Chair of Trustees - Long Eaton & Sawley Foodbank

Responsibilities

Chairperson Responsibilities:

• chair trustee meetings so that the board functions effectively and carries out its duties
• ensure the board sets an overall direction for the foodbank with clear objectives
• ensure that the business of meetings is dealt with and decisions are recorded and implemented
• in consultation with the rest of the board, to recruit board members with relevant expertise and experience when required
• to ensure that there is appropriate line management in place to manage the foodbank Manager.

 Ensure an effective relationship between staff, volunteers, and stakeholders:

• to plan with the foodbank Manager an annual schedule of any subcommittee/steering group meetings and other key events which board members should attend
• to work alongside the foodbank Manager to ensure there is appropriate communication between the trustee board and staff, volunteers, and any other stakeholders.

Other responsibilities, along with the board of trustees, include:

• to approve, support and guide the charity’s purpose, vision, strategy, goals and objectives
• to manage the charity’s resources responsibly, ensuring the charity’s assets are used only to carry out its purpose, ensure the charity does not become over-committed, and ensure that key risks are identified, monitored and controlled appropriately
• to ensure the effective and efficient administration of the charity, responding to changes in the local community as appropriate
• to ensure appropriate financial plans are in place, budgets are monitored, financial statements are reviewed, and progress is evaluated
• to help promote the foodbank to a wider audience of potential funders and in the community to both donors and beneficiaries
• to ensure the charity has appropriate procedures to: comply with current legislation and good practice; including employment, health and safety, equality, diversity and inclusion, safeguarding and GDPR compliance/data protection
• to prepare for and regularly attend and participate in board and subcommittee meetings and any trustee away days.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for people who want to help their local community and work towards the eradication of food poverty whilst supporting the food bank to continue to provide emergency food to people who find themselves in crisis. Our ideal candidates would demonstrate:

• a commitment to the work of Long Eaton & Sawley Foodbank
• experience of working or volunteering in a leadership role
• experience of charity governance and/or volunteering as part of a Board of Trustees
• familiarity with chairing meetings
• an ability to lead a trustee team in a supportive and confident manner, excellent meeting and presentation skills
• strong interpersonal and relationship building skills
• experience leading through periods of development and change
• a knowledge and passion for your local community
• a passion for our vision and goals
• independent judgement and ability to think strategically
• able to commit the time and effort required
• understanding and commitment to principles of equality, equity, diversity and inclusion

We know that having volunteers from a diverse range of backgrounds can help to make what we do as effective as possible. As such, we welcome all applicants regardless of age, religion or beliefs, disability, ethnic background, gender reassignment, sex, or sexual orientation; we particularly encourage applications from people with lived experience of poverty, and those who live or work within the local area.