Board Members with Lived Experience - Guiding a Small Disabled People’s Organisation to Grow & Develop.

As part of a new, expanded board of trustees at Bromley Experts by Experience, you will play a vital role, working with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chair of Trustees and staff team to build on our recent work and expand our professional expertise so that we can continue our work across Bromley making a real difference in the lives of local Deaf and Disabled people.  

Like you, our Board members are all individuals with Lived Experience of Disability who are passionate about Disabled people’s equity and inclusion. They each bring different professional and personal perspectives and have different levels of experience as a Trustee.

As a Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisation, our governing articles require that our staff, trustees and volunteers bring with them lived experience of disability (self-identified or otherwise, see below* for definition).

We are especially seeking trustees with expertise in one or more of these areas: 

·        Fundraising Strategy.

·        Human Resources.

·        Legal and Policy.

·        Organisational Strategy.

·        Secondary and Further Education. 

We follow the Social Model of Disability and our definition of Disabled person includes anyone who faces barriers in society, including: 

Trustees at Bromley Experts by Experience play a vital role, collaborating with the Chair, fellow Trustees and the Senior Management Team to set a clear and strong strategic direction for the organisation. You will ensure that Bromley Experts by Experience is delivering against its charitable objectives and working in line with our governing documents. You will also support Bromley Experts by Experience to grow and develop as an organisation by combining your lived experience and professional expertise in a specific field, enabling us to become more impactful and effective.

 

As a trustee, you are also responsible for ensuring that Bromley Experts by Experience uses its resources effectively and efficiently to deliver its charitable purposes and continue to provide benefit to our members, beneficiaries and local Deaf and Disabled people. 

·       Ensure that Bromley Experts by Experience operates in accordance with its governing documents and the law

·       Set a clear and strong strategic direction for the organisation

·       Ensure that Bromley Experts by Experience uses its resources (financial and otherwise) effectively and efficiently to deliver its charitable purposes

·       Manage risks responsibly, avoiding exposing Bromley Experts by Experience to unnecessary risk and taking appropriate steps to mitigate risks

·       Make decisions about Bromley Experts by Experience’s policies and strategies

·       Be an ambassador for Bromley Experts by Experience, promoting our work and values

·       Trustee Board Members should expect to serve for a minimum of 12 months. 

·       Trustee Board Members are required to attend scheduled meetings with some ad hoc meetings where necessary.

·       It is anticipated that the time commitment will be an approximate average 1.5 hours per week. This will mainly comprise of:

o   Board meeting attendance (plus preparation and minutes) every 8 weeks.

o   AGM attendance (plus preparation and minutes) 

o   Supporting our annual Disability Pride event.

o   Occasional scheduled meetings with senior staff and/or Chair.

·       As we are a very small charity, there could be occasions when extra time will be required (e.g. during the planning of new projects or dealing with any particular difficulties that arise), or where additional support would be appreciated (e.g. attending events, meeting members at project days)

·     Lived Experience of disability (Can be self-identified, see below for definition)

·     A belief that Disabled people can and should be actively welcomed and included in our communities. An understanding that it is barriers in society that make that harder. This is called the Social Model of Disability.

·     Strong organisational skills.

·     Experience of how Trustee Boards operate and of effective charity governance

·     Accuracy and efficiency with an eye for detail.

·     Good interpersonal and communication skills, communicating in a way that is accessible to you. 

·     Possess and demonstrate integrity, objectivity, accountability, and honesty.

·     An effective team worker, contributing an independent perspective.

·     Understanding of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship and the financial aspects of running a charity.

·     A genuine interest in local communities and people.

·     Commitment to Bromley Experts by Experience’s aims, objectives and values. 

You must be legally eligible to stand as a registered Company Director and Charity Trustee. Having had previous experience as a trustee of a voluntary organisation is an advantage. 

 

We require a DBS Check to be completed for all Trustees.