Trustee Vacancies x 2 The Food Chain The Food Chain provides nutrition services including home delivered meals, essential groceries and nutrition advice to men, women and children who are chronically sick as a result of HIV related illness. We aim to ensure that no one living with the virus has their ability to get well and stay well adversely affected by lack of access to appropriate food. All our services are provided with the help and support of around 600 volunteers. Your role: The Board of Trustees is responsible for governing The Food Chain and providing strategic leadership to plan its future direction and services. They have a duty to ensure that it complies with all relevant legislation and requirements of funding providers whilst providing a service that meets the needs of The Food Chain’s services users. We are looking for candidates with demonstrable understanding, expertise and/or experience of the governance of a charitable organisation. In particular we would welcome any of the following experience/skills: Knowledge of the needs of and support available for people living with HIV in the UK Commercial catering or retail catering operations Social Enterprise Fundraising, bid-writing and income generation Communications and PR Public service commissioning, ideally in the healthcare sector You do not need to be an expert in all the fields requiring decisions but you must be prepared to address the issues. Where necessary the Trustees must collectively seek advice in order to enable them to make decisions. The responsibilities of a Trustee include: To ensure that the Food Chain complies with its Articles of Association, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations. To ensure that The Food Chain pursues its objects as defined in its Articles of Association. To ensure that The Food Chain uses its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects: The Food Chain must not spend money on activities which are not included in its own objects, no matter how worthwhile or charitable those activities are. To contribute actively to the board of trustees’ role in giving firm strategic direction to The Food Chain, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets. To safeguard the good name and values of The Food Chain. To ensure the effective and efficient administration of The Food Chain by monitoring the organisation’s performance against established targets. To review major risks and making provisions for the organisation to respond appropriately. To protect and manage the charity’s funds and to ensure the financial stability of The Food Chain. To protect and manage the property of the charity and to ensure the proper investment of its funds. The duties of a Trustee: You will take an active role and participate fully in the Management Committee. This will include actively taking part in the work of this group both during meetings and outside, by taking part in one of The Food Chain’s Sub-committees or Working Groups, by doing research and/or by working with the staff on specific projects.
Trustee Vacancies In addition, Trustees will be expected to demonstrate the following attributes and abilities: Commitment to the organisation and its aims and objectives Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort Strategic vision and the ability to think creatively Good, independent judgment Ability to work effectively as a member of a team Willingness to speak your mind Understanding of the acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship The role is London based and commitment is expected to be as follows: Attendance at each monthly MC meeting (evening of the last Monday of the month, 10 per year) Attendance at the annual strategic planning meeting (one full day, usually a Saturday) Attendance at the annual Induction of new Trustees Additional work averaging around 2-4 hours per month, on a flexible basis, which might include the following: Likely involvement in some sub-committees e.g. Governance Working Group, Communications Working Group Supporting, where possible, fundraising, volunteer recruitment and other activities To apply to be a Trustee of The Food Chain please submit: a supporting statement (maximum two sides of A4) identifying how you meet the criteria a recent CV and short biography To no later than Friday 16 August 2013.