Volunteering Opportunity: Trustee with Hertsmere Mencap

Your role as a Trustee

You will advise the Board on all financial processes and continually assess whether systems, policies and controls are appropriate. Your role will include preparing and monitoring business plans and budgets, working with the Board to ensure the financial sustainability of the charity and being deeply involved in all strategic thinking.
Our current Treasurer continues in his role but can no longer commit the time required; he is willing to either continue alongside the new Trustee or, in agreement with him/her will relinquish his role, so that the new Trustee takes on the role of Treasurer.

The Trustee role requires a commitment of 2-4 days/month to be done for the most part at any time of day. However, an ability to do a small part of this during normal office hours would be useful.

Hertsmere Mencap is a vibrant charity for learning-disabled people. We support over 200 children, adults and their families across the Borough of Hertsmere. We are looking for a new trustee to help us continue to make a real impact on the lives of our members and our wider community.

What difference will you make?

Hertsmere Mencap changes people’s lives and the role of a Trustee is challenging and rewarding . As a Trustee, you play an important part in the development of Hertsmere Mencap, helping the team to deliver high quality and innovative services to people in the area. With further growth planned, this is a perfect time to become a Trustee and play a part in Hertsmere Mencap's further development. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved and recognise there’s always more to be done.

We are looking for a Financial Management Trustee to:

Advise the Board on all financial processes
Assess systems, policies and controls
Prepare and monitor business plans ad budgets
Understand charity financial practices

Opportunity Type: Long-term Commitment

District: Hertsmere

Location: From your office, From home

Time of day: Weekday Mornings, Weekday Afternoons, Weekday Evenings

Practical Considerations: Your qualities and qualifications

We are looking for candidates with a solid understanding of accounting practice, commercially aware and with excellent organisational and communication skills. You will have the skills to analyse proposals and examine their financial consequences, be able to make sound and measured decisions and you will be aware of or keen to understand charity finance practice.

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

Suitable for: 18 – 25 year olds, Aged 26 and over, Older People, People with a visual impairment, People with restricted mobility

Suitable for volunteers interested in: Trusteeship & Governance

Does this opportunity provide wheelchair access?: Yes

Full Description:
Hertsmere Mencap...

...was formed in 1964 and we now offer support to over 200 members, learning disabled people living in Hertsmere as well their families. With a Board of five Trustees and a committee of members, staff and volunteers, we are inclusive, and our members are very much part of our decision making process.

Hertsmere Mencap is all about improving members' quality of life by reducing the risk of loneliness and isolation and providing fulfilling activities that increase learning-disabled people’s levels of confidence - and opportunities to socially interact with friends.

As well as activities such as Arts & Crafts and Drama, we run a weekly evening social club and a children’s holiday playscheme. Offering support and advice and a Coffee Morning Drop-in for members and their families, we are in regular contact with appropriate local authority professionals. We employ four part-time staff plus sessional and short-term workers, and we rely on an enthusiastic team of volunteers.

Our balance sheet is strong and we plan to raise further capital to acquire our own property. Engaged with the local community, we are a well-known and respected presence in the area.

With current and future growth in mind, we are seeking to expand our Board to include a Trustee who will be involved in financial management, business planning
and strategic direction. The time commitment would typically be 3-4 days per month.

Our vision
• is for people with a learning disability living in Hertsmere to be valued equally, listened to and included and for them to all to be able to lead fulfilling lives.

Our mission
• is to improve the quality of life for people in Hertsmere with a learning disability and their families by
• Providing confidential advice and practical support on issues ranging from welfare and housing to friendships and wellbeing.
• Offering stimulating daily activities to help improve confidence, learn new skills and make friends.
• Reaching out to people who feel isolated and/or reluctant to ask for help
Our values
• We are Inclusive. People with a learning disability are at the heart of everything we do.
• We are Trustworthy. When we promise something, we don’t let people down.
• We are Caring. We treat everyone with respect and kindness.
• We are Positive. We encourage everyone to take the best from life and all that it offers.


The Area

Hertsmere is a large borough of 100,000 people living in the main centres of Borehamwood, Potters Bar, Radlett and Bushey and in smaller communities such as Shenley and Aldenham. It includes some of the most deprived areas in the region. Learning disability is, of course, non-discriminatory, and our members come from diverse communities, as do our staff and volunteers.

We are continually attracting new members; local people signpost to us and we receive referrals from a wide variety of sources, including the Hertfordshire Council’s SBLO (Short Breaks) scheme, the Hertsmere Adult Disability Team and NHS practitioners.