Volunteering Opportunity: Trustee with St Albans and District Shopmobility

St Albans District Shopmobility is a local charity. Shopmobility is a service that provides manual wheelchairs and electric scooters to help people, who may have limited mobility, to get around in St Albans City centre. Our aim is to support people with limited mobility, to get around in St Albans City centre. Their aim is to support people with limited mobility to improve their quality of life and reduce social isolation. The service has a stock of manual wheelchairs which can be hired out to Shopmobility members for a small charge per day.

Opportunity Type: Long-term Commitment

District: St Albans

Location: Indoor, Outdoor

Time of day: Casual or Intermittent

Practical Considerations: As this role involves working with vulnerable people, we will undertake a DBS check and take up references.

The role requires Trustees to attend regular Trustee Meetings (4-6 per year), along with any extra-ordinary meetings that may take place.

Requirements: Relevant qualification or training, Will require a criminal record check (DBS)

Suitable for: Aged 26 and over, Older People

Suitable for volunteers interested in: Health and Wellbeing, Physical Disabilities, Trusteeship & Governance

Does this opportunity provide wheelchair access?: Yes

Full Description:
The Charity Commission defines Trustees as serving the governing body of the charity, managing and controlling the administration of the Charity.

“Trustees have and must accept ultimate responsibility for directing affairs of the charity, ensuring that it is solvent, well-run and delivering the charitable outcomes for the benefit of the public for which it has been set up” (The Essential Trustee; What you need to know. March 2012:D.1.)

· Ensure compliance with governing documents.
· Have a detailed understanding of the organisations mission, values and aims.
· Develop strategy.
· Establish and monitor policies.
· Ensure accountability.
· Ensure compliance with the law.
· Maintain proper fiscal oversight.
· Respect the role of the volunteers and staff.
· Maintain effective board performance.
· Promote the charity

The overal role of the Shopmobility Trustees is to contribute to the development of strategy, using skills and knowledge from their areas of expertise.

They must also have a commitment to the Shopmobility ethos, museum and values, and act as a “Champion” on behalf of Shopmobility.

The role of a Trustee may appeal to people from various backgrounds, with an interest in working as a member of a team as a committee member.

Shopmobility is looking for people with experience in Finance and Accounting, Fundraising, Business Development, Social Care or Leadership and Management.

The Trustee role could also appeal to those interested in the community sector – raising the profile of our charity and sharing ideas with other agencies, in utilising bothour own and other services more effectively.

Training and support will be provided to all Trustees, to ensure the understanding of issues working within the charity, along with Trustee roles and responsibilities.

We aim to make Trusteeship as rewarding as possible, so that those involved have the opportunity for self development and to gain new skills and experience.