Trustee - West Lothian Foodbank

• Trussell

• VO103512

West Lothian Foodbank are seeking to recruit trustees with an interest in helping others, who are willing to uphold the food bank’s values, and who can bring life experience to the board of trustees.

Trustees have collective responsibility for the governance of the organisation and for all decisions made by the board. They set the strategic direction for the charity, ensuring alignment to its values, and are responsible for setting organisational policy, defining goals, agreeing the financial plan, evaluating performance, and ensuring that strong relationships are maintained between the trustees, staff, volunteers, and users of the charity’s services.

Key tasks
• to approve, support and guide the charity’s purpose, vision, strategy, goals and objectives to manage the charity’s resources responsibly, including ensuring the charity’s assets are used only to carry out its purpose, avoid undue risk and not over-commit the charity
• to ensure the effective and efficient administration of the charity, responding to changes in the local community as appropriate to ensure that key risks are identified, monitored and controlled appropriately
• to ensure appropriate financial plans are in place, budgets are monitored, and progress is evaluated
• to review and approve financial statements
• to help promote the organisation to key stakeholders and beneficiaries
• to ensure the charity has appropriate procedures to comply with current legislation and good practice, including employment, health and safety, equity, diversity and inclusion, safeguarding, and GDPR compliance/data protection.
• to prepare for and regularly attend and participate in board and subcommittee meetings and any trustee away days.

Benefits of volunteering:
• feeling you are making a difference whilst volunteering with us
• meeting new people and being part of a motivated team who share a passion to eradicate poverty in our community
• building a movement of change with our volunteers, staff, and the people who use our food bank
• bringing our staff, volunteers, and trustees together to achieve our vision
• gaining a greater insight and understanding of local agencies and partnerships.

Impact of your role
By leading on fund raising and grants matters for the food bank, you are part of providing a vital holistic support function in your local community, ensuring a dignified experience to anyone visiting or anyone who comes into contact with West Lothian Foodbank.

Experience required

Our ideal candidates would demonstrate:
• a strong and visible passion and commitment to the charity, its strategic objectives and cause.
• the ability to identify with our mission to end poverty.
• compassion and empathy in your day-to-day interactions with food bank staff, volunteers and service users.
• a willingness to devote the necessary time and effort towards being a trustee
• good, independent judgement and strategic vision
• a proven track record of sound judgement and effective decision making
• impartiality, fairness and the ability to respect confidences, coupled with an ability to work effectively as a member of a team
• understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship
• commitment to promoting promoting equality and diversity

Travel details

Applicants should be available to attend in-person meetings at the food bank.

Travel expenses

This is a voluntary position, but reasonable expenses are reimbursed.

• About
• Location
• Notes

Support

Training details

A full trustee induction is in place to support the prospective candidate within their role, as well as access to local voluntary action trustee training.

Restrictions

Minimum age: 18
You must be 18 or over and must not be disqualified from acting as a trustee and declare any conflict of interest while carrying out the duties of a trustee.

Availability

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun

Morning

Afternoon

Evening

Frequency & commitment

Trustees will attend a minimum of eight board meetings per year. We estimate that the time required to fulfil this trustee role will be between eight to ten hours per month. Trustees are appointed for a minimum two-year term of office, renewal for a further four terms to a maximum of ten years.

Volunteers (aged 18-25) taking part in this opportunity are eligible to claim Saltire Awards hours for their activity.
Find out more

With a My Volunteer Account you can write private notes on opportunities you are interested in. Sign in or sign up for a My Volunteer Account.