Volunteer Chair of Trustees

What will you be doing?

We are looking to appoint a new Chair of Trustees to work closely with Creative Mentor Network’s Managing Director and team of passionate trustees to ensure the effective governance, leadership and strategy of the charity. You will be a visible advocate for Creative Mentor Network and use your knowledge, networks and expertise to support the charity in meeting its strategic objectives.  The Chair of Trustees will:

Lead and inspire the Board: chair meetings and ensure that inclusive dialogue leads to effective decision making  Set high governance standards and ensure these are in line with the requirements of the Charity Commission  Oversee the performance of the Board and its members; ensure trustees fulfil their duties and responsibilities   Ensure that the Board operates within its charitable objectives and provides a clear strategic direction for the Charity Ensure that the Board is able to regularly review risks and associated opportunities and be able to support and manage ways to mitigate the former and maximise the latter  Work closely with and support the charity's Managing Director; meet for regular 1-1s and carry out yearly appraisal  Work closely with the Managing Director to recruit and onboard new trustees Be an advocate for the charity; represent Creative Mentor Network across a range of networks to help build presence and visibility 

What are we looking for?

Essential:

Genuine interest and commitment to socioeconomic diversity and improving outcomes and opportunities for those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds Strong leadership skills that engage, inspire and motivate the board, staff and external stakeholders Experience in developing strategic initiatives and leading an organisation towards success  Excellent communication skills and networking capabilities so as to act as an ambassador for the charity  Previous experience on a board of a UK charity  and ability to chair meetings and facilitate discussions Knowledge of UK charity governance and risk management in all areas including finance.

 Desirable: 

Previous experience as a chair of trustees of a UK charity Extensive knowledge of the UK education system  Extensive knowledge of the UK creative industry Knowledge and understanding of the grants and funds landscape

What difference will you make?

Creative Mentor Network was set up in 2014 and received charitable status in April 2018. Since launch, we have worked with over 2000 young people and the same number of mentors. We have worked with a breadth of creative organisations including; Sony Music, Google, Amazon Prime Video, Meta Soho House and more.  In 2023 we saw significant impact, with 81% of mentees feeling more confident to advocate their professional needs and 83%  can identify employers and organisations relevant to their career interests.  97% of mentors understand the barriers to access for those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and 91% feel as though they can support them.