Volunteer Board Members with Lived Experience - Guiding a Small Disabled People’s Organisation to Grow & Develop.

What will you be doing?

As part of a new, expanded board of trustees at Bromley Experts by Experience, you will play a vital role, working with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chair of Trustees and staff team to build on our recent work and expand our professional expertise so that we can continue our work across Bromley making a real difference in the lives of local Deaf and Disabled people.   Like you, our Board members are all individuals with Lived Experience of Disability who are passionate about Disabled people’s equity and inclusion. They each bring different professional and personal perspectives and have different levels of experience as a Trustee.  We are especially seeking trustees with expertise in one or more of these areas:  Fundraising Strategy: 

Supporting X by X Bromley to sustain, maximise and diversify income streams and fundraising activity.  Supporting the development of a Fundraising Policy and Plan of Action.  Building and maintaining relationships with funders and commissioners. 

Human Resources: 

Supporting X by X Bromley compliance with relevant employment laws and regulations.  Advising on good practice in staffing and HR matters.  Supporting the development, and review of, HR policies and procedures. 

Legal and Policy: 

Guiding on relevant legal and policy matters, including contracts and governance.  Organisational Strategy:  Supporting Senior Management Team to shape our strategic direction and plan for implementation. 

As a Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisation, our governing articles require that our staff, trustees and volunteers bring with them lived experience of disability (self-identified or otherwise): Who Do We Mean by Disabled People?   We follow the Social Model of Disability and our definition of Disabled person includes anyone who faces barriers in society, including: 

People with physical impairment.  People with visual impairment.  Deaf people.  People with hearing impairment.  People who are neurodivergent.  People with learning difficulties/disabilities.  People who experience mental health conditions/mental distress.  People with long-term health conditions. 

What are we looking for?

Lived Experience of disability (Can be self-identified, see below for definition) A belief that Disabled people can and should be actively welcomed and included in our communities. An understanding that it is barriers in society that make that harder. This is called the Social Model of Disability. Strong organisational skills. Experience of how Trustee Boards operate and of effective charity governance Accuracy and efficiency with an eye for detail. Good interpersonal and communication skills, communicating in a way that is accessible to you. Possess and demonstrate integrity, objectivity, accountability, and honesty. An effective team worker, contributing an independent perspective. Understanding of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship and the financial aspects of running a charity. A genuine interest in local communities and people. Commitment to Bromley Experts by Experience’s aims, objectives and values.

You must be legally eligible to stand as a registered Company Director and Charity Trustee. Having had previous experience as a trustee of a voluntary organisation is an advantage.

What difference will you make?

An active, engaged and experienced Board is vital for Bromley Experts by Experience’s continued development. The organisation has gone through big changes in the last few years. With both a new and growing staff team and Trustee Board, we are committed to further developing both the charity’s governance mechanisms and support the Board to reach their potential, so we can have a sustainable future and continue to create change for Deaf and Disabled people across Bromley. The Secretary will play a key role in achieving this.  We are expanding our development of new projects and services, based on input from members, that will create change for Disabled people. With these increased outputs comes with it a need to ensure we have strong foundations, and that any new activity meets our charitable objectives and strategic priorities. The Secretary will be central to shaping how our wider Trustee Board supports our mission, vision and values.  It’s an exciting time at Bromley Experts by Experience as we’ve just secured our biggest ever funding agreement, from the National Lottery. The funding is for a new Youth Transition Project, enabling us to reach young Disabled people across Bromley and neighbouring boroughs.