Deputy Chairperson

Swansea Asylum Seekers Support (SASS) are a volunteer-led registered charity, run and managed by our members, who include asylum seekers, refugees and other local people. We give a warm welcome to people seeking sanctuary in Swansea.

SASS is recruiting a new Deputy Chairperson. As part of our succession planning, this role is being created with a view to taking up the Chairperson’s position, after our current Chairperson steps down.

What will you be doing?

Overarching responsibilities 

Governance – to encourage high standards and promote the efficient and effective use of resources throughout the organisation. 

Strategic Leadership – to take a leading role in the development, implementation and regular monitoring of the organisation’s strategy. 

Board development – to lead the development of Board of Trustees, ensuring that the Board is operating effectively, efficiently, and in accordance with charity law, working to best practice as set out in the Charity Governance Code.

Specific responsibilities 

• Ensure SASS complies with its governing document, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations. 
• Ensure SASS pursues its objects as defined in its governing document. 
• Ensure SASS applies its resources in pursuance of its constitution and objects. 
• Contribute actively to the Board of Trustees' role in giving firm strategic direction to the organisation, setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets and evaluating performance against those targets. 
• Safeguard the good name and values of SASS. 
• Ensure effective and efficient administration. 
• Ensure financial stability. 
• Recruit, induct and support other Trustees as required. 
• Support staff, volunteers and the sanctuary-seeking community. Facilitate change and resolve any conflict within the board or organisation.

What are we looking for?

Skills, knowledge & attributes 

• A minimum of 2 years’ experience of being either a Trustee or a volunteer of a charity OR as a senior member of staff of a voluntary organisation. 
• A keen sense of strategic purpose.
• Understanding the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship. 
• An inclusive leadership style: able to inspire and support everyone to participate on an equal footing.
• Experience of external representation is desirable.
• The ability to listen and engage effectively. Comfortable with challenge and debate, are able to encourage that in others whilst fostering collaboration.
• An understanding of issues facing refugees and asylum seekers. 
• Lived experience is desirable but not an essential
• A strong personal commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. 
• Responsive to need. As a small charity, unexpected and unforeseen situations arise that require the Chairperson to advise, support or consent to a course of action. 
• Willingness to lead according to SASS’s values. 
• Commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.

  The TrusteeWorks Team at Reach Volunteering are supporting SASS with their Deputy Chairperson recruitment. Applications should be made via TrusteeWorks in the first instance. 

  To apply please submit your CV along with a covering letter stating why you wish to join the organisation and how your skills and experience would add value to the board. 

  The deadline for applications is 2 May 2025.