Trustees

Trustees

Salary: Expenses Paid

Location: London

Introduction

This is a time of celebration for women’s sport: Summer 2019 has already seen significant momentum, behind the Women’s Football World Cup, achieving record-breaking viewing figures on the BBC. Gold medals flow to many of our female athletes and slowly but surely media coverage is increasing. More female athletes are paid as full-time professionals and the Government has listened to Women in Sport, implementing a 30% quota for the number of women on the boards of publicly funded sports organisations.

However, progress is relatively slow: The increased media coverage only exists at times of international competition, domestic women’s competition is barely visible. More female athletes are paid to work at their sport full time, but not all are – and those that are fortunate to be in sports which have attracted commercial investment, such as football and cricket, still earn significantly lower salaries than the men playing their sport. More men than women play sport, work in sport, coach in sport and occupy leadership roles in sport. The gender gap in sport persists…and will continue to do so unless we do something to change it.

Women in Sport want to change this persistent unfairness. Women and girls are missing out on the lifelong benefits of sport. They want to change this, now, for every woman and girl in the UK – and they need your help.

Women in Sport is the only organisation in the UK that researches sport purely from the perspective of women and girls. They use the insight gained to drive change through campaigns and partnerships. Across all their work they include women and girls in socially deprived communities, where sport can have a uniquely empowering effect.

Ultimately, they do all of this to make sport fairer, and to make society stronger and more equal – through sport women can thrive and this benefits society as a whole. Our vision is a society where women and men have equal opportunities.

Women in Sport is a small team – just 16 staff (many of whom are part-time) and 6 trustees currently. They have a new CEO, Stephanie Hilborne OBE, coming into post in October, following the departure of Ruth Holdaway MBE in May 2019, so this is a great time to join, as they move on to the next stage of their development and amplify their impact.

They are looking for experienced individuals who want to join them on this journey. You will be willing to dedicate time and energy to the cause and to their people, you’ll share their passion for the Charity to grow and be successful and you’ll be willing to use your networks and contacts to achieve this. Ideally you will have held a non-executive position before, although this is not essential. And to be clear, you don’t have to be a woman to support Women in Sport; they welcome applications from women and men and are looking for people from a diverse range of backgrounds.

In return they will keep you informed about their work, seeking your engagement and input. They will provide you with a full induction to the Charity’s work and will support you in your role as a trustee. They will listen to you and will enable you to help shape the Charity’s future.

Women in Sport hope to appoint up to four new trustees and are specifically looking for people with one or more of the following skills and/or experience:

Charity law, regulation and compliance
Communications/marketing
Commercial/fundraising/business development
Finance CEO or COO experience

Additionally, gender equality campaigning or sports sector experience would be valuable.

Women in Sport hope you will want to join them and help to create a society where women and men have equal opportunities. Thank you for your support.

Responsibilities of all Trustees

Developing, supporting and furthering Women in Sport’s Vision, Mission, Goals, Values and activities in line with its charitable purpose.
Being a positive ambassador for Women in Sport.
Ensuring Women in Sport is fulfilling its obligation as a charity to undertake, and only undertake, work for the public good.
Speaking out for the interests, and on behalf, of women and girls in relation to sport.
In partnership with the other Board members, holding the CEO to account for the running of the charity and providing support to the CEO and staff.
Being the custodian of the charity with legal responsibility to act in accordance with the Memorandum of Association and always in the best interests of the charity.
Ensuring there is good financial management and the charity is acting within the law.
In partnership with the other Board members, determining the business strategy and financial/business plan for the charity.
Preparing for and attending board meetings and relevant sub-committee meetings.
Attending at least two Women in Sport events per year – one internal (with the team) and one external Women in Sport organised event, acting as an ambassador for the Charity.
Participating actively in fundraising and willing to use personal and professional contacts and networks to further the goals of the charity.
Using personal and professional knowledge, expertise and time to support the charity, its staff, volunteers and beneficiaries.
Staying informed about what’s going on in the organisation.
Working in good faith with staff and other board members as partners toward achievement of the Charity’s goals

NB. Trustees are required to excuse themselves from discussions and votes where they have a conflict of interest.

Term of Office

The term of office is four years. Trustees can stand for re-election to the Board for an additional one term. After two terms (eight years) there is provision, in certain circumstances, to extend for one further year. This makes the maximum term of office nine years and most trustees take on the role for either four or eight years.

They would expect attendance at all five Board meetings and one strategy day per year. They would expect the same level of attendance at any sub-committees you are part of.

How to Apply

Women in Sport require all applicants to please submit a CV and short covering letter to us, of no more than 2 sides of A4, explaining why you are interested in becoming a trustee of Women in Sport, how you meet the criteria set out in the role description, the specific skill set you bring to the charity from the list below and the level of commitment you are able to make in this voluntary role.

Skills and experience required (you may bring one or more of these skills):