Trustee at Jubilee Park Woodhall Spa LTD

 

 

 

 

 

 INTRODUCTION FROM THE CHAIR OF TRUSTEES

 

Thank you for your interest in becoming a trustee of JPWS

 

Jubilee Park has been described as Woodhall Spa's 'Jewel in the Crown' and is much loved within the village and across Lincolnshire as a whole.

 

The park was created and opened in 1935 for the benefit of local people by Lady Weighall, who built nearby Petwood, but then underwent a period of local authority ownership and control which in time led to under-investment and financial difficulty. After protracted consultation, a community-based organisation (JPWS) was established in 2014 to secure the future of its facilities and to promote health, fitness and well-being in the local community. It operates under a 99-year lease from the Parish Council. It enjoys charitable status and runs as a company limited by guarantee.

 

Over the eight years of its operation JPWS has demonstrated both financial prudence and resilience, even in the face of Covid.  Turnover has quadrupled and reserves have been built up to cover planned and unplanned contingencies.  Turnover in 2021 was in the region of £1million.  JPWS normally receives no public funding and most if its income is derived from three main sources: the swimming pool, the caravan site and the newly established fitness suite.  The first two of these income streams remain seasonal. Other facilities in the park are available on a 'free to use' basis for all visitors

 

Jubilee Park has also gained a national reputation as a leading lido and leisure facility known for its innovative approach, high standards and successful management. It has become an important local employer with a work culture that attracts the most able personnel from a competitive local labour market. To gain a fuller impression of what the park has to offer, including the special events it provides as an important ‘community hub’, please see our website www.jpws.co.uk.

 

The existing Trustees are volunteers drawn from the local community and, with one exception, have been in post since the charity was established. They have done a remarkable job in working to secure the Park's future, working effectively as a team in setting up its present structure, overseeing major improvements and raising the park's profile in the local area and more widely. Although still strongly rooted in the local community, the importance of Jubilee Park to the visitor economy of Woodhall Spa cannot be overstated.

 

Inevitably, in the early years, there was a 'hands-on' element to their work.  This is now much less appropriate and has led to the need for a clearer definition of the Trustee's role.  The growing size of the organisation and its ambitious plans make this all the more necessary.   They are now supported by a growing team of employed staff, ably led by Joe Stanhope, the Operations Director and Park Manager 

 

We are looking to recruit a number of new trustees to join our board from a wide variety of backgrounds and experience. Trustees with a legal, accountancy or business-related background are particularly sought, together with those who have experience from the health sector, sports, leisure and tourism.

 

If you feel you have the experience, credibility and, crucially, the enthusiasm we need to take JPWS forward on the next stage of its development, then we very much look forward to hearing from you.

 

Emma Brealey

 

OUR AIMS

 

As a charity we are driven by our commitment to the people and communities we serve.  Our charitable aims, set out in our articles of association, are:-

 

1.  To manage, promote and sustain Jubilee Park as a swimming, leisure, sports and recreation facility available to the benefit if the whole community, principally but not exclusively on the parish of Woodhall Spa and its environs.

 

2. To promote health and fitness in the community in particular but not exclusively through the provision of swimming, sports and health related training and coaching.

 

3. To promote, organise and facilitate cooperation and partnership working between third sector, statutory and other relevant bodies in the achievement of the above purposes.

 

These aims guide our day-to day-operations, often used as a touchstone for ensuring that we remain true to our mission.  We are keen to innovate and have exciting plans.  Always an overriding concern, however, is to ensure that we remain financially sustainable.

 

 

OUR VISION

 

An important part of the Trustee role is looking forward and planning for the future. Our vision, as agreed in July 2022 is:

Jubilee Park aspires to be a market leading hub and sustainable destination for wellbeing, sport, leisure and culture. It will strive to retain its unique and much-loved character as a well maintained, peaceful garden park at the heart of the local community. It will aim to promote diversity and choice as a family orientated facility that visitors from a wide area can enjoy. It is a place where happy memories are made, and a lasting legacy created.

 

JPWS AND THE ROLE OF A TRUSTEE

 

JPWS is an organisation that has been driven by the enthusiasm of its volunteers and our trustees are no exception.

 

Our trustees hold the charity 'in trust' for current and future beneficiaries by:-

 

1. Ensuring that the charity has a clear vision, mission and strategic

    direction and is focused on achieving these.

2. Being responsible for the performance of the charity.

3. Ensuring the charity complies with all legal and regulatory

   requirements.

4. Acting as guardians of the charity's assets both tangible and intangible and

    taking all due care of their security, deployment and proper application.

5. Ensuring that the charity's governance is of the highest possible

    standard.

6. Acting as an ambassador of the charity at all reasonable times.

 

The Board is made up of a chair and trustees with the Operations Director and the Finance Director in attendance at board meetings.  Trustees, based on their breadth of knowledge and experience, are responsible for setting the long-term vision, strategy and charitable outcomes of the organisation, approving the plans and budgets for achieving them and monitoring performance.

 

The Board is responsible for the financial health of the charity and for overseeing its affairs to ensure that its charitable status is maintained.  It has delegated responsibility for day- to- day management to the Operations Director and the senior management team responsible for making and implementing operational decisions.  The senior management team is currently under review and is likely to lead to the creation of a Chief Executive role.  A detailed description of a trustee's responsibilities is attached.

 

Remuneration - trustees are volunteers and not remunerated.  They are entitled to claim expenses in line with the organisation's expenses policy.

 

Term - trustees will normally serve an initial three-year term to be eligible for re-appointment for two additional terms of three years each

 

Time commitment - trustees are required to attend a minimum of three of four board meetings held per year, plus hold a position on at least one Board committee involving three or four additional meetings per year.  There may also be other public or private events (e.g. the AGM, fundraising events, strategic visioning days, public profile events) for which attendance would be desirable/expected.