Chair of Board of Trustees

ABOUT US

ASP was founded in December 2016 as an independent research project jointly hosted by the Williams Institute and the Health and Human Rights Law Project, UCLA School of Law. ASP registered as an independent charitable foundation in Liechtenstein in December 2017 and with the Charities Commission in England and Wales in 2020. ASP continues to maintain a strong intellectual partnership with UCLA School of Law and conducts its research following UCLA Institutional Review Board approvals.

Mission: ASP’s MISSION is to support global efforts to eradicate CRSV and strengthen national and international responses through research and action on CRSV against men and boys, including those with diverse SOGIESC, as well as other people with diverse SOGIESC.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Chair role profile

The role of the Chair is to provide strategic leadership and direction to the Board of Trustees. Their aim is to enable the Board to fulfil its responsibilities for the overall governance and strategic direction of the charity. The organisation is a company limited by guarantee, registered with the Charity Commission as a charity. Company registration number 11947431, and charity registration number 1188832. The Chair will ensure that the charity, both Board and staff, comply with its governing document, charity law and any other relevant legislation or regulations. They will guide the trustees in the pursuit of the objectives set out the governing document.

The Chair, as leader of the Board, works closely with the Executive Director (ED) and Founder on behalf of the Board of trustees. All Survivors Project is a young organisation, and so the Chair will take a special interest in developing strategic relationships and, where appropriate, perform a representational role for the organisation. In addition to the general responsibilities of a trustee, the Chair has specific responsibilities related to their role:

• Provide leadership for the Board of Trustees in their key role of contributing to ASP’s strategic direction as required.

• Working with the ED:

• Plan the annual cycle of board meetings and other general meetings where required, for example annual general meeting.

• Set agendas for board and other general meetings.

• Chair and facilitate Board meetings ensuring a balance is kept between timekeeping and space for discussion. Ensure that business is dealt with and decisions made, where appropriate. Ensure that decisions, actions and deliberations are minuted accurately by the Secretary.

• Support the ED is ensuring that board decisions are clearly assigned, monitored and implemented.

• Contribute to and co‐ordinate discussions at the Board on policy matters.

• With other board members, ensure that the policy and practices of ASP are appropriate for its mission, objectives, strategy and operational plans.

• With other board members, ensure that ASP is well governed and functions within the legal and financial requirements of a charitable organisation.

• Liaise with ASP’s ED and Founder and keep abreast of ASP’s developments, providing direction and support as required.

• Conduct routine performance management and appraisal of the charity ED.

Other Responsibilities of the Chair

• Participate in other tasks as they arise from time to time e.g. sit on appointment panels as required; help with fundraising initiatives; act as final adjudicator for disciplinary and grievance procedure as required etc.
• Represent ASP at appropriate events, meetings and functions if required.
• Attend sub‐committees/working groups as required.
• Promote good and best practice especially with respect to governance, business continuity and succession planning.
• Be familiar with such guidance as the Charity Governance Code for Smaller Charities. Such good practice documentation as the Nolan Committee on Standards in Public Life.
• Work with ASP’s ED to develop the Board of Trustees including induction, training, appraisal and succession planning to ensure a wide range of trustees with various skill sets. (To be reviewed periodically, but at least every three years.)
• Ensure mechanism is in place to identify trustees who do not attend (in person or by phone) a minimum of 80% of meetings in a rolling 12-month period. To investigate attendance issues and where appropriate make proposals to the board.
• Initially address issues with trustees not adhering to the trustee code of conduct, and bring to the board any unresolved issues.

Person specification

Essential Skills, Attributes & Values

• Willingness and ability to lead an organisation working on sexual violence

• A clear commitment to human rights objectives and humanitarian principles

• Strong inter-personal & problem-solving skills

• The ability to listen & sustain a collaborative team of volunteers

• Skills to run a meeting effectively and efficiently, with impartiality and objectivity in decision making

• Time to perform the role well

• The ability to promote a charity in an under-recognised area of need

• Eagerness to represent ASP to key stakeholders

• Willingness to network (eg, with funders, partners & advocacy targets)

• Experience & knowledge of running an effective team

• Understanding of essential governance and finance requirements

• Experience of the voluntary sector

• An ability to get the best from people

  Desirable Skills & Attributes

• Knowledge of the public sector, in particular Health, Social Care and/or Education

• Familiarity with international development

• Knowledge and insight into social enterprise models

• A good level of financial literacy and asset/investment management as, working

  with the ED and Treasurer, the Chair will ensure financial stability of ASP and appropriate investment of its funds.

  Time commitment

  • The Board meets at least 3 times a year

  • The Chair will be asked to attend between 2 – 4 additional events per year (e.g. ASP support events; Trustee away days for strategic planning)

  • It is important that the Chair is available to the Executive Director on a regular basis

  • In addition to board meetings, other contact – usually electronic or by telephone – will be necessary

  The post is unremunerated, apart from reimbursement of reasonable expenses.