Chair

About Penny Appeal

Penny Appeal was set up in 2009 to provide poverty relief across Asia, the Middle East and Africa by offering water solutions, organising mass feedings, supporting orphan care, and providing emergency aid. At Penny Appeal, people are at the heart of everything. Every one of their projects are tailor-made and benefit as many people in need as possible, in ways that cost their generous donors just a little bit of loose change each day.

Over the past few years, Penny Appeal work has expanded and their teams have grown considerably, allowing the charity to launch new campaigns and work in even more crisis-hit countries. As well as strengthening communities in over 30 countries around the world, Penny Appeal also supports vulnerable people in the UK.

Penny Appeal is focussed now on consolidation following an extraordinary period of growth, and working hard to ensure its systems, processes and frameworks are appropriate to the scale and complexity of its operations. The organisation is strengthening its capacity both in the executive and the Board to be ready and fit for the future.

The Role

The Chair will provide leadership and direction to the Board of Trustees, enabling them to fulfil their responsibilities for the overall governance and strategic development of the charity. The Chair will hold the Board and Executive Team to account for the charity’s mission and vision, providing inclusive leadership to the Board of Trustees, ensuring that each trustee fulfils their duties and responsibilities for the effective governance of the charity.

The Chair will also support, and, where appropriate, challenge the Chief Executive & Executive team and ensure that the Board functions as a unit and works closely with the entire Executive to achieve agreed objectives. He or she will act as an ambassador and the public face of Penny Appeal, in partnership with the Chief Executive and the Trustees & Ambassadors.

Principal Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Provide leadership to the charity and its Board, ensuring that Penny Appeal delivers on its mission and strategic plan.
• Ensure that Trustees fulfil their duties and responsibilities for the effective governance of the Charity.
• Ensure that the Board operates within its charitable objectives, and provides a clear strategic direction for Penny Appeal.
• Ensure that the Board is able to regularly review major risks and associated opportunities, and satisfy itself that systems are in place to take advantage of opportunities, and manage and mitigate the risks.
• Ensure that the Board fulfils its duties to ensure sound financial health of the charity, with systems in place to ensure financial accountability and probity.
• Provide effective strategic planning support to the Board to enable the charity to plan effectively for the future.

Governance

• Ensure that the governance arrangements are working in the most effective way for Penny Appeal, and in line with regulatory and legal requirements.
• Develop the knowledge and capability of the Board of Trustees, including appointment of additional trustees to expand the size and mix of experience of the Board.
• Encourage positive change where appropriate, address and resolve any conflicts within the Board.
• Appraise the performance of the Trustees and the Board on an annual basis.
• Ensure that the Board of Trustees is regularly refreshed and incorporates the right balance of skills, knowledge and experience needed to govern and lead the charity effectively, and which also reflects the wider population.
• Work within any agreed policies adopted by Penny Appeal.

External Relations

• Act as an ambassador for the charity.
• Maintain close relationships with key stakeholders which could include Government, the Charity Sector, and Partners.
• Act as a spokesperson for the organisation when appropriate.
• Represent Penny Appeal at external functions, meetings and events.
• Facilitate change and encourage collaboration and communication.

Efficiency and Effectiveness

• Chair meetings of the Board of Trustees effectively and efficiently, bringing impartiality and objectivity to the decision-making process.
• Ensure that Trustees are fully engaged and that decisions are taken in the best, long-term interests of Penny Appeal and that the Board takes collective ownership.
• Foster, maintain and ensure that constructive relationships exist with and between the Trustees.
• Work closely with the Chief Executive to give direction to Board policy-making and to ensure that meetings are well planned, meaningful and reflect the responsibilities of Trustees.
• Monitor to ensure that decisions taken at meetings are implemented.

Relationship with the Chief Executive, the Founder and the wider Executive Team

• Establish and build a strong, effective and a constructive working relationship with the Chief Executive, ensuring she/he is held to account for achieving agreed strategic objectives.
• Line Manage the Chief Executive Officer and maintain a close and constructive working relationship with all members of the Board.
• Support the Chief Executive, whilst respecting the boundaries which exist between the two roles, and the operational authorities delegated to the Chief Executive and Executive team.
• Ensure regular contact with the Chief Executive and develop and maintain an open and supportive relationship within which each can speak openly about concerns, worries and challenges.
• Ensure the work of Penny Appeal is promoted to key stakeholders and the wider public sector to support the ongoing success of the charity.
• Liaise with the Chief Executive to maintain an overview of Penny Appeal’s affairs, providing support as necessary.
• Conduct an annual appraisal and remuneration review for the Chief Executive in consultation with other Trustees.
• Ensure that the Chief Executive has the opportunity for professional development and has appropriate external professional support.
• Ensure the Board of Trustees are encouraged to promote the work of Penny Appeal to their own network of contacts within the public and private sector.