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Trustee - Wonderseekers

Employer
Trustees Unlimited
Location
Winchester, Hampshire (GB)
Salary
Voluntary, expenses covered
Closing date
19 Jun 2023

View more

Sector
Charity and not for profit, Education, Board trustees
Salary band
Unremunerated
Hours
Part Time
Where will they be working?
Hybrid - mostly office

Job Details

Wonderseekers is on a clear and important mission, to create a more equitable world where all children can treasure science and are equipped and empowered to improve lives and protect and heal our planet. We have a number of trustee vacancies available.

Wonderseekers, the Charity behind Winchester Science Centre, has been sparking children’s curiosity in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) since it was founded in 1986.

We believe that through science, children can choose to live healthier, more sustainable lives and contribute to a better world for all.


The role
Our Board of trustees is made up of a range of skilled and experienced individuals with a diverse range of backgrounds. In this open recruitment opportunity, we are looking for trustees to help strengthen our dynamic Board, steer the future of our work, and bring a new voice. In particular, we are looking for candidates who are able to demonstrate specific knowledge and experience in at least one of the following areas:

  • Biodiversity and sustainability
  • Charity fundraising
  • Change leadership and management
  • Charity law and governance
  • Cultural heritage
  • Equality, diversity and inclusion and HR
  • Financial management and risk
  • Land Management
  • Lived experiences such as within equality, diversity and inclusion
  • Marketing / media / PR / audience knowledge
  • Strategic planning

We have just released our new strategy which you can read about below and we have exciting plans for the future to widen our reach and help support even more young people. You could be the right person to help us.

We are offering you a unique and rewarding experience. You will have a key impact on our Charity’s mission, oversee our strategic vision, influence future projects and help manage risk. You will bring your experience and knowledge in one of the key skills areas to advise the senior leadership team and set the future direction of our Charity. There are many positive benefits of volunteering as a trustee and we are confident you will find the experience with Wonderseekers incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. Please do get in touch – especially if you haven’t been a trustee of a Charity before as any necessary training will be provided and you will find the Board and senior management team a friendly and supportive group.

If you are unsure whether to apply then please do arrange an informal and friendly chat with either our Chair, Deputy Chair or CEO by contacting Carol Smith carolsmith@winchestersciencecentre.org. We would be delighted to talk to you more about the role.

What we’re looking for

In addition to being able to demonstrate skills, experience and knowledge in one of the areas identified above, in order to carry out your responsibilities as a trustee, you should:

  • be committed to the purpose, objects and values of the Charity
  • be constructive about other trustees’ opinions in discussions (and in response to staff members’ contributions at meetings)
  • be able to act reasonably and responsibly when undertaking such duties and performing tasks
  • be able to maintain confidentiality on sensitive and confidential information
  • be supportive of the values (and ethics) of the Charity
  • understand the importance and purpose of meetings, and be committed to preparing for them adequately and attending them regularly
  • be able to analyse information and, when necessary, challenge constructively
  • be able to make collective decisions and stand by them

Trustee arrangements

Wonderseekers is governed by a Board of up to 12 trustees who hold collective responsibility for the charity’s strategic direction and governance. The position on the Board is voluntary. Once elected, Trustees can serve a maximum of 3 terms of 3 years.

Currently, Board meetings take place once per quarter, usually in January, April, July and November. Meetings are held on a mixture of days and evenings, with plenty of prior notice and consideration to individual availability given where possible. You will be expected to attend at least four board meetings per year. We also hold an annual strategy day usually in September.

In addition you will also sit on at least one committee. Committees generally meet up to four times per year. Meetings are between one and three hours and a hybrid option is usually available.

Additional time for reviewing papers and building relationships with the senior management team as required should also be factored in. There may also be opportunities to attend special events.

You may find it useful to look at the guidance on Trustees from the Charity Commission: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-essentialtrustee-what-you-need-to-know-cc3

We are committed to investing in our trustees and therefore trustee training is available. In addition we have an expenses policy to enable trustees to claim back travel expenses.

How to apply

If you are interested in joining us, please contact Carol Smith carolsmith@winchestersciencecentre.org with your CV and cover letter summarising your motivation for joining the Board of Trustees and what you would be able to bring to the role.

If you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to this application process please do not hesitate to get in touch.

If you would like to arrange an informal conversation prior to submitting an application, please contact us using the details above. We will organise interviews on a rolling basis.

The panel will include existing Trustees, and candidates will also have the opportunity to meet the CEO and some staff. There will be an induction session for the successful new Trustee. We look forward to hearing from you.

Company

Trustees Unlimited is a trustee and Non-Executive Director recruitment specialist and offers a solution to the problem many organisations face - trying to recruit high quality trustees and non- executives in a rigorous and yet cost-effective way.

It is a joint venture between Bates Wells Braithwaite, pre-eminent charity sector solicitors, the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and Russam GMS, leading interim management and executive search firm.

Established in 2009, Trustees Unlimited is one of the premier providers of trustee and non-executive recruitment, and through recruitment, training and mentoring has developed a unique offering that is helping many not-for-profit organisations strengthen their boards.

Whether it is a trustee for a charity, a director for a social enterprise or a volunteer to sit on an audit committee, Trustees Unlimited has unprecedented access to a large group of high calibre people who are actively looking for such roles: with a living database and a diverse network Trustees Unlimited is making a real difference in terms of helping boards become balanced and effective. 

Company info
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