Bristol City Robins Foundation Trustee

The Robins Foundation is inviting applications to join its board of trustees. The Charity is seeking applications with specific professional backgrounds to supplement existing expertise on the board.

We are looking for Trustees with experience in Legal, Property, or Communications, though we welcome applications from all sectors.

We also want our Trustees to represent Bristol, so we actively encourage applications from ethnic minorities, disabled people and anyone who identifies as part of a community that is underrepresented in the charity. 

Role Status: Unpaid Role (Voluntary role, but all reasonable expenses will be reimbursed)

Location: Ashton Gate Stadium/ Home based

Role Term: Part-time, fixed term (Initial 3-year term with an option to extend to a maximum of 9 years)

Background

The Robins Foundation is Bristol City Football Club’s official charity. Its mission is to bring the club and community together.

The Foundation works across Bristol, with a primary focus on Young People and families, areas of deprivation, and South Bristol.

The Foundation delivers programmes and services that support people who feel that society has written them off. Our high-quality, targeted work focuses on three key areas: Health and Well-Being, Education and Employability, and Youth Engagement.

Current Picture

The Robins Foundation has steadily grown its programmes and services over the last eight years. The Foundation is nearing the end of its 2022-25 strategy and plans to launch a new three-year strategy in 2026. 

Skills and experience required

We welcome applications from any candidate who can demonstrate such expertise and skills as:

• Relevant professional qualifications, experience, and expertise with board-level or senior management experience
• Experience working closely with communities
• Experience working in Legal, Property, or Communications

All Trustees are expected to uphold and represent the Robins Foundation’s purpose, vision, values and mission in a personal and professional capacity. The board of trustees will consider any applicant with the right skills and experience. Being a Bristol City supporter is not a prerequisite.

The Board comprises of eight trustees; two trustees nominated by Bristol City Football Club and six independent trustees.

The successful candidate will be required to spend a minimum of 12 days per annum on work for the Robins Foundation, including Board Meetings, the AGM, an annual 1:2:1 performance review with the Chair, and a yearly Board away day and at least 4 Board subcommittee meetings per year.

The trustee is expected to support and participate in some Robins Foundation events throughout the year and provide ad hoc support to the team and Board as required.

The Robins Foundation is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse Board of Trustees and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We welcome applications from disabled people and those from ethnic minority backgrounds.

All suitably experienced applicants will receive consideration for these positions without regard to race, ethnicity, religion or belief(s), gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, or pregnancy or maternity.

The Robins Foundation is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and adults at risk and requires all employees to share this commitment and promote the welfare of these groups.

Personal Specification:

Essential

• Understanding and accepting Trusteeship's legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities.
• Commitment to the charity’s objects, aims and values and willingness to devote time to carry out responsibilities
• Strategic and forward-looking vision in relation to the charity’s objects and aims
• Good, independent judgement, political impartiality, and the ability to think creatively in the context of the organisation and external environment
• Good communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to respect the confidence of colleagues
• Balancing tact and diplomacy with a willingness to challenge and constructively criticise

 Desirable

• Prior experience in committee/trustee work.
• Knowledge of the type of work undertaken by the organisation
• A wider involvement with the voluntary sector
• Experience in committee work

All trustee roles recruited are required to be filled with individuals who:The Robins Foundation Board of Trustees is committed to having a diverse board to bring the best governance and support to the staff team.

Duties as a Trustee-

• To ensure that the Robins Foundation complies with its governing documents, charity law, company law, and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
• To ensure that the Robins Foundation pursues its objects as defined in its governing document.
• To maintain proper financial control and ensure that the Robins Foundation applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects, ie, the charity must not spend money on activities that are not included in its objects, no matter how worthwhile or charitable those activities are.
• To develop a strategy, setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets.

Notes

Application Process

• An application form must be completed and submitted via Breathe HR platform.
• The deadline for applications is 6 pm on May 9th 2025.
• Applications with the relevant skills and experience will be invited for an informal conversation with the chair of the board or CEO, either in person or via video call.
• A formal interview process will then take place for short-listed candidates with a sub-group of Trustees.
• Successful candidates will be appointed subject to approval at a Robins Foundation Board Meeting/AGM.

Applicants will be asked about any previous convictions, cautions, and reprimands, including those that are considered ‘spent’ as defined by the Rehabilitation Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amended 2013). Appointment to this role is subject to a satisfactory Enhanced DBS Check (with children’s barred list check) and references.