TRUSTEE FOR THE ZONE – WHAT KIND OF PERSON ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

The Zone is an established charity based in Plymouth and is seeking a range of people to become new members of its Board of Trustees. We want Trustees who are committed to understanding the ways in which the Zone helps more than 6000 young people each year in Plymouth and the surrounding area. Trustees may come from a wide variety of backgrounds with very differing life and career experiences. We aim to achieve a Board of Trustees that reflects the diversity of people living or working in the area.

Trustees work on a voluntary basis with essential expenses paid. The number of hours varies with individual Trustees and the roles they take on. As a minimum, Trustees are expected to attend one Board meeting lasting two and a half hours every two months and four half day development meetings each year.

The Board of Trustees are responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the charity. They focus on its financial health, check the honesty and integrity of its activities, and ensure that its underlying principles are maintained. They work with the Chief Executive Officer todevelop the organisation’s aims, objectives and goals in accordance with its governing document and with legal and regulatory guidelines.

All Trustees need to be aware of, and understand, their individual and collective responsibilities, and should not be overly reliant on one or more individual trustees in any particular aspect of the governance of the charity. The role and responsibilities of a Trustee are set out in more detail in our Trustee Recruitment Booklet.

The key things we are looking for in a person applying to become a Trustee are:

Someone who can see that our mission statement is a firm basis for building quality services to young people.

Our mission statement is:

We aim to relieve the effects of stigma and challenges to social inclusion and citizenship faced by young people in the Plymouth area. We provide person-centred advice, guidance, early intervention and support for sustainable well-being and self-development. Our work includes focus on sexual, physical, psychological and emotional health, housing, finance, and relationships with families/carers.

Someone with experience, skills, and expertise in cooperative team working, with an interest in developing effective organisations, combined with an understanding of our work and ambitions.

These would include, ideally:

  • Successful experience of operating within a board or committee in a charitable, public sector or commercial organisation (but awareness and enthusiasm for the role based on other experience may be acceptable)
  • Demonstrable experience of building and sustaining relationships with key stakeholders and colleagues to achieve organisational objectives
  • A proven track record of sound judgement and effective decision making
  • A history of impartiality, fairness and the ability to respect confidences
  • A track record of commitment to promoting equality and diversity

Someone with appropriate knowledge, skills and understanding:

These would include ideally:

  • Commitment to the organisation and a willingness to give the necessary time and effort to understand its workings and to attend meetings
  • Having the confidence to contribute actively in Board meetings and to express a point of view
  • To be able to think clearly and to seek clarification where necessary
  • To be able to use common sense, for example to bring an independent view and strategic overview to assess the impact of proposals on individuals and groups
  • Willingness to be available to staff for advice and enquiries on an ad hoc basis
  • An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship
  • To be able to work effectively as a member of a team and having the courage to speak openly when differing perspectives need to be discussed
  • An understanding of the respective roles of the Chair, Trustees and Chief Executive

Lastly, someone who can see the benefits of being a Trustee!

This is an opportunity for someone to develop direct experience of an established voluntary sector organisation working with multi-agency and multi-disciplinary partners across a wide range of innovative service developments.

People interested in becoming Trustees might include those who:

  • are working in another sector and wish to gain such experience to help in their own career
  • simply want an opportunity to focus on voluntary work that will help the young people of Plymouth and the surrounding area
  • want to gain insight into the work of a Trustee Board for a Charity and how it relates to the Charity Commission and other national guidance providers
  • feel they have a set of knowledge and skills they would like to volunteer to a worthwhile cause.

We value all the inputs that our Trustees make. They play a significant and important part in the direction and development of the agency.

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