About the organisation
The Line is East London’s public art trail that connects Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and The O2, following the waterways and line of the Greenwich Meridian. Our mission is to connect communities and inspire individuals through a dynamic outdoor exhibition programme where everyone can explore art, nature and heritage for free.
We focus on collaborative engagement projects that support wellbeing and learning, as well as providing opportunities for young people to develop skills and improve employability.
At The Line, we value an open, inclusive and nurturing environment to promote collaboration, creativity and wellbeing. We aim to listen and learn from the people we connect with and believe in the transformative impact of art and nature. We are committed to increasing access to the arts through our programmes and challenging barriers to participation.
Our programme focuses on:
1. Exhibitions: Temporary and permanent site-specific projects and commissions complement The Line’s ongoing programme of exhibition loans.
2. Learning & Participation: Cross-curricular education programmes and free drop-in workshops for families strengthen connections with schools and the local community.
3. Health & Wellbeing: Walks and workshops promote the health and wellbeing benefits of spending time on The Line, with participants to our weekly wellbeing walks referred by GPs and social prescribing link workers.
4. Youth Employment: Our Youth Guides programme offers paid training and employment (London Living
Wage) to local 18-21-year-olds to boost skills and employability for young people in East London.
Our aims and objectives are to:
- Promote spending time on The Line for wellbeing
- Improve access and increase engagement with The Line
- Develop sustainable practices and promote ecology and nature
- Listen and learn from local communities to support their needs
- Empower local young people to pursue creative opportunities
- Create and nurture collaborations
About the role
Having completed a successful recruitment round in 2023, as a result of which we have welcomed three new trustees to the board, The Line is now looking for a further two trustees, including a finance trustee.
The role will include being a member of the investment committee, working closely with an established and talented financial controller on accounting and finance matters, scrutiny of budgets, forecasts, financial results and annual accounts and liaison with advisors/auditors as appropriate.
Time commitment:
- Meetings / support with staff and trustees as detailed above;
- Preparing for and attending four Board meetings per year, generally in central London;
- Annual strategy away day;
- Training as required; and
- Attending exhibition launches and events when possible.
The appointment is for a three-year term which can be renewed twice. The role is unpaid however The Line is happy to provide training as required and to reimburse pre-agreed reasonable domestic travel expenses and
childcare costs to support attendance at meetings.
Our ideal candidate
We are looking for a trustee with financial and/or commercial experience. In this role, previous charity or trustee experience will be a distinct advantage as we are looking for this trustee to take on many of the responsibilities of a charity treasurer.
We're looking for a trustee who will bring their energy, ideas and enthusiasm and work with other board members
and The Line team to guide and support the organisation. We actively encourage applications from people of all ages and backgrounds and particularly individuals who live or work locally to the route of The Line.
What’s in it for you
Becoming a Trustee of The Line is an exciting and fulfilling role. Trustees have overall control of the charity and are responsible for making sure it is doing what it was set up to do. Trustees are the people who lead the charity in non-executive roles and decide how it is run.
As a Board member, you and your colleagues will be jointly responsible for:
- Making sure that The Line complies with its governing document (pursuing the objects as defined in it), relevant legislation and regulation;
- Setting strategic direction and overall policy;
- Defining goals and setting targets to deliver strategy and evaluating performance against these;
- Helping to promote the work and profile of The Line;
- Monitoring operational, management and administrative processes and ensuring risks are understood and are being managed through appropriate policies;
- Scrutinising and approving The Line’s statutory accounts;
- Reviewing organisational policies and updating these as necessary;
- Reviewing and approving the annual budget, quarterly accounts and forecasts to make sure that The Line remains financially viable;
- Providing leadership and guidance in areas of your expertise or experience; and
- Complying with The Line’s policies as relevant to Trustees and professional standards by behaving in a professional manner at all times and promoting the charity’s policies including equality and diversity.
The Board currently has an investment subcommittee and intends to establish subcommittees for specific areas – for example finance / risk and HR – in due course.
Apply for the role
Please enter all required information!
Thank you, your application has been submitted
Please provide a cover note if it is requested in the role description. Applications which are personalised, setting out your motivations for volunteering for the organisation and relevant skills/experience, are far more likely to be successful.
