Clowns Without Borders
Overview
Clowns Without Borders is searching for trustees to join the Board our board. We are prioritizing applications for trustees who have professional expertise in fundraising, legal matters, charity/international work, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning.
In your role as a trustee, you’ll oversee the governance and strategy of the charity and provide guidance and support for staff. If you possess the relevant skillset and have both the time, commitment and enthusiasm for our mission, we’d love you to come join our board.
- Role: Trustees
- Responsible to: Chair of Trustees
- Purpose: To support the governance of Clowns Without Borders
- Hours: 6 – 8 hours per month
Context:
We currently have four trustees, one full-time and two part-time members of staff.
Our small charity is taking big steps towards increasing our reach and impact and so we are looking for ambitious new members to join our Board of Trustees. We meet online every quarter but always have the option to connect in person too. We have an ‘away day’ in London each year.
About Clowns Without Borders UK:
Clowns Without Borders UK (CWB UK) uses laughter and play to support the psychological and emotional health of children impacted by war and disaster.
Since 2014, we have shared laughter and joy with over 100,000 thousand children in 14 countries around the world. Wherever we go, we also train others to use play to support children’s resilience and healthy emotional development. So far, over 300 NGO staff workers and volunteers have taken part in our play-lead training programmes. Some of the world’s largest children’s charities describe our work as “psycho-social first-aid” and recognise our “innovative approach which blends funds with psychological and humanitarian support, can reach children and help them heal faster.”
We are small, but growing, our income in 2021 was just over £53,000 and our income in 2022 was just under £250,000 (370% increase). We are keen to build on this momentum in the coming year.
Role Summary
Our board of Trustees is the ultimate governance body for the charity, serving as stewards of its resources, and ultimately responsible for our strategy, operations and financial management. Our trustees ensure we comply with our governing document and policies, and charity law and that we are pursuing our charitable objectives. They are responsible for providing support, guidance and decisions to the CWB team, ensuring the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.
Trustees are expected to attend four online board meetings a year and one in-person ‘away’ day – usually held in London. Trustees are elected for a 2-year term with the opportunity to be re-elected.
Trustee Responsibilities
Strategy and Governance
- Actively contribute to the Trustee role by giving firm strategic direction to the charity, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets
- Support high standards of governance and risk management
- Ensure the organisation is accountable and transparent in its activities
- Ensure compliance with relevant charitable and company legislation
- Safeguard the interests of Clowns Without Borders’s beneficiaries
Advocacy
- Act as an ambassador for Clowns Without Borders
Effective policy and practice
- Take the lead in reviewing and overseeing policies and procedures in your area of expertise
- Review monitoring to ensure our policies are as effective as possible
- Be a primary point of contact, alongside the Director, for anyone who wants to raise concerns or issues in these areas
- Provide guidance on relevant training for charity volunteers and staff
Person Specification
- An understanding of the charity sector, previous board experience or if new to trusteeship a willingness to take part in governance training
- Strategic and organizational experience
- Embody the values of Clowns Without Borders and endeavor to maintain a spirit of joy, peace, compassion and kindness in the way we work together as Trustees
- Enthusiastic about our mission and able to support this through the sharing of ideas, professional expertise and networks
- Personal and professional integrity
How to apply
Application and Interviews
We are a safe space for all people and welcome those who are new to and currently underrepresented on Charity Boards, in particular those from black and other ethnic minority groups, especially black, Asian women. Also, those who consider themselves to have a disability, are members of the LGBTQ+ community. Those with lived experience of forced migration.
Please send a CV (or LinkedIn URL) or video or voice recording with full contact details and a cover letter. This should outline why you want to be a trustee for Clowns Without Borders along with what your skills will bring to the role.
Do also get in touch if you’d like to set up an informal chat before applying for the role: [email protected]
Applications are open until 28th February 2023 however, we will consider applications submitted earlier.
After a successful interview, trustees will be asked to provide references. We also have an induction period of three months before being appointed to the board.
Send applications to: [email protected]