Vacancies on the Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees of the Harborough Youth and Community Trust are looking to recruit a new Chair of Trustees. Our current Chair, Dawn O'Connell, is standing down in January 2025 after serving for 8 years.

The churches in Market Harborough are invited to consider whether there is anyone in their communities who would be interested in finding out more about this leadership role.

ROLE OF THE CHAIR OF TRUSTEES

The role of a charity trustee is outlined below but the office of Chair of Trustees includes additional responsibilities,

• helps plan and run trustee meetings. These take place 6 times per year. 
• takes the lead on ensuring meetings are properly run and recorded
• takes the lead on ensuring that trustees comply with their duties and the charity is well governed 
• acts as a spokesperson for the charity
• acts as a link between trustees and staff
• line manages the Charity Manager on behalf of the trustees 

The Essential Trustee, a publication of the Charity Commission, is a recommended read for anyone considering a role on a charity trustee board.

A Chair's Compass is a publication from the Association of Chair's. This provides further reading on the role of a charity chair. 

The Trustees of the Harborough Youth and Community Trust are volunteers from the Christian community in Market Harborough. 

The Board of Trustees provide the charity with direction and ensure compliance in our operations.   

We welcome any conversations with individuals who would like to explore further the role of a Trustee with HYACT. We are particularly interested in those with experience in building and planning, human resource and health and safety.

The link below will take you to a recommended Charity Commission document, The Essential Trustee. This explains the legal requirements of a charity trustee.

  There are 6 main duties of a trustee with the Harborough Youth and Community Trust.

1. Comply with your HYACT’s governing document and the law

• This is about knowing what we can and can’t do within the purposes of the charity, how we are fulfilling its purposes and benefiting the public and what difference we are really making.

2. Ensure HYACT is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit

• This is about being familiar with our governing document, up to date with filing accounts, returns and any changes to our charity’s registration details.
• Being aware of other laws that apply to HYACT. 

3. Act in HYACT’s best interests

• This is about making balanced, informed decisions, recognising and dealing with conflicts of interest, ensuring trustee benefits are allowed, being prepared to question and challenge and accepting majority decisions. 
• It’s not about preserving the charity for its own sake or serving personal interests.

4. Ensure HYACT is accountable

• This is about managing risks, protecting assets (reputation) and people getting the resources the charity needs, 
• It's about having appropriate controls and procedures in place, dealing with land and buildings and responsibility for, and to, staff and volunteers.

5. Manage HYACT’s resources responsibly

• This is about using our skills and experience well, deciding when we need advice, preparing for meetings, getting the information we need and being prepared for the unexpected. 

6. Act with reasonable care and skill

• This is about meeting legal accounting and reporting requirements, being able to show that we comply with the law and are effective
• It is being accountable to members and others with an interest in HYACT,  ensuring staff and volunteers are accountable to the board and welcoming accountability as an opportunity not a burden.