At a glance

Skills

Governance
Office and Administration Management

Where

Sheffield, S4 7WW

Remote opportunity

Time

Either in or out of office hours Estimate of time needed:
1-3 hours / week or 3-7 hours / week

Deadline

30 Nov 2024

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.

The Secretary, is responsible for supporting the Board in the efficient and effective administration of Mums In Need, helping Mums In Need confront coercive control and uplift mums experiencing post-separation abuse.

What will you be doing?

ROLE DESCRIPTION

Ensuring compliance

Maintaining the register of trustees and their interests
Making sure that the charity’s governing document's T&Cs are known, respected and acted on by trustees
Helping to ensure that trustees file all relevant statutory returns and information
Tracking progress with the charity’s risk register and strategic plan
Organising training that enhances trustees’ understanding of, and ability to discharge, their duties as charity trustees
Setting up and supporting a programme of trustee reviews

Maintaining efficient and effective board meetings

Making sure the timetable of meetings for the year ahead is agreed
Notifying trustees (and others where applicable) of board meetings
Working with the chair to set each board meeting agenda
Making sure any correspondence for trustees is brought to the attention of the board
Circulating papers for meetings in timely fashion
Ensuring the venue/virtual platform is prepared appropriately
Checking a quorum
Taking the minutes at board meetings, keeping a record of all issues discussed, decisions taken and any actions
Issuing draft minutes to charity trustees
Working with the chair and other trustees to ensure that the draft minutes are accurate before they are formally approved
Ensuring that minutes are stored safely and are accessible to any trustee if require

Servicing other meetings

Playing a support role in setting up and running other meetings as required by trustees

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Key expertise:

Governance - have a deep understanding and previous experience of governance and its importance, particularly in respect of charities. This includes understanding the key role that a Board Secretary plays, duties in respect of compliance to the Charity Commission etc. This may have been gained at a senior position within a company or through prior Board/Committee experience.
Office & Administration Management - Previous experience of business support to ensure that the Board's operational function is well supported and runs effectively. This will facilitate faster decision-making and enable the Board to focus on its strategic work.

What are we looking for?

We are seeking a candidate who has the following skills and experience:

Is committed to Mums In Need's vision and mission of confronting coercive control for mums affected by post-separation emotional abuse and helping them rebuild their lives
Understands the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of a charity Trustee
Current knowledge of charity law and governance, ability to identify and apply relevant components to the Board and its work
Has strong organisational and project management skills
Is methodical, detail-orientated and completes tasks in a timely manner
Is well-organised and can plan for the future
Is a strong networker
Is impartial and objective
Is an effective communicator and comfortable being assertive
Is a team player, reliable and enthusiastic
Is a strategic and critical thinker
Has lived or learned experience of domestic abuse AND/OR professional experience of the voluntary sector, particularly small charities and organisational development

What difference will you make?

The Secretary is a pivotal role as the first point of contact for the Board, working closely with our Chair and keeping the rest of the Board on track. This person will join a dynamic, tightly knit Board dedicated to supporting the Mums In Need CEO and team of paid staff and volunteers.

This is our impact - One of the mums supported by Mums In Need said, "Mums In Need were there when I needed them the most. As a charity they helped me integrate back into society, as well as giving me the much needed confidence I so badly needed, helping me rebuild my life. They listened, which was really all I wanted at the time. After years of suffering in silence Mums In Need let me get it all out. I will forever be grateful for their understanding and patience."

Before you apply

Once we've received an application, it'll be shared with Mums in Need's Chair who'll then send out an application form and/or will be available for an informal chat.

Mums In Need - Board Secretary.pdf

About Mums In Need

Causes

Community safety / victim support / domestic violence

Organisation type:

Charity

Mums In Need (MIN) is a Sheffield-based registered charity that works on confronting coercive control. We support mums in Sheffield and the wider South Yorkshire area who have left an abusive...

Secretary (Trustee) sought for charity empowering mums experiencing post-separation coercive control