Volunteer Ward Clerk Volunteer Roles

About Us 

Mary Ward Settlement was founded in 1895, and today is a multi-service charity that focuses on empowering people to enrich and transform their lives by offering inclusive education opportunities, legal advice, and community support services. Advancing equality and diversity remains at the heart of Mary Ward Settlement, born from its inception in the Settler’s Movement, and our founder Mary Ward’s vision of ‘equalisation’ for adult learning to open up educational opportunities for all. In 2018 we merged with Blackfriars Settlement, sharing a common vision and foundation, which has strengthened our offering to the communities we support in London. 

We deliver our services from our newly opened, purpose-built  Mary Ward Centre, and from Blackfriars Settlement in Southwark. It's an exciting time for Mary Ward as we now look forward to fully utilising both our new facility and increased outreach as focal points in our communities.

About the role 

The Board of Trustees is an integrated Board, offering strategic oversight and professional expertise across the three charities that make up Mary Ward. The Chair of Mary Ward is more than a conduit between our Board of Trustees and our Senior Management team. The Chair orchestrates support from our trustees which recognises skills and experience, provides guidance and challenge to the management team, and is a visible connector, champion, and leader of our inclusive and warm culture. Our organisation is inquisitive and reflective, excited about learning, committed to community, and our Chair helps us reflect this passion across the group and to our wider community.

Requirements/Person Specification

• Working knowledge of good governance principles 
• Strong interpersonal skills grounded in supportive and positive values
• Strong leadership skills including those of diplomacy, influence, and mediating
• General business senior management experience which includes financial understanding, staff management, operational efficiency and effectiveness
• Commitment to a truly inclusive organisation, understanding equality, diversity, and inclusion has a wide application to reach all of our communities we serve. 

How to apply

Eastside People is supporting Mary Ward Settlement in the recruitment for this role. Please apply by submitting your CV and covering letter.

Please use the cover letter (max 2 pages) as an opportunity to add to the information you have shared in your CV and ensure that you cover the following:

• Why are you interested in a Chair role, and why with Mary Ward Settlement?
• How can you contribute to Mary Ward Settlement as our Chair? Please highlight relevant experience you would like to share with us.

We welcome applications from anyone with a passion for our mission, and from a wide range of skills and experience, and we particularly welcome applications from members of underrepresented groups e.g. candidates bringing diversity in terms of age; ethnicity; socio-economic status and disability. 

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability, and potential. Please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustments so that we can help with making the application process work for you. We would discourage you from deselecting yourself if you are in doubt about meeting all the criteria. Instead, if you have specific questions about the role, please get in touch with Melissa.

Please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustments so that we can help with making the application process work for you.