Role Description

Main Duties and Responsibilities of a Trustee

To ensure that the Charity complies with its governing document (Articles of Association), charity and company law and other relevant legislation or regulations.
To ensure that the Charity pursues its objects as defined in its governing document.
To ensure that the Charity applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects (i.e. the charity must not spend money on activities which are not included in its own objects, no matter how worthwhile or charitable those activities are).
To contribute actively to the Board of Trustees’ role in ensuring that the Charity has a firm strategic direction, clear overall policy, agreed objectives and targets, and monitoring and evaluating performance against those objectives and targets.
To safeguard the good name and values of the Charity.
To appoint the Chief Executive Officer and Senior Leadership Group members.
To monitor the effective and efficient management and administration of the Charity (including the employment, management and welfare of all staff), delegating day-to-day responsibility to the Chief Executive as appropriate.
To safeguard the financial stability and solvency of the Charity.
To protect and manage the property of the Charity, including any buildings or other assets, and to ensure the proper investment of the Charity’s funds.

In addition to the statutory duties above, each Trustee should abide by the Good Governance Code of Practice, using any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the Board of Trustees reach sound decisions. This may involve scrutinising Board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, or other issues in which the Trustee has special expertise.

The Board of Trustees share and promote the following qualities:

A passionate enthusiasm for supporting the beneficiaries of the Young Enterprise Programmes and the work of the Young Enterprise Charity.
The adherence to the Good Governance: a code for the voluntary and community sector: an effective board will provide good governance and leadership by:

1. Understanding their role.
2. Ensuring delivery of organisational purpose.
3. Working effectively both as individuals and as a team.
4. Exercising effective control.
5. Behaving with integrity.
6. Being open and accountable.

Other Requirements

Essential

To attend Trustee board meetings (6 per year) and other meetings as required, usually in London.
To undertake visits and other Trustee responsibilities as required.
To undertake training and participate in evaluation of the Board’s work.

Time Commitment

It is anticipated that Trustees will be required to commit to between 7-10 days per year.

Payments

This is an unpaid role and Trustees are not entitled to receive any payment out of the Charity’s funds, other than reasonable ‘out of pocket’ expenses.

Appointment Term

The normal term is three years. Trustees may be considered for reappointment up to a maximum period of six years.

Keeping Young People Safe

Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and protect them from harm.

At Young Enterprise, we take our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults seriously. We design our roles, programmes and services with safeguarding in mind; conduct thorough checks on new employees, contractors, trustees and volunteers in line with UK safeguarding legislation; and ensure that our people have the safeguarding knowledge and skills they need to do their role and are supported to regularly refresh their training.

All successful applicants in eligible roles, including our Trustees, will need to undertake an enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) Check prior to starting in the role, and at subsequent 3-year intervals. In addition, no Young Enterprise Trustee will at any point be unaccompanied while in the presence of children under the age of 18. All Trustees will also be required to undertake Safeguarding Training prior to starting the role and at subsequent 3-year intervals.

In line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, in the vast majority of cases DBS checks which contain information on previous convictions will not disqualify an individual from working with us. If you have any questions, please contact the Young Enterprise Volunteering Team at volunteer.support@y-e.org.uk.