Job Description

Are you the future Chair of our Board of trustees?

Do you have skills and enthusiasm to cooperatively govern and bring our strategy into action?

We are looking for a Chair-designate for our Board, to work alongside our outgoing Chair for a set period of time, eventually taking-on chairing duties.

As the oldest charity in England (formed in 1451) we’re looking for someone to lead our Board, to work with other trustees and our Charity Manager to continue to shape our strategy and operational delivery, building on almost 600 years of successful support for local  people.

Wokingham United Charities has a mission to relieve poverty and enhance the quality of life of those people in need in our community. We do this by the provision of Almshouse accommodation, by using our funds to help individuals in financial distress, hardship and poverty, and by providing funding to local charity, voluntary and community groups who themselves provide support to residents of Wokingham Borough.

Our usual income per annum is ~£700k, but we’ve been managing funds to help to relieve poverty in the midst of this cost-of-living crisis, and recently our turnover has been ~£1.5m.

About the role

This is a high-profile appointment, with strong commitment to the future of our organisation, and prior experience of charity leadership, both essential qualities.
Experience of committee or similar work, with a focus to lead the stable and forward-looking Board are also part of what we are looking for.

Our Board includes people with understanding of our charity, and we’d obviously expect new trustees to have empathy with our cause and our beneficiaries. Full induction to our organisation will be provided, plus specialist support you may need, including access to external training.

If you can think collectively and strategically to lead us to plan long-term, you have the primary skills needed; you’ll also help guide other trustees. Support from our paid employees is always available, as they will be dealing with the day-to-day running of the organisation.

We are a charity not a business, but we apply business principles to governing our organisation. We want to expand our Board’s diversity, in all its meanings, and strongly welcome applications from people from less-represented groups. 

The Board currently meets every two months in Wokingham, with online/hybrid attendance from some people. It would be expected that our Chair attends face-to-face for the majority of meetings.

How to apply

This high-profile appointment is being managed for us by inVOLve Community Services, a charity-support organisation, who offer a no-obligation discussion by phone or video. A detailed Recruitment Pack can be made available to you upon request.

Trustee appointments are subject to satisfactory references, to completion of an online Safeguarding course and a Cyber-awareness training. Your CV and supporting statement will be read by our trustees and Charity Manager; an informal discussion can be offered as soon as mutually convenient, potentially leading to formal interview.

I need to know more

Contact Mike Allen via Quick Apply below for more information and arrange to have a no-obligation initial informal discussion (Teams/Zoom/phone) and explanation about this important role.