Big Change is looking to appoint a trustee, aged between 18 and 26 years old, to our Board.
Role Summary
Our trustees are volunteers who ensure that the charity is carrying out the purposes for which we were set up. As a young trustee, your role will be vital in ensuring that the Board, and the Big Change Leadership Team, listen to young people and make decisions that benefit young people. This is a key outcome for Big Change, and young people serving on the Board are essential to ensuring the organisation is held accountable by those it serves.
Our Board consists of people from public, private and charity organisations, and they meet four times a year. They attend special events where possible, and form sub-committees when required i.e. Investment Committee.
Each trustee is accountable to the Board as a whole, led by the Chair, and is responsible for:
Directing the affairs of the organisation and ensuring that we deliver on our mission;
Ensuring the organisation complies with its governing document and relevant charity laws;
Acting in the best interests of the organisation and its beneficiaries, in both the short and long term;
Ensuring the organisation manages its resources responsibly.
In addition, the young trustee will be responsible for:
Helping Big Change’s Board and Leadership Team take into account the views and opinions of young people;
Exploring opportunities that further the aims and objectives of the charity;
Pro-actively developing the charity’s network where relevant;
Becoming familiar with the charity’s governing documents;
Contributing to overall strategic planning, good governance, and financial oversight;
Reading Board papers in advance of each meeting, to ensure you can make a tangible contribution to them, with support available from Big Change team member / your Trustee mentor if you have any questions;
If necessary, attend training sessions for you to serve as a successful trustee.
About Us
At Big Change we are unashamedly hopeful for a future in which all young people can thrive, in life not just exams. We believe in the power and potential of people – individually and collectively – to create deep and lasting change. We keep our sights on the horizon and bring together people with ideas, energy and wisdom who can show the way there.
We are on a mission to:
Show a new way is possible
Find and back leaders with bold ideas and projects that positively impact thousands of young people.
Create change with, not to, young people
Listen to young people, support them and their ideas, and ensure their needs are at the centre of every project we back.
Learn with others and shift mindsets
Bring together and learn with diverse experts and leaders who are working to transform education and learning, to inform our work and champion change together.
Person Specification
Passionate about being an ambassador for young people, and how they can influence social change.
Motivated to speak on issues affecting young people, and bring their views and perspectives to the Board.
Committed to Big Change and our mission.
Able to work collaboratively and effectively with other trustees as a member of a team.
Willing to speak your mind.
Able to maintain confidentiality.
Reliable and consistent.
Willing to learn.
Willing to devote the necessary time and effort.
Time Commitment & Term
Normally the time commitment per quarter won’t be more than 10 hours. Trustee meetings are currently held weekdays from 9am – 12pm once a quarter; preparation for these and other meetings or events (internal and external) may add a few more hours per quarter. We want our opportunities to be open to as many people as possible so if these times present any problems please let us know.
Once elected, Big Change expects its trustees to commit to a two-year term. We’d also expect them to attend at least one Trustee training programme as part of their induction so that you understand the work we deliver.
Expenses
Trustees serve as unpaid volunteers; however, expenses such as travel costs will be reimbursed.
How to Apply
If you’re inspired by our work and have the skills and experience to help us expand our impact, please send your CV (or your LinkedIn profile) and answers to the following two questions to jobs@big-change.org to express your interest in this role:
Why does Big Change’s mission matter to you? (200 words max)
What would you like to gain from this experience? (200 words max)
If you need clarification on any of the responsibilities or skills required for the role before applying, our CEO or Managing Director would be happy to schedule a brief phone call to answer your questions and discuss these details. Please feel free to drop us a note at jobs@big-change.org with any further questions or to request a quick call, before you send your application through. Remember, choosing where to work is as important for you as it is for us.
The deadline for applications is midnight on Sunday, 9th June 2024.
We aim to schedule interviews in the third and fourth week of June.
Please note that all applicants must have the unrestricted right to live and work in the UK without sponsorship.
A DBS check will be requested as part of our Safeguarding policy.
Approach to Diversity
Big Change believes greater diversity will lead to greater results for young people, this applies to our Trustees as well. Our ambition is to bring together a group of people who bring a diversity of outlook, background, experience and expertise, which is valued and respected by all.
As Big Change’s work is focused on young people, it’s especially important that our own decision-making is informed by young people’s perspectives, which is equally valued alongside other relevant expertise.
Currently, the average age of a Trustee in England and Wales is 61, and only 1% of Trustees are between the ages of 18 and 24 despite making up 12% of the general population. As a sector, we can change this by involving young people at all levels to nurture the next generation of charity leaders. This is part of our aim in the recruitment of a young trustee.
We welcome applications irrespective of gender, disability, sexual orientation, race or religion and belief, and particularly from young people with diverse backgrounds and experiences, including those who are differently abled or have overcome challenging experiences.
The statutory duties of a Big Change trustee are:
To ensure the organisation complies with its governing (our articles of association).
To ensure that the organisation pursues its objectives as defined in its governing document.
To ensure the organisation applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objectives.
To contribute actively to the Board of Trustees’ role in giving firm strategic direction to the organisation, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets.
To safeguard the good name and values of the organisation.
To ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.
To ensure the financial stability of the organisation.
To protect and manage the property of the organisation and to ensure the proper investment of the organisation’s funds.
If the organisation employs staff, to appoint the Chief Executive Officer and monitor his or her performance.
In addition, with other trustees, to hold the charity “in trust” for current and future beneficiaries by:
Ensuring that the charity has a clear vision, mission and strategic direction and is focused on achieving these.
Being responsible for the performance of the charity and for its “corporate” behaviour; ensuring that the charity complies with all legal and regulatory requirements.
Acting as guardians of the charity’s assets, both tangible and intangible, taking all due care over their security, deployment and proper application.
Ensuring that the charity’s governance is of the highest possible standard.
“Now more than ever, we need young people at the heart of steering change. It’s a really exciting time to bring young people to the highest level of our decision making at Big Change. As a young trustee you will bring us even closer to realising a world where every young person is set up to thrive in life, not just exams.” Jaiden Corfield, Youth Associate
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