The Trustees / Directors of the Walton Firs Foundation serve simultaneously as a charity trustees and as company directors, andmanage statutory duties under the Companies Act 2006. They are responsible for the strategic direction, operational governance, and financial status of the organisation, and work closely with the chief executive officer to ensure the Foundation delivers its charitable objects and activities for the public benefit, in compliance with the Charity Commission’s regulations and company law.
The role’s key accountabilities include ensurance of the Foundation’s capacity to manage high-quality outdoor education experiences and facilities for young people, whilst complying with all relevant legislative and regulatory requirements.
Key Responsibilities:
- Ensure the organisation complies with its governing document, charity law, company law, and other relevant legislation/ regulations including health and safety, safeguarding, data protection, and employment law.
- Ensure the organisation is managed ethically and with integrity, and avoid conflicts of interest or misuse of charity /company assets.
- Ensure that organisational policies, procedures, and practices comply with legal requirements and sector best practice.
- Ensure the safeguarding and promotion of the wellbeing and safety of children and young people.
- Contribute to setting the organisation’s strategic direction, vision, mission, and values.
- Monitor the organisation’s performance against agreed objectives and outcomes.
- Ensure the organisation’s activities align with its charitable objects and activities, and provide measurable public benefit.
- Ensure effective and efficient management of the organisation’s resources, including safeguarding assets and ensuring funds are used exclusively to pursue the charity’s objects and activities.
- Approve annual budgets, business plans, and financial statements.
- Oversee risk management, ensuring appropriate internal controls, reserves, and sustainability planning.
- Actively participate in board meetings and relevant committees.
- Contribute expertise, constructive challenge, and support to the chief executive officer.
- Support fundraising and income generation, ensuring compliance with the Fundraising Regulator’s Code of Practice.
- Promote the organisation’s work to stakeholders, partners, and the wider community.
In this role you will be acting as both a Trustee and a Company director.
What skills do I need?
Essential Criteria:
- Commitment to the charity’s objects and activities: the provision of developmental outdoor education opportunities for the benefit of young people.
- Knowledge and understanding of the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of charity trustees and company directors.
- Capacity to think strategically and contribute to organisational policy and procedural development.
- Effective communication, interpersonal and advocacy skills.
- Integrity, objectivity, and willingness to assert personal views and opinions.
- Availability to attend meetings and engage fully in governance activities.
Desirable Criteria:
- Experience of the delivery and management of education, youth work, outdoor learning, or related sectors.
- Financial, legal, or governance expertise.
- Fundraising, marketing, or business development experience.
- Human resources, accountancy, project management experience.
- Educational curriculum design and delivery, capital project management experience.
- Health and safety and quality control and assurance procedures experience
- Volunteer engagement and development experience
- Lived experience or understanding of the needs and aspirations of young people.
When do I need to be available?
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Details
Trustees / Directors are appointed for a term of four years, renewable subject to board approval. Between 15 and 40 hours annually, depending on personal capacity. Role commitments include five board meetings per year including the annual general meeting, and periodic sub-committees and public events.
