Trustees (HR, Further Education, Marketing/Communications, Fundraising or Digital/IT specialists)

Contract: Voluntary (reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed). Commitment: Average 3-4 hours a month. Location: Dartington/Hybrid

Join our Board and Make a Difference! We’re looking to expand our Board of Trustees and are seeking individuals with expertise in any of the following areas:

• HR: With a strong understanding of HR best practices, you will support the development and implementation of our People Strategy alongside our HR Team, ensuring a positive and inclusive environment for all staff. You’ll also be there to provide guidance when needed, leaning on your experience of HR matters.
• Further Education: Your knowledge of the Further Education sector will be instrumental in supporting the College Leadership Team to continually improve the quality of education and learning opportunities for our students. Experience of Ofsted inspections and an understanding of ESFA funding conditions is highly desirable.
• Marketing/Communications: You will provide advice and guidance on the development of our marketing and communications and help us to build a strong brand with a clear voice.
• Fundraising: You will provide strategic and practical guidance on funding streams ensuring that the short and long-term needs of the charity are met.
• Digital/IT: You will provide strategic guidance on IT systems and infrastructure, ensuring they are robust, secure, and compliant. This includes identifying opportunities to improve operational efficiency through technology, supporting the implementation of new software and advising on data protection regulations.

If you don’t have any of the above experience but believe that you can add value to our Board in a different way, we would still love to hear from you.

Who we are: Lifeworks Charity is dedicated to enriching the lives of children and adults with learning disabilities. We operate across multiple areas, including education, community support, day services and residential care. We are seeking passionate and dedicated individuals to join our Board of Trustees, to help guide our organisation to a great future. As a Trustee, you will get the opportunity to make a real difference. You’ll be directly contributing to the strategic direction of the charity, whilst supporting a brilliant cause.

What you’ll bring:

• Passion for our mission: A genuine commitment to supporting individuals with learning disabilities to live great lives.
• Relevant expertise: Proven experience in HR, Further Education, Marketing/Communications, Fundraising or Digital/IT, ideally within the education or care sector.
• Strong governance skills: A good understanding of charity law, governance principles, and risk management (you don’t need to have previous experience as a charity board trustee – we will give you the support that you need to learn about us and your role).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills: The ability to effectively communicate with colleagues, stakeholders, and the wider community.
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion: A strong belief in creating an inclusive and equitable environment for all. We believe that having a diverse Board of Trustees is key to our success so we’re especially keen to receive applications from under-represented communities and people with lived experience of learning disabilities.

Time Commitment: All new Trustees are required to attend an induction at Lifeworks, before attending your first Board meeting. You will need to attend our five Board meetings per year. They are held within standard business hours at our Head Office in Shinners Bridge, Dartington. One of these meetings will be an all-day strategic planning meeting, whilst the other meetings will be approximately 3.5 hours each. You will receive any materials within a week of the meeting. You may also be asked to participate in sub-committees as required.

Building a diverse and safe team: At Lifeworks, we’re committed to fostering a workplace that reflects the diversity of our community. As a Disability Confident Employer, we actively encourage applications from individuals with disabilities who meet the job criteria, and we guarantee qualified candidates with disabilities an interview. Lifeworks is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk. To achieve this commitment, we will ensure the continuous development, improvement and review of robust safeguarding processes and procedures that continuously promote a culture of vigilance in respect of safeguarding within our organisation. Therefore, all Trustees undergo Safer Recruitment checks which include pre-employment checks, reference checks, and an enhanced DBS check.

Apply today and tell us why you’d be a great fit for our charity!