Volunteer Board of Trustees

What will you be doing?

YMCA Cheltenham is a dynamic and growing Christian Charity operating in Gloucestershire, with wide and far-reaching ambition to support even more people who are facing significant life barriers, such as homelessness, long-standing addiction, abuse, catastrophic circumstances, or otherwise extraordinarily difficult or chaotic life histories. Whilst being an independent charity, YMCA Cheltenham is also part of a federation of YMCAs throughout England & Wales and the rest of the world. All Trustees make an active contribution to the Board, to support our work. Trustees have wide-ranging skills, knowledge and experience. As YMCA Cheltenham is a Christian charity, Trustees are expected to be active followers of the Christian faith. The overall role of the Trustee is to maintain an overview of the Charity’s affairs, our strategic planning, risk management and to provide guidance to help support viability and the proper application of resources. This is a purely a non-executive and strategic governance role and the organisation’s paid employees and volunteers provide as much support, assistance and resources as are available to enable the Trustees to exercise their best efforts to carry out their duties and realise their ambition.

What are we looking for?

As an organisation founded on and rooted in the Christian Faith, YMCA Cheltenham draws its values from the Bible, principally as described in Micah 6:8. Our Values are therefore expressed as follows; YMCA Cheltenham will OPERATE with Equity, Integrity, Openness and Honesty. YMCA Cheltenham will ENGAGE with Empathy, Kindness, Generosity and Grace. YMCA Cheltenham will BE Thoughtful, Discrete, Ethical and Respectful to all. Trustees are expected to be active followers of the Christian Faith. All Trustees should also strive to adhere to Nolan's seven principles of public life, set out as: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.

Membership of the organisation is required under the rules (this can be pursuant to the appointment of this role). Previous committee or Board experience. An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of Trusteeship. Strategic ability. Good independent judgement. Community good standing. Commitment to the work of the Charity. Willingness to speak their mind. Ability to think creatively. Understands the importance of good governance. Ability to work effectively as a member of a team. Supportive mindset Skills to analyse proposals and consequences. (Not Essential) Experience of Housing Associations or other regulated activity.

What difference will you make?

As a Trustee you will help to support some of the most disadvantaged and excluded people in Gloucestershire, through all our works as follows:

VITTORIA WALK - a 73-bed supported accommodation project in Cheltenham, POTTER’S PLACE - a 48-bed emergency housing scheme In Gloucester, ST MICHAEL’S HOUSE - 16-bed medium to low support service in Gloucester, 4 – 6 ST MICHAEL’S COURT - a newly opened building providing 12-bed supported accommodation and 3 x 1-bed self-contained flats in Gloucester, NUMBER 3 x 4-bed supported accommodation in Gloucester (above our Gloucester office), DULVERTON COURT - 21 x affordable accommodation units JAMES SMITH ROW - 10 x further affordable units at James Smith Row in Cheltenham. CORONATION COURT – 14 x 2-bed self-contained flats surrounding a courtyard designed for homeless families.

In addition to the above, the organisation owns a significant Grade II listed Georgian villa at Vittoria Walk which operates as the Charity’s Headquarters, housing the organisation’s Central and Leadership teams, as well as supporting a range other partner groups and services. The building has recently completed a significant redevelopment scheme (£1.2M+) to provide 13 x ensuite cluster bedrooms and 8 x studio flats for those who have been homeless, alongside the existing HQ function. The Charity operates a sports facility in the Arle Road area of Cheltenham, and a secondary facility in West Cheltenham, called OASIS. We also deliver a Child Contact Centre, Pre-School setting (rated GOOD by OFSTED) and services delivering support to families facing poverty and exclusion.   We also provide accommodation for homeless families and will be introducing new works into Cinderford and Stroud in the near future.