About the organisation
Bede House (Bede) has been transforming lives in Southwark, south-east London, since 1938. We were originally established as a settlement in Bermondsey, and we are still rooted in the community we serve.
Our services have grown and evolved the meet the changing needs of the area, and now Bede is one of the leading providers in the borough of person-centred, community-based support for people with learning disabilities, and of trauma-informed, holistic support for survivors of domestic abuse. We directly support around 900 individuals each year and reach around 2,000 across Southwark and neighbouring boroughs.
Bede’s Learning Disabilities service is one of the largest communities in Southwark for people with learning disabilities. At the Bede Centre, people can make and meet friends, and play their own full role in the community. We are a community lifeline for the people we support, even in something as simple as hosting a daily lunch for us all to sit down together and share. Many of the people who come to Bede do not have any other opportunities to spend time with anyone outside their family.
Bede’s Starfish project has worked with domestic abuse survivors for over 20 years. Our mix of therapy, trauma-informed advocacy, group work and peer support has been shown to help survivors escape the cycle of abuse.
About the role
We are looking for new trustees to join our Council of Management, as some members have stepped down after their term of office has completed. Trustees are appointed for an initial 3-year term, which can be renewed up to a maximum 9 years.
The next few years will be very important in securing the future of the Bede Centre, which is at the heart of the charity and is part of a complex and long-running regeneration project overseen by Southwark Council. We would particularly welcome trustees who can support with relevant expertise in long-term financial planning of building projects.
You would ideally join our Finance and Premises Committee, which is one of 2 board committees and which focuses on overseeing the finance and infrastructure management of the charity.
Council members attend 4 board meetings/year, usually on a Thursday evening. One board meeting is longer and incorporates a planning/strategy session. Finance and Premises Committee meeetings are also held quarterly, usually during the day and a few weeks in advance of each board meeting. The Finance and Premises Committee is currently co-chaired by the Treasurer and a trustee with building expertise.
Our AGM is held on the first Thursday evening in November at the Bede Centre and we ask all trustees to join if possible.
You will be joining a friendly and knowledgeable board, and we welcome applications from people who have not been trustees before.
Our ideal candidate
We have listed the general attributes we are looking for. We are particularly looking for trustees with relevant skills and expertise to scrutinise and advise on Bede's involvement in long term building projects.
We are a community organisation and the great joy of Bede is in coming to visit us and joining in! This opportunity would best suit candidates who know Southwark and the local area, and who are interested in spending some time with us in person.
Personal Qualities
· Demonstrating a strong and visible commitment to Bede’s strategic objectives, mission and values;
· Exhibiting strong interpersonal and relationship-building abilities and comfort in an ambassadorial role;
· Demonstrating tact and diplomacy, with the ability to listen and engage effectively;
· Strong networking capabilities that can be utilised for the benefit of the charity;
· Ability to foster and promote a collaborative team environment;
· Ability to commit time to conduct the role well, including some travel and attending events out of office hours.
Knowledge and skills:
· Broad knowledge and understanding of strategic leadership in a charity context or equivalent;
· Understanding of marginalised communities and civil society and the current issues affecting lives, particularly specifically in Southwark;
· Strong leadership skills, ability to motivate staff and volunteers and bring people together;
· Financial management expertise and a broad understanding of charity finance issues;
· Good understanding of charity governance or willingness to learn.
What’s in it for you
Bede is a key community anchor in Bermondsey. The next few years are incredibly important to us, as we work to secure a future for the Bede Centre for future generations. We estimate that our learning disabilities team works with around 8-9% of the entire eligible population of Southwark, and as such is a significant service. The future of the Bede Centre is central to our ability to continue running the service for our clients. You will also be joining us an an exciting point in the growth of our Starfish service, where we hope to be working closely with the council on transforming the support available to survivors of abuse.
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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