With our Chair stepping down in the coming months, we are seeking a new one. With new trustees, our board is evolving. After significant development, the charity is in good shape and good heart, and needs an energetic, new chair.
We are the local branch of Home-Start UK, a charity that supports families with children aged under five.
Home-Start Bristol and South Gloucestershire alone currently supports 546 children and 244 families with a network of 80 volunteers. We provide help in areas such as: coping with day-to-day family life; children’s behaviour and development; parental mental health and wellbeing; social isolation and connecting families into local support; low income and access to benefits. Feedback on our support is consistently positive and encouraging.
The need for our support is rising while delivery methods and the funding environment are changing. With new trustees joining, the board is evolving to meet these challenges. After a period of significant development for the organisation, the charity is in good shape and good heart, and in need of an energetic, new chair.
Home-Start Bristol and South Gloucestershire is a federated part of the national charity and is thus able to align with a bigger organisation but still needs to run itself. It has a Chief Executive and a staff of 12, along with the 80 volunteers who deliver the charity’s services.
As the board’s link with the Chief Executive, the staff and volunteers, the Chair plays a key role in the effective running of the charity.
Have you sat on a board as a trustee or a director? Would you like the chance to become a chair with the full support of the outgoing chair as you pick up and develop in the role?
You will need to lead and also to facilitate and empower others. You will need to be clear about the role, to see the bigger picture while being able to focus on key issues. Importantly you will be fully engaged with Home-Start’s mission to improve the lives of local families.
Allied to these skills will be the ability to build and maintain relationships, especially with the CEO but also with key stakeholders and donors. You will need to be at ease with a diverse range of people. You will also be experienced at managing contentious issues, overseeing safeguarding and scrutinising finances.
Chairing teams or groups, perhaps board membership. Leadership. Facilitation. Analysis and Judgement. Relationship building and management. Big picture/strategic ability but also an eye for detail. Risk management. Financial insight
The Chair of Trustees is a key role in our organisation. Your leadership and commitment will ensure we continue to provide and extend our range of much-needed support and services to young families across Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
Please apply through Reach in the first instance. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete our additional application form.
