women in london

Woman’s Trust is a medium-sized women-only charity (turnover around £400,000 pa) providing high quality services across London to enable women affected by domestic violence to rebuild their lives. We are highly regarded by our users, and by other agencies working alongside us in the field.

Our vision:
A world where all women affected by domestic violence have ready access to adequate and appropriate support.

Our mission:
To provide women-only, client-led services supporting and empowering women affected by domestic violence and abuse

About Woman’s Trust
Woman’s Trust is a woman-only charity founded in 1995 to address the long-term mental health consequences of domestic violence, by providing high quality, free counselling and support services.

Domestic violence is the single biggest cause of mental health difficulties amongst women, causing depression, post-traumatic stress, and suicidal feelings. It takes many forms, and it sweeps across every social cultural group.

According to government figures, 1 in 4 women in the UK will experience domestic violence in their lifetime – with approximately 2 women a week are killed by their partner or ex-partner.

The charity offers a counselling service that is person-centred, enabling women to make their own choices in their own way (this is crucial for victims of abuse); it is open to all women regardless of race, religion, class or culture; and it is rooted in specialist understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence and its effects on women’s lives.

Management Committee
Woman’s Trust currently has an active and committed Management Committee consisting of 8 trustees, who support a small number of paid staff. Trustees may be co-opted at any time, but are elected or re-elected annually at Woman’s Trust’s AGM. New trustees are asked to commit to serve for at least one year, but there is no maximum limit on the term. Over the next 12 months Woman’s Trust is seeking to recruit up to 4 more trustees, to fill gaps in capability and capacity and to support succession planning.

Woman’s Trust is seeking Trustees who share the charity’s ‘client-led’, consultative ethos, and their drive and determination to make a difference to women affected by domestic abuse. Trustees use their knowledge and experience to help the Management Committee set and oversee strategy, reach sound decisions, and provide guidance to staff on initiatives and operations where they have special expertise. Trustees form the ultimate decision-making body for Woman’s Trust, and are accountable to funders and to regulators for its activities.

Responsibilities as a Trustee:

Trustees have a number of specific responsibilities, including to:
· Review the organisation’s mission and values from time to time and as part of strategic development;
· Approve and monitor programmes, budgets and services;
· Ensure that the organisation has adequate financial resources, provide effective fiscal oversight and sound
risk management;
· Ensure compliance with its governing documents, legislation and regulations;
· Act as guardians of Woman’s Trust policies, procedures, strategies and codes of practice, and to review
these on a regular basis
· Select and support the Director;
· Promote the organisation’s public image and be a good employer;
· Engage in the training and induction process, and read relevant papers, in order to understand their role
as a Woman’s Trust trustee and carry out that role effectively.

In addition, each Trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the Management Committee reach sound decisions.

Person Specification:
· Commitment to the Woman’s Trust ethos and client-led approach;
· Ability to provide constructive and pragmatic advice and support, rooted in relevant experience;
· Ability to work as part of a team;
· Willingness and ability to give the necessary time and effort;
· Significant knowledge and experience of at least one of the following:
· o Domestic violence issues, and/or counselling/psychotherapy;
· o Senior management in a multi-stakeholder environment
· o Local authority or NHS services, commissioning and grant-making;
· o Fundraising;
· o Marketing/communications/PR.
· Woman’s Trust is looking to increase the diversity of its Management Committee and particularly encourages applications from women from black and ethnic minority backgrounds.

Time Commitment:
There are eight two-hour Management Committee meetings a year, generally alternating between daytime and early evening. In addition there is one day ‘Awayday’ to discuss broader strategy and governance issues. Trustees are also invited to join one of five sub-committees, which meet between 4 and 6 times pa at times to suit their members: finance; fundraising; ethics and practice; marketing and communications; and remunerations.

There are other opportunities for getting involved and trustees are asked to support occasional events as well as use their expertise to help deliver particular projects when they can.

Remuneration:
This position is unremunerated; however reasonable expenses may be reimbursed.
For an application pack please call 020 7034 0303/0304 or email admin@womanstrust.org.uk

For a confidential discussion, please email our Chair, Ruth ruth.k@womanstrust.org.uk