About the organisation
Set up in 1974 to ensure that individuals with learning disabilities should have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else, the charity opened its first home in 1998 and now runs homes for sixteen adults with learning disabilities.
The Trust (which is a charitable company) provides two residential group homes in Wokingham, Berkshire. We provide a unique package of care for people to live together in our homes, enabling them to enjoy normal and fulfilled lives as part of the local community, experiencing the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.
We are an independent charity, not part of any larger group, which means our trustees identify and respond exclusively to local need, working together, and with staff and residents, to ensure suitability of our organisation and our continued support.
With an Unrestricted Income of £1.1m in 2024, and a substantial Balance Sheet of £4m, the charity is well-poised to continue its mission; both homes achieved a Good CQC Rating.
About the role
Our Board includes people with experience and skills in supporting people with learning disabilities, and we’d expect our new Treasurer to have empathy with our cause and our beneficiaries.
While your prior experience of managing finances, bookkeeping or similar is highly important, understanding of current financial practice for charities or SMEs would be useful; a grasp of the Charities SORP & FRS 102 would be welcome, but is not essential.
Ability to communicate financial information clearly, especially to other trustees, is important.
Support from our employees is always available, as they deal with the day-to-day finances.
Full induction to our organisation will be provided, plus support as a new trustee, including access to external training as needed.
Our ideal candidate
Here is some of what we would expect from our trustees; we appreciate you may want to develop more in some of these areas.
- Clear commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, valuing differences to make better decisions and deliver better outcomes
- Understanding of the needs of our beneficiaries is desirable; an empathy with them is essential
- Experience and knowledge of managing finances, bookkeeping or similar
- Experience and knowledge of current practice relevant to voluntary and community groups, charities or SME finance would be useful
- Grasp of the Charities SORP and FRS 102 would be welcome
- A recognised financial and/or accounting qualification would be highly beneficial but is not a prerequisite
- Ability to communicate financial information clearly, especially to other trustees whose in-depth financial knowledge may be less than yours
- Strategic vision; good, independent judgement; ability to think creatively, tempered by pragmatism and reality
- Experience of committee or similar work, with an understanding of the role of the Treasurer in effective (charity or corporate) governance, would be highly-valued
- Familiarity with popular accounting software packages would be an advantage but not a prerequisite
- Having appropriate personal and professional contacts & networks, with willingness to draw on those as needed
What’s in it for you
- An opportunity to exercise your strategic financial & planning skills, probably in a different context
- An opportunity to influence and collectively-lead an organisation supporting adults with learning disabilities
- A chance to expand and implement your understanding of our work
- A chance to augment your experience of charities
- A boost to your career and CV, if needed
- Satisfaction of helping an organisation that supports local people with learning disabilities, thus giving something back to your community
Apply for the role
Please provide a short cover note setting out your motivations for volunteering for the organisation, any relevant skills/experience and why you think you might be a suitable candidate.
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