Trustee
Salary: Voluntary
Location: London
Role Description and Person Specification
Role Summary
We are recruiting for a Trustee to join our 10 strong board of Trustees, chaired by Ed Warner. The ideal candidate will have high level experience of leading an HR function in either the corporate, public or charity sector. You will have a genuine commitment to the Foundation’s core purpose of helping young south Londoners grow through sport and be prepared and able to apply your expertise to support the growth and development of the Foundation in line with Charity and HR best practice.
About the Foundation
The Palace for Life Foundation is the official charity of Crystal Palace FC. Our mission is to help young South Londoners grow through the power of sport, inspiring them to find a better path in life, for a better life. We believe that everyone matters, irrespective of race, religion, beliefs or background. Our ambition is to be recognised as the charity of choice for Crystal Palace fans, the foremost youth development organisation in South London and amongst the most pioneering football community foundations in the UK.
We cover a broad spectrum, from football sessions for young people with a disability, to innovative youth development programmes in local schools and colleges. Targeting young people in areas of deprivation and at the most risk, we offer free sessions in sport and other activities, alongside pastoral support, to instil positive values and help prepare our participants for a better life. We have strong connections within the local community and businesses and run programmes designed to equip young people with the skills they need to start thinking about their future careers.
The Foundation’s CEO is supported by a strong Senior Management Team who together have responsibility for a growing staff team of 48 full time and 50 part time coaches, youth workers and trainers.
The Board of Trustees
Led by Ed Warner, our Foundation is governed by a Board of 10 Trustees who are drawn from a diverse range of backgrounds and who each have unique skills and expertise which they share for the benefit of the Foundation’s future. This follows an extensive Trustee recruitment process which took place in 2017 following a Skills Audit. Trustees are required to commit to attending Trustee Meetings which take place 4 times a year and are actively engaged in supporting the Foundation in between meetings. Trustees may also be required to be members of relevant sub-committees and must be willing to commit time to facilitate and attend specific meetings. The Board are currently working towards ensuring full compliance with all three tiers of the Sport England Code of Governance.
Key personal qualities which applicants should be able to demonstrate
- Commitment to the Foundation and willingness to devote the time and effort to make the Foundation the best in its sector
- A passion for Crystal Palace FC is desirable but not essential
- Strategic vision
- Independent and impartial judgement
- Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship
- Strong presentation, communication and interpersonal skills
- Leadership skills
- Diplomacy
- Commitment to equality of opportunity
General responsibilities of the Board of Trustees
- Providing strategic direction to the organisation, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets
- Ensuring that the Foundation complies with its governing document, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations
- Making sure that Foundation pursues its objects as defined in its governing document and its Governance Policy
- Safeguarding the good name and values of the Foundation
- Providing oversight to ensure the financial stability of the Foundation
- Protecting and managing the property of the Foundation and to ensure the proper investment of the Foundation’s funds
- To appoint the Chief Executive Officer and monitor his / her performance.
Specific responsibilities, experience and knowledge for the role of Trustee HR lead
- High level strategic experience of leading and directing a HR Function in either the public, private or charity sector
- Comprehensive expertise of HR legislation, good practice and innovation
- Willingness and ability to share best practice and mentor the Foundation’s HR lead
- Offering expertise and guidance to the Board of Trustees, it’s CEO and relevant staff on more complex HR issue
- Experience in the charity or voluntary sector desirable but not essential
- Significant experience of performance management and dealing with employment law issues
- Contributing to HR policy setting, strategic direction, and target setting, and performance evaluation against targets, budgets, plans and charitable objectives
- Reviewing procedures in relation to trustee recruitment, induction, training, and performance evaluation and monitoring the implementation of those procedures
- Ensuring that the Trustee Board monitors and reviews the performance of the charity’s CEO in keeping with best HR practices, rewards performance accordingly, and identifies appropriate development opportunities
- Participating, as required and requested by the CEO, in recruitment processes for senior staff appointments (i.e. sitting on interview panels/ contributing to job descriptions)
- Ensuring that HR activities and interventions comply with the company’s charitable objectives and governing document and Governance Policy and complement the Foundation’s culture
How to apply
Please forward a copy of CV and a covering letter to Donald.Forde@Palaceforlife.org by Monday the 18 March 2019.
