Welcome to Come on Board!

Welcome to Come on Board!

Housing organisations provide essential services to their customers, not just with a home, but also support and advice to help people maintain their tenancies. Welsh housing organisations recognise that their Boards must reflect the diversity of the communities in which they exist, to make sure their services respond to the needs of their customers.

As members of the community in which housing organisations provide services, your input as a Board Member can be invaluable.Housing organisations are keen to encourage board member applicants from traditionally under represented groups, such as.younger people between 18 and 25 years of age, disabled people and people from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) backgrounds.

If you would like to develop your skills and make a positive difference to the world in which you live, ‘Come on Board’ may be for you.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What if I have little or no experience of being on a Board?

Mostorganisations have an induction and training process. You could also request a ‘mentor’ when you first start - a more experienced Board Member who you can talk to if you have questions.You will work as part of a teamof people with knowledge in different areas, so don’t feel that you have to be an ‘expert’ in every area. Staff withineach organisation are skilled in key areas, e.g. finance, strategy, policy. As a Board Member your job will be to think about staff members’ proposals and offer your opinion and guidance as part of a team.

2. What about the cost of travelling to meetings?

Normally, as a Board Member, you will be able to claim “out of pocket expenses” such as travel costs. Most organisations also pay child care costs or respite care costs if you care for someone with specific needs.

3. What are the key benefits for me?

Becoming a Board Member gives you the satisfaction of knowing you are contributing positively to society. It will also provide you with an alternative perspective in terms of the running of organisations, which is brilliant for your personal and professional development.

So What Are You Waiting for - Come on Board!

If you have any other questions, please contact Hedd Vine– Equality Officer, Tai Pawb on 02920 537633 or email:

Or Claire McDougall – Group Executive Officer, Community Housing Cymru Group on 029 2067 4806 or email:

If you are interested in becoming a Board Member, please fill in the application and return to Clare James at Community Housing Cymru Group, 2 Ocean Way, Cardiff, CF24 5TG. We will contact you in due course.If you have a current CV, please attach it.

Personal Details

Title: ______

First Name: ______

Surname: ______

Address: ______

______

Post Code: ______

Email: ______

Phone Number: ______

Do you have any experience of working in the voluntary, charity or not for profit sectors?

Yes (Please describe) ______

No

Is there a particular type of organisation that interests you? (Please tick as many as you like)

A voluntary or charitable organisation that does not directly manage housing (e.g. Shelter, TaiPawb, Care and Repair)

A small local housing organisation employing few staff

A medium sized housing organisation with some staff

A larger housing organisation, fully staffed, covering a wide geographical area

A housing organisation concentrating on particular needs, e.g. Older, younger or Black & Minority Ethnic people(please specify)

______

A housing organisation operating in a rural community

What contribution do you feelyou can make?

Leadership: the ability to set the strategic direction and control of an organisation

Strategic thinking: the ability to see the bigger picture, envisage the longer-term future, read the policy framework.

Financial monitoring: experience in checking and approving budgets.

Performance monitoring: making sure targets set out in organisational plans are met and an ability to monitor the overall performance.

Risk management: identifying and approving effective controls to identify and manage risks.

People management: Staff recruitment and management; ability to foster effective relationships to take the organisationforward in an effective manner.

Legal compliance: understanding of legal and statutory obligations and regulatory requirements.

Representation: representing the organisation to others by demonstrating the highest standards of ethics and integrity.

Influencing and Networking: ability to use a range of communication methods tailored to the audience at hand. Experience of networking.

Other: housing management expertise, building development, care service/supported housing provision, IT,team working skills, communication skills, ability to speak other community languages (Please continue on a separate page if needed).

In which Welsh region would you be willing to attend meetings?

Mid & West Wales (Carmarthen, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys)

North Wales (Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd and Wrexham)

South Wales Central (Cardiff, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Vale of Glamorgan)

South Wales East (Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Newport and Torfaen)

South Wales West (Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot and Swansea)

Please note that the majority of housing organisations pay out of pocket expenses, including travel.

When would you be able to attend meetings?

any time during working hours

early evenings

late evenings

other (please specify) ______

Please send your completed form to:

Claire McDougall, CHC Group, 2 Ocean Way, Cardiff, CF24 5TG

A version of this application form can also be downloaded from:.

Equalities Monitoring

The information you provide will be treated confidentially and in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and will be used for monitoring purposes only.

1. How would you describe your ethnic group?(Please tick)

White

Welsh/English/Scottish/Northern Irish/British

Irish

Gypsy or Irish Traveller

Any other White Background

(please describe) ______

Mixed/multiple ethnic groups

White and Black Caribbean

White and Black African

White and Asian

Any other Mixed/multiple ethnic background

(please describe) ______

Asian/Asian British

Indian

Pakistani

Bangladeshi

Chinese

Any other Asian background

(please describe) ______

Black/African/Caribbean/Black British

African

Caribbean

Any other Black/African/Caribbean background

(please describe) ______

Other ethnic group

Arab

Any other ethnic group

(please describe) ______

Prefer not to say

1. Are you:  Female Male

2b. Do you identify as transgender?

 Yes No Prefer not to say

1. What is your age group?

15 or under16 – 2425 – 5960 or over

Prefer not to say

1. Do you consider yourself to be a disabled person? The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 defines disability as “a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.” this includes people with physical impairments, visual impairment, hearing impairments, Deaf BSL users, people with learning difficulties including people with specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, people with mental health needs and people living with a health condition e.g. HIV, multiple sclerosis, cancer.

YesNo Prefer not to say

4b Please can you tick the relevant impairment (disability) group below (tick more than one box if appropriate.)

Physical impairment

Visual impairment

Hearing impairment

Deaf BSL user

Learning difficulties

Specific learning difficulties like dyslexia

Mental and emotional distress

A health condition e.g. HIV, multiple sclerosis, cancer

Prefer not to say

1. Please say how you would usually describe your sexual orientation?

LesbianGay

BisexualHeterosexual

Prefer not to say

1. What is your religion or belief? (Each category includes all denominations and sects)

Buddhist

Christian

Hindu

Jewish

Muslim

Sikh

Any other religion or belief(Please describe) ______

No religion

Prefer not to say

7.What is your preferred method/format of communication?

Welsh Written Spoken

Community Language – please state dialect if appropriate

Standard written (English)

Large print

Audio tape

Braille

Visual (e.g. DVD)

BSL video/DVD

Video phone

Easy English

Compact disk (CD)

Computer disk

Text phone (e.g. Type Talk)

Text messaging

Other

(Please describe) ______

1. I do not wish to provide any of the information requested on this form