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Trustees with a passion for creating opportunity for people with learning disabilities

Employer
Leeds Mencap
Location
Leeds, West Yorkshire
Salary
£0 Voluntary role
Closing date
8 Dec 2021

Leeds Mencap are looking for three people who are passionate about improving the lives of children and young people with learning disabilities to join our Board of Trustees.  Like many charities we have been hit hard by the pandemic but have also found that new ways of working and greater collaboration give us the opportunity to support more people with learning disabilities in the future.

We are looking for people to join a team of 6 skilled and passionate Trustees at a time of uncertainty and change.  You will relish the prospect of getting to know the organisation and your colleagues quickly, grasping the challenges and opportunities we face and working together with Trustees and senior staff to provide strong and clear leadership to the organisation.  The immediate priority is to recover from the effects of the pandemic but in 2022 we begin the exciting next phase of our development to build on our learning and expertise and extend the support we can offer to children and young people with learning disabilities and their families into the future.

We particularly welcome applicants from those who are significantly underrepresented in our sector, such as disabled people and individuals from Black and Minority ethnic communities. Most importantly we are keen to hear from anyone who feels they have something to contribute at this particular stage of our journey, so please get in touch.

We expect a lot but the rewards are equally great.  You’ll see the difference you make in the children and young people who will develop and achieve beyond anyone’s expectations, in the parents who can draw breath and find some respite and comfort in knowing they’re not alone and being given practical and supportive help. In undertaking the role you will be working with a loyal and committed team who are aspirational about what we can achieve together.

Job Purpose

The Trustee role is vitally important to the charity.  Trustees take ultimate responsibility for the work of Leeds Mencap and the way in which it uses its resources to achieve its aims. Trustees are responsible for setting the strategic direction of the organisation, ensuring it is solvent and well run, and ensuring it delivers the charitable objects.  Trustees need to make sure the charity complies with charity and other relevant law and regulation and are key to identifying and managing risk.  On a day-to-day basis the Trustees delegate operational delivery and management to the CEO and staff team.

Duties

  • Ensuring that Leeds Mencap pursues its stated objects (purposes), as defined in its governing document, by developing and agreeing a long-term strategy
  • Ensuring that Leeds Mencap complies with its governing document (Articles of Association), Charity Law, Company Law and any other relevant legislation or regulations
  • Ensuring that Leeds Mencap applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its charitable objects (ie the charity must not spend money on activities that are not included in its own objects, however worthwhile or charitable those activities are) and for the benefit of the public
  • Ensuring that Leeds Mencap defines its goals and evaluates performance against agreed targets
  • Ensuring that Leeds Mencap has an overview of strategic risks and a plan is in place to mitigate against these
  • Ensuring the effective and efficient administration of the organisation, including having appropriate policies and procedures in place
  • Ensuring the financial stability of the organisation
  • Protecting and managing the property of the charity and ensuring the proper investment of the charity’s funds
  • Following proper and formal arrangements for the appointment, supervision, support, appraisal and remuneration of the chief executive
  • Safeguarding the good name and values of the organisation
  • In addition to the above statutory duties, each trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they bring to help the board of trustees to reach sound decisions. This involves scrutinising board papers, leading discussions as appropriate, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, or other issues in which the trustee has special expertise.

Person specification

We would like prospective Trustees to demonstrate the following in their application and during interview:

Experience and knowledge

  • Understanding of the challenges that people with learning disabilities face
  • Ideally an understanding or experience of working in the voluntary and community sector/not for profit environment
  • Ideally experience of having been a member of a group or committee governing a project or organisation.
  • Ideally previous experience of being a trustee or managing a charity

Areas of knowledge or experience particularly relevant to the work of Leeds Mencap:

  • Personal experience of living with a learning disability either themselves or as a parent/carer/relative or friend.
  • Learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder
  • Working with diverse groups to improve inclusion
  • Accountancy/experience as a charity Treasurer
  • Child development/early years education/SEN education
  • Health service experience and/or knowledge
  • Social care experience and/or knowledge
  • Information, advice and advocacy services
  • Service design and development
  • Commissioning/statutory funding environment
  • Fundraising including contacts to support us in extending our networks, profile and generate income.
  • Marketing

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