Harry Edwards Foundation (HEF) Trustee

Voluntary position

ROLE PURPOSE STATEMENT

Trustees are the people responsible under the governing document of the HEF for controlling its management and administration. The HEF is set in a beautiful and tranquil valley at Shere in Surrey, and comprises an estate of around 30 acres including the main house, chapel, gardens, woodlands and fields. It provides a place for people to visit for healing and to partake in other wellness activities, to train as healers, or just to enjoy the calm and beautiful surroundings. The HEF also provides a distant healing service and other healing-related on-line services.

Role description

The strategic role of a trustee is:

• to ensure that the HEF complies at all times with its governing document, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations;
• to ensure that the HEF pursues its charitable objects as set out in its governing documents;
• to maintain proper financial control and ensure that the HEF applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its charitable objectives, i.e. relating to healing and the education and training of healing;
• to set and maintain vision, mission and values;
• to develop strategy, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets which are captured in a strategic plan;
• to ensure accountability;
• to implement employment procedures and respect the roles of staff/volunteers;
• to recruit and support the operational management of the organisation;
• to monitor and revise the implementation of internal policies;
• to ensure that risk assessments for all aspects of the HEF are carried out;
• to safeguard the reputation and good name & values of the HEF;
• to maintain effective board performance and ensure the effective and efficient administration of the HEF including funding, insurance and premises;
• to promote the healing work of the HEF; and
• to act in the best interests of the HEF and to avoid any conflict of interest.

In addition to the above statutory duties, each trustee is expected to use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have has to help the Board reach sound decisions. These may involve scrutinising Board and working group papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives and other issues in which the trustee has special expertise. A trustee is required to act reasonably and prudently in all matters relating to the HEF, and must always put the interests of the HEF first.

Main tasks involved in being a Trustee are:

• to attend HEF Board meetings normally held each month (alternating between one in-person at HEF and one on-line meeting);
• to attend the HEF’s AGM and any extraordinary meetings;
• to prepare appropriately in advance of meetings;
• to participate actively and constructively in Board meeting discussions and decision making;
• to foster a positive working relationship with HEF stakeholders including other Trustees, staff, volunteers and students;
• to develop and maintain up-to-date awareness of the HEF and its activities;
• to participate as necessary in any working groups the Board may set up;
• to allow the delegation to staff of day-to-day management of the Sanctuary’s activities, finances and staffing issues under approved authorisation levels, whilst recognising that some staffing issues may require the intervention of trustees.


Trustees: Person Specification

Skills and experience:

• Experience of committee work;
• Experience of managing and appraising staff;
• Skills and experience in one or more areas of Board Governance and management e.g. strategic planning, business management, financial / accountancy, marketing, fundraising, people management, legal/ company secretarial, charity law/regulation;
• Knowledge and /or experience of a field of work relevant to the HEF’s work e.g. healing, complementary therapies/wellness, education/training, hospitality, estate management, working with or for charities or the voluntary sector.
• Attributes:
  Leadership skills;
• Tact and diplomacy;
• Good communication and inter-personal skills;
• Impartiality, fairness and the ability to respect confidences;
• Good organisational skills;
• Demonstrable commitment to the aims, objectives and work of the HEF;
• Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to attend meetings at Shere, Surrey;
• Strategic vision;
• Analytical and evaluation skills applied within a constructive framework;
• Good independent judgement;
• A people orientated approach to problem solving and to management;
• An ability to work effectively as a member of a team;
• Familiarity with the ‘Seven Principles of Public Life’(the Nolan Principles), i.e. selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.