Financial Trustee for mental health and heritage charity Restoration Trust
We involve people with mental health challenges with heritage and creativity. We call this culture therapy and we want it to be everyday good practice by 2027. Our community of trustees, expert advisors and staff is welcoming and inclusive.
We are committed to achieving our goal of financial sustainability. To date, most of our funding is project-based. We want to increase our unrestricted funding so that we can grow our ancient landscape and archives projects to extend to different parts of the UK, develop our non-grant-based income streams, and extend our reach to more people who do not currently take part in the Trust’s work. At the same time, we want to develop better ways of providing support to our ever-growing community of participants. We also want to ensure our legacy by sharing what we have learned in a more structured way.
What we are looking for
We are looking for a trustee with experience and expertise in finance and accounting who is willing to bring energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the role, and who will broaden diversity of thinking on our board. To broaden our diversity we are seeking trustees from groups that are currently underrepresented on charity boards.
Ideally you should have knowledge of the accounting requirements for charities and the financial challenges that charities face.
Be able to analyse and interpret financial data to help the board of trustees make decisions based on the financial information available.
Be able to support and advise the Director on financial matters such as management accounts, funding bids and financial oversight.
You will play a key part on the Board in its strategic role, with particular focus on generating income and expanding income streams. You will ensure that we present our financial information as effectively as possible in bids to major funders. You will help the board to maintain excellent oversight of budgets and accounts. Board members have a collective responsibility. This means that Trustees always act as a group and not as individuals.
You do not need previous governance experience. New trustees are offered a mentor on the Board. New and current trustees and Expert Advisory Board members are invited to attend the online training offered by National Council for Voluntary Organisations NCVO.
Trustees meet 3 times a year, twice on line and once in London, and attend a strategy day every two years. The role requires a commitment of around 0.5 days per month.
Trustees are appointed for a 3-year term of office, renewable for a further two terms with a maximum of nine years.
This is a voluntary position and reasonable travel expenses are reimbursed.
We currently have 10 Trustees with backgrounds in publishing, mental health practice, heritage, marketing and journalism, and lived experience of mental health.
Our Expert Advisory Panel comprises current and former participants in our projects who meet regularly and advise the Board. Members take part in project development and Board working groups. Two former Expert Advisors are on our Board.
What impact you will have
Restoration Trust has a bookkeeper but the Director does all of the financial planning and management with the help and support of the Board. You will be helping the Director to present our accounts accurately and according to charity accounting rules, to draft budgets that are realistic and will meet the requirements of funders, and to write 5-yearly business plans. These tasks are complicated by the fact that we work with a number of partners for each project.
The Financial Trustee is a critical role in our bid to increase our unrestricted funding so that we can grow our projects, extend to different parts of the UK, develop our non-grant-based income streams, and extend our reach to more people who do not currently take part in the Trust’s work.
Your role will have a direct impact on the number of people who will benefit from the work of the Trust, not only directly as participants but also as a result of our ability to influence those offering mental health therapies, through example, advocacy, publications and the use of social media. The people and organisations who contribute to RT’s projects as advisors, funders, supporters, contributors and partners, are changing the way that mental ill-health is perceived and ameliorated across several different sectors as a direct outcome of our work.
For more information please contact: [email protected]