decisions make financial sense.  Good communications at different levels is important and capacity to write clear analysis is essential.  You need to be a quick responder and willing to give the role enough time to make a difference.

What difference will you make?

This is a great opportunity to direct a charity that has played a core role in the local community and to take it to a new level of creativity and sustainability.  Your imagination, analysis, business sense, and communication skills will steer Eggcup as it manages the transition from emergency food service to a more outward-looking project.  The role requires commitment and drive but you can play it from a backroom position if that's your style, or you can give it as much of your own personality as you want as the organisation repositions itself in the sector.  It's a chance to make your mark and really contribute to a charity that has a critical role in our district.