• Are you organised? Can you take notes for our charity Board meetings? 

• Do you have an interest in helping our charity that supports older people in our community?

• You could be the Honorary Secretary for Age Concern Twyford & District

                         

Initially set up in 1988, we are an independent local charity (Charitable Incorporated Organisation No. 11163722) that promotes and maintains independent living for older residents in and around our local community. We are not affiliated with any similar organisations, but work closely with other Wokingham Borough-based charities and support organisations.

We provide a Day Centre with activities, lunches and optional take-home meals, activities including arts, singing and dancing, plus a range of support services including assistance with form-filling, handypersons and a listening ear to support families.

In 2022/23, our income was £160k, a small rise on previous years, and our services and facilities remain well-used and very well-appreciated in our community.

 

About us https://www.ageconcerntwyford.org.uk/about-us

Charity Commission information about our organisation  https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5066867

 

The Role and What we are Looking for in a New Honorary Secretary

 

Our Board includes people with experience and skills in the services we provide to older people, and we’d expect our new Secretary to have empathy with our cause and our beneficiaries. 

You’ll need good written, verbal and organising skills, with the ability to take notes to turn into Minutes of our meetings, but trustees’ meetings aren’t complex or too formal. Some support from our Manager is always available, as they and our employees deal with the day-to-day running of the Centre, and of course, other trustees will always offer their collective support.

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You don’t necessarily need prior experience of charity trusteeship, as advice from local charity-support organisations is always available. Full induction to our organisation will be provided, plus specialist help as a new trustee, including access to external training.

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We are a charity not a business, but we apply business principles to governing our organisation. We are looking for fresh expertise and experience from a variety of backgrounds to our charity. We want to expand the diversity of our Board and strongly welcome applications from people from less-represented groups. 

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The focus of a trustee role is strategic, and trustees will not be expected to get involved in the organisation’s operations on a day-to-day basis; however, contact and liaison with other trustees and employees is expected.   

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We ask for about five hours per month, which includes all meetings, discussions, etc.  You will need access to digital communications, as some our charity’s business is run that way and you’ll be expected to understand and share your digital and organisational skills with other trustees.

 

What do you get as a volunteer trustee with our organisation?   

• An opportunity to exercise your strategic administrational & note-taking skills, probably in a different environment or context 

• An opportunity to influence and collectively-lead an organisation supporting our community

• A chance to expand and implement your understanding of our work

• A chance to augment your experience of charities 

• A boost to your career and CV, if needed 

• Satisfaction of helping an organisation that supports older people, thus giving something back to your community 

• Induction training from us; training, support and assistance from local charity-support & advice agencies; reimbursement of reasonable expenses, if needed 

  

What do we get?   

• Your strategic administrational and planning skills, knowledge, understanding or experience, including ability to take comprehensive notes to turn into Minutes

• Your abilities to influence plans for our charity’s future, especially in these times of cost-of-living crises

• Enhancement to our overall governance and the Board of trustees; improvement in our charity governance and operational growth   

• Your participation in our collective decision-making, contributing to all areas of our charity work   

• Your enthusiasm   

  

What do our beneficiaries get?   

• The ability to continue our support for older people in our community

• A forward-looking and agile organisation, with a well-informed and well-managed Board of trustees  

  

How to apply  

This appointment is being assisted for us by Involve Community Services, a charity-support organisation, who can supply you with a detailed Role Description and Person Specification, and offer some advice about trusteeship and your application. Contact intrusted@involve.community

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Trustee appointments are subject to satisfactory references, to completion of an online Safeguarding course and an Enhanced DBS check. 

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To apply, please send your expression of interest and your CV or similar to our trustees via info@ageconcerntwyford.org.uk

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That will be read by Age Concern Twyford’s trustees, and an interview offered as soon as mutually convenient.