INFORMATION PACK FOR CHAIR AND TRUSTEES OF BUILDING BLOCKS CHARITY
Closing Details: 12:00pm on 28 July 2017
Building Blocks Charity
The Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands
Vacancies 3 Independent Trustees (Including Chairman)
Training Provided and Expenses Paid
Building Blocks is the charitable organisation of the Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands. It aims to provide support to children and young people in order to prevent crime, substance misuse and anti-social behaviour. It also includes supporting children and young people into education and employment and promoting or supporting activities which allow children and young people to develop their personal and social skills to create confidence and independence.
We are now relaunching Building Blocks to ensure it meets the needs of local young people and also, importantly, attracts further funding that can be used to support local activities. We are looking for Trustees who have skills in the following areas: fund raising and bid writing, media and communications, youth services and youth provision. You will also need to have an understanding of the issues affecting young people.
We are seeking to appoint to 3 positions:
- Chairman
- 2 Independent Trustees
We are looking for exceptional individuals with the skills and expertise to make a significant contribution, providing guidance, leadership and the skills that will support the Charity and ensure its continued development. If you are passionate and proactive about ensuring that young people have the support they need to prevent them getting involved in crime, then the Police and Crime Commissioner would like to hear from you.
Please submit your curriculum vitae and a brief supporting statement that details your experience to the following email address .
Please state very clearly on your supporting statement which vacancy you wish to be considered for (either independent chairman or independent trustee). A detailed job pack can be found on http://www.westmidlands-pcc.gov.uk for both the above vacancies.
For an informal, confidential discussion please contact Mark Kenyon, Chief Finance Officer on 0121 626 5157 or
The closing date for applications which should be submitted via email is 12:00pm on 28 July 2017.
Introduction to Building Blocks Charity
- Purpose
This document provides an overview of the Buildings Blocks charity.
2. Background to Building Blocks
Building Blocks is a registered charity and has existed since June 1999. From the formation of the charity the coordination of the charity was undertaken by the West Midlands Police Force until April 2016 when the coordination was transferred to the Police and Crime Commissioners office for the West Midlands.
The charity is about to embark on significant changes in terms of its purpose to deliver greater benefits to young people across the West Midlands. This is consistent with the Police and Crime Commissioners ambition to ensure the charity is effective in its activities to help young people of the West Midlands.
3. Objectives of the Charity
The current trustees of the charity have agreed to change the objectives of the charity. The amended objectives are as follows.
‘To provide support to children and young people in order to prevent crime, substance misuse and anti-social behaviour.
To provide services to support children and young people into education and employment.
To promote or support activities which allow children and young people to develop their personal and social skills creating confidence and independence.’
The existing objectives are similar to the above but there is recognition by the trustees they need amending to make them more concise.
The charity has traditionally relied on donations and other small income streams, which have then been distributed for diversionary activities to groups across the West Midlands. These diversionary activities have been to allow young people to be involved in positive activities in their local areas. The current trustees recognise this is not ambitious enough to deliver significant benefits and the charity needs to move into a body that can be used to apply for external funding from grant making bodies. This money would then be used to deliver services in line with the charity’s objectives. This overall approach is in line with developments in the Police and Crime Commissioners office that is in the process of obtaining the services of a bid writer in partnership with other organisations in the West Midlands. The services of the bid writer would be available to support the Building Blocks charity.
4. Trustees Vacancies
There are currently 5 trustees of the charity. These include representatives from West Midlands Police, the Police and Crime Commissioners Office and a Youth Commissioner. The articles of the charity allow up to 8 trustees and there is currently 5 which results in 3 vacancies. It is recognised the charity would benefit from independent trustees that are not connected to the Police Crime Commissioner’s Office or West Midlands Police. Therefore as part of the charity’s development and to ensure its represents the needs of young people of the West Midlands, the charity is seeking to recruit 3 independent trustees. One of these appointments is to act as Chairman to the charity and the 2 other appointments are to assist in the delivery of the charity’s objectives.
To apply for the one of the trustee vacancies please submit your curriculum vitae and a brief supporting statement that details your experience to the following email address . Please state very clearly on your supporting statement which vacancy you wish to be considered for (either independent chairman or an independent trustee).
It is anticipated the trustees will meet quarterly at a central Birmingham location. Appropriate expenses will be paid for the reimbursement of travel costs.
JOB DESCRIPTION & PERSONAL SPECIFICATION FOR A CHAIR OF BUILDING BLOCKS CHARITY
The role of the Chair of Building Blocks is to lead the board of trustees, ensuring that it fulfils its responsibilities for the governance of the organisation. The Chair's role is also to work in partnership with the Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) Office and to optimise the relationship between the board of Trustees and the PCCs Office.
The responsibilities of the Chair, in addition to those of trustees include:
- Providing leadership for the board of trustees in their role of setting the strategy and policy of the charity
- Planning the annual cycle of trustee meetings
- Setting agendas for trustee meetings
- Chairing trustee meetings
- Monitoring that decisions taken at meetings are implemented
- Presenting the charity at functions and meetings, and acting as a spokesperson as appropriate
- Liaising with volunteers and coordinators of the charity to keep an overview of the organisation's affairs and providing support as appropriate
- A strong commitment to the commitment to objectives of the Building Block charity. Including:-
- Creating opportunities for young people in education and skills
- Ensuring young people have the best start
Person specification for a Chair
In addition to the qualities needed by all trustees, the Chair should also possess the following:
- Leadership
- Experience of trustee work, tact and diplomacy
- Good 'people' skills
- Impartiality, fairness and the ability to respect confidences
- Knowledge of the type of work undertaken by the charity and a wider involvement with the voluntary sector and other networks.
PERSONAL SPECIFICATION FOR A TRUSTEE OF BUILDING BLOCKS
We are aiming to provide support to children and young people to help them thrive and build skills they need in order to prevent crime within our communities. We are therefore looking for the following essential personal qualities, skills and attributes (or the clear potential to attain them after appropriate training).
Essential Criteria
Experience
- Some experience of working as a charity trustee or board member.
Skills/Abilities
- Able to listen to and communicate effectively in formal and informal meetings.
- Able to work as part of a team.
- Able to accurately and clearly record notes deploying the necessary standard of writing and IT skills.
- Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to the work of Building Blocks
- Ability to demonstrate good, independent judgment
- Ability to think creatively
- Committed to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
- Leadership skills
- Tact and diplomacy
- Good communication and interpersonal skills
- An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship
The board of Trustees will need to be able to demonstrate competency in the following areas:
- Setting targets, monitoring and evaluating performance and programmes in commercial and non-profit organisations
- Experience of financial management
- Legal matters
- Fundraising
- Recruitment and personnel management, including a knowledge of employment legislation
- Public relations
- Marketing
The ideal candidate will also be able to display flexibility, imagination and initiative; vital attributes if you are to enhance the lives of young people who will benefit from our services.
JOB DESCRIPTION FOR A TRUSTEE OF BUILDING BLOCKS
The duties of a trustee of Building Blocks are detailed below.
- Ensure the charity complies with its governing document, organisation law, and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
- The charity pursues its objectives as defined in its governing document.
- The charity applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objectives, i.e. the organisation must not spend money on activities which are not included in its own objectives, no matter how worthwhile or charitable those activities are.
- To 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 agreed targets.
- To safeguard the good name and values of the charity.
- To represent the charity at functions and meetings as appropriate.
- To declare any conflict of interest while carrying out the duties of a trustee.
- To be collectively responsible for the actions of the charity and other trustees.
- To ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.
- To abide by the equal opportunities policy.
- To ensure the financial stability of the charity.
- To protect and manage the property of the charity and to ensure the proper investment of the organisation's funds.
- Each trustee should use any specific knowledge or experience they have to help the board of trustees reach sound decisions. This will involve scrutinizing board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, and providing advice and guidance requested by the board on new initiatives, or other issues relevant to the area of, the organisation's work in which the trustee has special expertise.
- To attend meetings, and to read papers in advance of meetings.
- Participate in other tasks as arise from time to time, such as interviewing new staff, helping with fundraising.