Governance

Status of Trustees

Skills4Communities can have up to 11 trustees on its board. Trustees are appointed for a period of 1 year (subject to current rules in the governing document). Skills4Communities is a company limited by guarantee. Therefore, trustees of the charity are also directors of the company. When a new trustee is appointed there are various forms that must be filled in to satisfy the requirements of the Charity Commision and Companies House. Trustees will also be asked to complete a declaration of interests and undergo enhanced CRB checks.

Trustees are unremunerated (unless provisions under clause 5 are followed), although travel and subsidence are paid.

Recruitment

Skills4Communities has a policy of open recruitment for trustees. We advertise vacant posts publicly, as well as invite applications from our networks, service users and members. As a minimum, Skills4Communities will advertise trustee vacancies via the Skills4Communities website, contacts and one relevant sector publication. We will also reserve one trustee place on our board for a young person.

We ask interested applicants to submit their CV for considering, along with a covering letter which addresses how they meet the person specification.

These posts are subject to an enhanced CRB disclosure and we do take up references. We also ask applicants to disclose anything which may bring Skills4Communities into desrepute.

We will shortlist applications for an interview with the CEO and Chair of Trustees plus one other nominated person. This may be a Skills4Communities employee or a young person.

Appointment

After interview, potential trustees will be invited to attend a board meeting and after the meeting to confirm whether they would like to be appointed to the board.

After appointment to the board, trustees will be required to complete all relevant paperwork. After appointment and before the next board meeting we will arrange for new trustees to attend an induction and also attend one or more Skills4Communities events.

Induction

All new trustees will receive an induction. This will consist of a one day session during which the responsibilities of a trustee will be explored as well as an introduction to key Skills4Communities projects. It will also include information on key Skills4Communities policies and procedures and an understanding of the history and background to Skills4Communities, along with our staffing and decision making structure.
We hope that all new trustees who attend this induction event will stay for a meal and drinks afterwards – this is a good opportunity to socialise with new and existing trustees as well as members of the Senior Management Team.

There is also a requirement for new trustees to read through materials provided. This will consist of, as a minimum, ‘The Essential Trustee’, the Skills4Communities Business plan which contains our strategic objectives, the Employee and Finance Handbooks plus any other relevant and timely materials. We will also arrange for a new trustee to attend one or more Skills4Communities events which will give them an opportunity to see our work in practice and to meet Skills4Communities employees some Skills4Communities service users.

This induction will be largely completed before trustees attend their first board meeting as an appointed trustee.
Despite this process, it normally takes several meetings before trustees feel fully aware of the full extent of the organisation’s activities and confident in their role.