After a very challenging 18 months dealing with the financial impact and fallout of Covid-19 the Foundation is now looking to the future. Throughout 2022 we will be developing our next 5-year strategy; this will be an opportunity for new trustees to help shape and develop that strategy including plans for our significant housing development sites to be built over the next decade.
We are therefore particularly keen to hear from people who have leadership experience in housing development and construction as well as those with PR and communications skills and fundraising/inward investment. These are key gaps in our skills portfolio as a Board. We really want to improve the diversity of our Board and we are keen to receive applications from all sections of the community, and in particular from women and Black, Asian and ethnic minority applicants who are currently under-represented on the Board.
If you would like further information about the role or to discuss your application please contact in the first instance our Chief Executive, Graham Fisher who can assist you further.
Please note the closing date for applications is 5pm on Monday 6th December 2021.
Overview of Role
Being a Trustee and Governor of the Foundation is an exciting opportunity for those with the skills and experience to become involved in developing and overseeing our future strategy and activities for the world’s first Garden City, ensuring it is fit for purpose in this new and very challenging era of the 21st century.
The role is a voluntary one, as are those of all Trustees and Governors. You will be working with a Board which currently consists of 10 Trustees (including the Chair and Vice Chair) and a professional Leadership Team (LT) led by a forward-thinking CEO. The Foundation is presently undertaking a Governance Review seeking to bring the organisation in line with the Charity Code of Governance. The external appointment of Trustees is a key change that has been introduced as a result of this review and the Trustees appointed now will be the first ever directly appointed trustees in the Foundation’s history.
A key aim of the review is to have a more diverse and inclusive governorship encompassing both trustees and the wider governor group and we are presently developing our diversity, equality and inclusion policy and strategy to support this aim.
Commitment
Attendance at normally 6 Board meetings a year of approx. 4 hours plus at least one full day awayday, plus generally 4 Governor meetings a year, plus attendance subcommittees that all Trustees are involved with.
Location: Meetings are ordinarily held at One Garden City, Broadway, Letchworth Garden City, Herts SG6 3BF or elsewhere in the town. Remote meetings are also held.
The Board of Trustees collectively needs knowledge, skills and experience in the following areas relevant to charity governance and the Foundation’s objectives:
- Governance and compliance with charity law
- Equality, diversity and inclusion
- Financial management, risk and investment, compliance
- Fundraising, and income generation
- Property Management, regeneration and development (inc. surveying)
- Community engagement and the creation of volunteer led groups
- Social Policy & research – particularly regarding health & wellbeing, housing, poverty, education, learning and skills and the voluntary sector
- Arts, heritage and culture development
- General legal advice
- Marketing, communications and public affairs
- Digital and technology
- Human Resource Management and Pension Fund management
- Social enterprise /investment development
Recruitment process
Applications will be shortlisted by a recruitment panel, chaired by Pam Burn and made up of board members plus an external adviser. The panel expects to conduct interviews before the Christmas holiday break. The panel will recommend appointments to the Board which will be formally approved at the Board meeting on 25th January 2022. All appointments are subject to references.
