Role description: Chair of Accumulate Board of Trustees (voluntary).

Established in 2014, Accumulate uses creativity to improve the wellbeing of young people who are affected by homelessness. We work with hostels and housing organisations to deliver learning experiences and showcasing opportunities in art, photography, creative writing, audio-visual production, fashion and other creative disciplines. Our activities support people on the margins of society, and enables them to increase their confidence, skills and self-value and, in the longer term, facilitates them onto their journey into training, education and employment.

We are now looking for a dynamic and pro-active chair of trustees.

Key responsibilities 

Provide leadership to the board and to ensure that trustees fulfill their duties and responsibilities for the proper governance of the charity 


Duties and tasks to fulfil the key responsibilities 


To guard the long-term future of the charity by ensuring that: 


the board sets the mission, vision, strategy and high-level policies for the charity within the powers and restrictions in its charitable objects and governing instruments 


the board takes steps to monitor the performance of the charity and to ensure that the charity satisfies all regulatory and legal compliance requirements 



the charity’s financial dealings are systematically accounted for, audited and publicly available 


the board and the charity are fair and open to all sections of the community in all the charity’s activities 


the board and the charity hear the voices and views of key stakeholders, especially beneficiaries. 


To ensure the highest possible standards of governance by ensuring that: 


the charity has a governance structure that is appropriate to Accumulate and its charitable objects and that these structures and the governing instruments are reviewed regularly 


the board delegates sufficient authority to its chair, the director and others to enable the business of the charity to be carried on effectively between meetings of the board 


the board has on it the skills it requires to govern the charity well and these skills are utilised, and that the board has access to relevant external professional advice and expertise 


To ensure the proper and efficient conduct of board meetings by: 


chairing trustee meetings effectively, seeking consensus, balancing the need for full debate on key questions with the expeditious despatch of business so as to reach clear and agreed decisions as swiftly as possible 


taking an active role in ensuring that board agendas are meaningful and reflect the key responsibilities of trustees 


ensuring that board decisions are made in the best, long-term interests of the charity and that the board takes collective ownership of these decisions 


ensuring that decisions taken at meetings of the board are implemented 


ensuring that that there is an annual programme of board meetings, 
carefully structured agendas and high quality briefing papers providing timely information and concentrating on governance. 


To support the director by: 


ensuring that the board focuses on its governance role and does not slip incrementally, or otherwise, into the management role (unless essential to the good governance of the charity) 


arranging regular, but not over frequent, meetings with the director and by developing a very professional relationship with the director within which each can speak openly about concerns, worries and challenges 


providing leadership to the director to ensure that the charity is run in accordance with the decisions of the board and the charity’s governing documents and that there is clarity about the charity’s objectives at all levels 



in partnership with the director, to agree respective roles in representing the charity 
and acting as spokesperson. 


Personal Qualities

Demonstrate a strong and visible passion and commitment to the charity, its strategic objectives and cause

Exhibit strong inter-personal and relationship building abilities and be comfortable in an ambassadorial role

Strong networking capabilities that can be utilised for the benefit of the charity

Ability to foster and promote a collaborative team environment

Ability to commit time to conduct the role well, including travel and attending events out of office hours

Experience

Experience of operating at a senior strategic leadership level within an organisation

Successful track record of achievement through their career

Experience of charity governance and working with or as part of a Board of Trustees

Experience of external representation, delivering presentations and managing stakeholders

Significant experience of chairing meetings and events

Knowledge and skills

Broad knowledge and understanding of the homelessness, creative industries or creative education sector and current issues affecting it

Strong leadership skills, ability to motivate staff and volunteers and bring people together

Financial management expertise and a broad understanding of charity finance issues

Good understanding of charity governance issues

Terms

The charity’s Chair (and board members) will serve a three-year term to be eligible for reappointment for one additional term.

Board Meetings

London based, 6 – 9 times per year.

Apply

Please email info@accumulate.org.uk with a cover letter and cv by Thursday 17th March, Interviews will be from 28th March onwards.

For further information please email info@accumulate.org.uk