Advisory Board Member - East Lothian Foodbank

Advisory Board Member - East Lothian Foodbank

Trustee/Governor
J103906
At a glance

Skills

  • Governance
  • HR
  • Data protection / GDPR

Where

Tranent, EH33 1LH
Mainly at home

Time

Mostly outside office hours Estimate of time needed:
0-5 hours / month
Board meetings take place 9-10 times per year. Co-opted members must be willing to spend additional time providing advice to the Board and management.

Deadline

18 May 2025

Visitors from Fifth Day

Welcome to Reach Volunteering. We are a community and registered charity that connects people, skills and good causes.

To apply for this role, and any other on our platform, you need to be based in the UK, have at least three years of experience using the skills you wish to volunteer in a professional capacity or have lived experience (for trustee roles). Read more about our criteria.

We are looking to expand our Board with up to four new members, initially on a co-opted basis but with a path to trusteeship within the next six months if you feel it is right for you.

What will you be doing?

Why we want you 

East Lothian Foodbank provides emergency food and compassionate, practical support to people in crisis. Without our volunteers, selflessly donating their time, we simply would not be able to provide the support our community needs.

Our Board, comprising both Trustees and co-opted advisory board members, are essential members of our volunteer community, offering their time and expertise to ensure that the management team have all the support and advice they need to deliver our mission effectively, efficiently and in compliance with all regulatory expectations.

About the role

We are looking to expand our Board with up to four new members, initially on a co-opted basis but with a path to trusteeship within the next six months if you feel it is right for you.

We are looking for people who want to help their local community and work towards the eradication of food poverty whilst support the foodbank to continue to provide emergency food to people who find themselves in crisis. 

Co-opted Board membership does not have a fixed term but we would ask that candidates be prepared to offer at least six months, so that collectively we can assess whether a path to trusteeship is desirable. No prior experience of Board membership or third sector working is necessary, and full induction training will be provided to help ease you into the role.

For further information about our board, please visit https://eastlothian.foodbank.org.uk/about-us/meet-the-team

What are we looking for?

Our ideal candidates would demonstrate:

  • Willingness to actively participate in discussions concerning needs of the foodbank’s beneficiaries, staff, and the trustee board.
  • Willingness to act in the best interest of the charity.
  • Sound, independent judgement and ability to think creatively.
  • Ability to work effectively as a team member and willingness to learn and develop. 

As an inclusive organisation we welcome applications from anyone, but are particularly keen to bolster our collective knowledge and experience in areas we know the Board currently has gaps:

  • Data protection, information security and cyber risk
  • Talent acquisition, management and retention
  • Direct, personal lived experience of financial difficulty/poverty

No prior experience of Board membership or third sector working is necessary, and full induction training will be provided to help ease you into the role.

What difference will you make?

By supporting the governance of East Lothian Foodbank as a member of its Advisorary Board you are part of a team providing a vital holistic support function in your local community, ensuring a dignified experience to anyone visiting or anyone who comes into contact with the food bank.

Before you apply

Please apply through Reach in the first instance, providing a CV and cover letter detailing why you are interested in this role and your relevant experience. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an informal interview with members of the Board of Trustees at East Lothian Foodbank.

Successful candidates will be required to provide character references, and to confirm that they are not subject to the automatic disqualification conditions for Trustees published by OSCR. For further details, please see  https://www.oscr.org.uk/managing-a-charity/trustee-duties/guidance-on-cu...

Causes
  • Local / community
  • Poverty relief
  • Organisation type: 
    Charity

    “The foodbank was there when we really needed it, it was an absolute lifeline”

    We don’t think anyone in our community should have to face going hungry. That’s why we...