Could you share your skills and experience to enable Downright Excellent (DEx) to continue providing top quality governance and oversight?
DEx delivers essential skills and support to children with Down syndrome, and their families.
No worries if you have never been a trustee before – if you bring the commitment and energy, we will provide the friendly welcome and trustee training and support to help you thrive
Downright Excellent’s mission is to enable children with Down syndrome to maximise their potential. We passionately believe that all our children’s skills and talents should be celebrated and developed to support them to be the best that they can be. We deliver a range of research-based interventions and support to both children with Down syndrome and their families.
We are seeking a trustee to take on the duties of honorary secretary to join our board as we navigate our way through the challenges presented by the current Covid-19 crisis, and plan for the future.
A bit about this role
Our new honorary secretary will work closely with our CEO and Chair to help keep on top of our established compliance and governance processes, keep up to date with legislative and regulatory updates, set Board meeting agendas and take and write up minutes.
It is not essential to have a background in charity governance or law. More important is that you are proactive, organised, analytical, willing to learn and will take the initiative to run with the role.
What can you expect to be doing?
Take on honorary secretary responsibilities including:
- Taking ownership of our compliance monitoring tracker – keeping it up to date, monitoring key dates and actions, working with others to make sure actions are completed, updating the Board
- Keeping up to date with legislative and regulatory changes that are relevant to DEx and advising the Board of these
- Setting Board meeting agendas with our Chair and CEO
- Taking minutes of Board meetings and writing them up in a timely way
- As a trustee and working with all DEx’s trustees:
- give firm strategic direction, set overall policy, define goals and evaluate performance
- understand DEx finances and make sure we are using our resources properly
- make sure that DEx meets its duties under charity and other relevant laws and regulations
- help DEx to continue growing and operating as a business that offers top quality professional services.
What are the benefits to you?
You will share your existing skills, expand your knowledge and make a significant contribution to improving the lives of children with Down syndrome and their families and to developing DEx. You will also meet great people, enjoy working in a different context and be part of an energetic and committed board of trustees.
We’re looking for someone who…
- is organised, methodical and proactive with an analytical mind and good attention to detail
- has good, independent judgement
- is willing to speak their mind and join in discussions
- can show us their drive and passion to support our work
- may have a background in charity governance or law, but this is not essential
- has around 8 hours per month to contribute
DEx is committed to promoting equality and diversity and it is embedded in all we do. Our goal is to build a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills and reflects the diverse DEx community. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.
Time expectation
We need you to spend around 8 hours a month in this role. More hours may be required for other tasks at certain times, such as specific fundraising events. The Board meets at least 6 times a year for around two and a half hours, with one longer strategy day per year, and 3 topic-based workshops.
How to apply
To find out more about DEx, please visit our website at www.downrightexcellent.org/news
To apply, please send your CV or an informal summary of your experience and a covering letter telling us why this role at DEx attracts you to Ann Reynard, DEx CEO at ann@downrightexcellent.com cc gemma@lovegovernance.com
Interviews for suitable candidates will take place as their applications are received, with an appointment made when we find the right person.