Trustee of Bristol City Robins Foundation

Role Status: Unpaid Role (Voluntary role, but all reasonable expenses will be reimbursed)

Location: Ashton Gate Stadium/Home based

Role Term: Part time, fixed term (Initial 3-year term with an option to extend to a maximum of 9 years)

Application Deadline: 29th October 2021

Background

The Robins Foundation is the Charity of Bristol City Football Club. The Foundation’s mission is to bring the club and community together.

The Foundation work across Bristol with a primary focus on Young People and families, areas of deprivation and South Bristol.

The Foundation delivers programmes and services that support people who feel that they have been written off by society. Our high-quality, targeted work focuses on three key areas: Health and Wellbeing, Education and Employability, and Youth Engagement.

Current Picture

The Robins Foundation has steadily grown programmes and services over the last 5 years. With a new strategy launching in 2021 to set the direction for the Foundation over the next 4 years.

Skills and experience required

We welcome applications from any candidate who can demonstrate such expertise and skills as:

• Relevant professional qualifications, experience, and expertise with board level or senior management experience
• Experience working closely with communities
• Experience of working in the health sector 

All Trustees are expected to uphold and represent the Robins Foundation purpose, vision, values and mission in a personal and professional capacity. The board of trustees will consider any applicant who brings the right skills and experience forward. Being a Bristol City supporter is not a prerequisite.

The Board comprises of eight trustees; two trustees nominated by Bristol City Football Club and six independent trustees.

The successful candidate will be required to spend a minimum of 12 days per annum on work for the Robins Foundation including Board Meetings, the AGM, annual 1:2:1 performance review with the Chair, an annual Board away day and at least 4 Board subcommittee meetings per year.

It is expected that the Trustee will support and participate in some Robins Foundation events throughout the year and provide ad-hoc support to the Robins Foundation team and Board as required.

The Robins Foundation is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse Board of Trustees and is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from disabled people and those from an ethnic minority background.

All suitably experienced applicants will receive consideration for these positions without regard to race, ethnicity, religion or belief(s), gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age or with regard to pregnancy or maternity.

The Robins Foundation is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and adults at risk and require all employees to share this commitment and promote the welfare of these groups.

All trustees must have or be prepared to gain an understanding of the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities inherent in the role.

They must also be eligible to act as a Company Director and Charity Trustee.

Application Process

• An application form must be completed.
• Applications should be submitted via Breathe HR platform - https://hr.breathehr.com/v/trustee-18806 
• Deadline for applications is 29th October
• Applications with the relevant skills and experience will be invited for an informal conversation with the chair of the board or CEO, either in person or via video call.
• A formal interview process will then take place for short-listed candidates with a sub-group of Trustees.
• Successful candidates will be appointed subject to approval at a Robins Foundation Board Meeting/AGM.

Applicants will be asked about any previous convictions, cautions, reprimands, including those that are considered ‘spent’ as defined by the Rehabilitation Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amended 2013). Appointment to this role is subject to a satisfactory Enhanced DBS Check (with children’s barred list check) and references.

Personal Specification:

Essential

• Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of Trusteeship.
• Commitment to the charity’s objects, aims and values and willingness to devote time to carry out responsibilities
• Strategic and forward looking vision in relation to the charity’s objects and aims
• Good, independent judgement, political impartiality, and the ability to think creatively in the context of the organisation and external environment
• Good communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to respect the confidences of colleagues
• Balancing tact and diplomacy with willingness to challenge and constructively criticise

Desirable

• Prior experience of committee/trustee work.
• Knowledge of the type of work undertaken by the organisation
• A wider involvement with the voluntary sector
• Experience of committee work

Role Profile

All trustee roles recruited are required to be filled with individuals who:

The Robins Foundation Board of Trustees is committed to having a diverse board to bring the best governance and support to the staff team.

Duties as a Trustee

• To ensure that the Robins Foundation complies at all times with its governing document, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
• To ensure that the Robins Foundation pursues its objects as defined in its governing document.
• To maintain proper financial control and ensure that the Robins Foundation applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects ie, the charity must not spend money on activities that are not included in its objects, no matter how worthwhile or charitable those activities are.
• To develop strategy, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets.