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ROLE DESCRIPTION FOR A TRUSTEE

Trustee of Newbury Soup Kitchen

Newbury Soup Kitchen is seeking a trustee with legal experience to join its Board of Trustees.

The successful candidate will bring professional legal knowledge and experience to the Board, helping ensure that the charity operates within its legal and regulatory obligations, maintains good governance and manages legal risk appropriately.

Legal requirements and responsibilities

The trustee will be expected to:

· Ensure that Newbury Soup Kitchen complies with its governing document, charity law, company law and all other relevant legislation and regulations

· Provide legal knowledge and guidance to the Board on matters affecting the charity

· Help the Board understand and fulfil its legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities as trustees

· Identify, assess and advise on potential legal and regulatory risks

· Advise on matters including contracts, employment, safeguarding, data protection, property, governance and other areas of law relevant to the charity

· Review key agreements, contracts, policies and other legal documents where appropriate

· Ensure that appropriate governance procedures are followed and that Board decisions are properly considered and recorded

· Advise on legal matters relating to the charity’s development and future plans, including its proposed Community Support Centre

· Keep the Board informed of significant changes in legislation or regulation that may affect the charity

· Provide constructive challenge where appropriate and ensure that legal considerations are properly taken into account in Board decisions

The trustee would not be expected to act as the charity’s solicitor or provide formal specialist legal advice where external legal advice is required. Their role would be to bring their professional legal expertise, experience and judgement to the Board and help ensure that the charity operates with sound governance and appropriate legal oversight.

General trustee duties

In addition to the specific legal responsibilities above, the duties of a trustee are as follows:

· Ensure that the organisation pursues its stated objects (purposes), as defined in its governing document, by developing and agreeing on a long-term strategy

· Ensure that the organisation applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its charitable objects for the benefit of the public

· Ensure that the organisation defines its goals and evaluates performance against agreed targets

· Safeguard the good name and values of the organisation

· Ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation, including having appropriate policies and procedures in place

· Ensure the financial stability of the organisation

· Protect and manage the property of the charity and ensure the proper investment of the charity’s funds

· Follow proper and formal arrangements for the appointment, supervision, support, appraisal and remuneration of the chief executive

· Use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the Board reach sound decisions. This may involve scrutinising Board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, and offering constructive challenge where appropriate

Person specification

We are looking for someone with:

· Relevant professional legal experience

· A sound understanding of legal and regulatory requirements relevant to charities

· An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship

· The ability to identify and assess legal and regulatory risk

· The ability to explain complex legal matters clearly and practically to people without a legal background

· Good, independent judgement

· Strategic vision

· An ability to think creatively

· A willingness to speak their mind and provide constructive challenge

· A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort

· An ability to work effectively as a member of a team

· A commitment to Newbury Soup Kitchen’s aims, values and work

· A commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership