Are you the future Chair of our Board of trustees? Do you have skills and enthusiasm to cooperatively govern the oldest charity in England?
Overview
£0
Wokingham, RG40 1YA
Expires at anytime
What will you be doing?
We are looking for a Chair-designate for our Board, to work alongside our outgoing Chair for a set period of time, eventually taking-on chairing duties. As the oldest charity in England (formed in 1451) we’re looking for someone to lead our Board, to work with other trustees and our Charity Manager to continue to shape our strategy and operational delivery, building on almost 600 years of successful support for local people. Wokingham United Charities has a mission to relieve poverty and enhance the quality of life of those people in need in our community. We do this by the provision of Almshouse accommodation, by using our funds to help individuals in financial distress, hardship and poverty, and by providing funding to local charity, voluntary and community groups who themselves provide support to residents of Wokingham Borough. Our usual income per annum is ~£700k, but we’ve been managing funds to help to relieve poverty in the midst of this cost-of-living crisis, and recently our turnover has been ~£1.5m. About the role This is a high-profile appointment, with strong commitment to the future of our organisation, and prior experience of charity leadership, both essential qualities.Experience of committee or similar work, with a focus to lead the stable and forward-looking Board are also part of what we are looking for. Our Board includes people with understanding of our charity, and we’d obviously expect new trustees to have empathy with our cause and our beneficiaries. Full induction to our organisation will be provided, plus specialist support and access to external training. If you can think collectively and strategically to lead us to plan long-term, you have the primary skills needed; you’ll also help guide other trustees. Support from our paid employees is always available, as they're running the organisation day-to-day. We are a charity not a business, but we apply business principles to governing our organisation. We want to expand our Board’s diversity, in all its meanings, and strongly welcome applications from people from less-represented groups. The Board currently meets every 2 months in Wokingham, with online/hybrid attendance from some people. It would be expected that our Chair attends face-to-face for the majority of meetings. We ask for between 10 & 15 hours per month; this includes meetings, communication, etc., much of which can be done online.
What are we looking for?
Here are some of the skills, abilities, experience and knowledge that our organisation expects from our Chair. It is clearly acknowledged that some of these may be stronger than others and that training and support from our organisation, and other sources as appropriate, will be available for you to build on any of them.
An understanding of the needs of people approaching Wokingham United Charities is desirable; an empathy with those needs is essential Experience of committee work, with an understanding of the role of the Chair in effective (charity or corporate) governance, is essential Previous experience within the charity or similar not-for-personal-profit sector as a Chair, a trustee, a senior employee or senior volunteer, is vital Ability to cooperatively lead the team of trustees, bringing impartiality and objectivity to decision-making, with the ability to bring people together to build consensus Ability and skills to effectively manage meetings Skills and ability to listen, even to dissenting views Willingness to speak your mind and to challenge other trustees and employees with good intent; able to make unpopular recommendations to the Board, if necessary Clear commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, valuing differences to make better decisions and deliver better outcomes Strategic vision; good, independent judgement; ability to think creatively, tempered by pragmatism and reality Skills to analyse proposals, examine their strategic consequences and make concise recommendations Secure personal access to digital communication and able to competently use those resources Commitment to the organisation: willingness and ability to devote the necessary time & effort Experience of employee and/or volunteer management, support and appraisal would be welcome Availability to meet the Charity Manager on a scheduled and ad-hoc basis to provide advice and support, including as part of an appraisal process; willingness to be available to meet other employees to provide advice and support, as needed Having appropriate personal and professional contacts & networks, with willingness to draw on those as needed
What difference will you make?
What do we get?
Your leadership skills coupled to your strategic vision Your cooperative communication skills Effective Board meetings leading to our charity’s further development Enhancement to our overall governance and to our Board Your participation in our collective decision-making, contributing to all areas of our charity work Your enthusiasm and passion
What do our beneficiaries get
Our continued support to the people of Wokingham A well-governed charity, sustainable for the future A forward-looking and agile organisation, with a well-informed Board
What do YOU get as our Chair-designate and eventual Chair?
A chance to use your leadership and chairing skills, possibly in a different context New skills and expansion of your experience of charities An understanding of the importance of support for people in need An opportunity to volunteer alongside other committed trustees The personal reward of giving back to the community Boost to your career or CV, if needed Induction, training, support from us and from charity-support organisations