Red Balloon Learner Centre Cambridge - Chair of Trustees (Voluntary)

Summary

The Chair works with our Board of Trustees which is responsible for strategic oversight and monitoring across the whole school, covering financial performance and ensuring that the school operates as effectively as possible to drive our mission.

Detail

Red Balloon Learner Centre Cambridge is a dedicated nonprofit organisation that provides an independent specialist provision for young people with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) difficulties and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Our mission is to empower our ~40 young learners to achieve personal growth, well-being, and confidence through a holistic educational approach that includes well-being, education, and social re-engagement. We believe in nurturing every student’s individual goals and supporting their journey towards fulfilling their potential.

The existing 6 Trustees have experience in a broad range of areas including education (primary and secondary), HR, finance, business administration and development, and operations. Our Board of Trustees is responsible for strategic oversight and monitoring across the whole school, covering financial performance and ensuring that the school operates as effectively as possible to drive our mission.

Key Responsibilities

Chair the Trustee meetings, working closely with the centre Coordinator (the head of the centre) and our dedicated Clerk. The Trustees meet 6 times each year (twice per term) at the centre premises in Milton, Cambridge.

The Chair of Trustees also meets regularly with the Coordinator to discuss progress.

As a team, the Trustees help to ensure that the centre is fully compliant as a charity (for example, filing audited financial accounts) and as a school (meeting all necessary requirements from the Department for Education). The Chair helps to coordinate this activity to ensure the effective governance of the organisation.

Along with other Trustees, the Chair helps to advocate for the mission and values of Red Balloon Learner Centre and to foster relationships with key stakeholders, including local authorities, funding bodies, and community organizations.

Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and best practices in charity governance.

Make sure the school is compliant with legal requirements, including that statutory policies and documents are in place

Qualities and experience

Strong commitment to the mission and values of Red Balloon Learner Centre.

Organisational management or governance experience, preferably within the nonprofit sector (previous Trustee experience is not required).

A great communicator and listener.

Ability to think strategically, to prioritise and make sound decisions.

Understanding of SEND and SEMH challenges faced by young people would be a plus.

Benefits to you

Above all, the role of Chair of Trustees at Red Balloon Cambridge represents an opportunity to make a valuable contribution to an organisation that is making a real and positive difference to the lives of vulnerable young people.

There will also be plenty of learning opportunities concerning organisational governance, strategic planning, education and the role of local government, the challenges that young people face, fundraising, communication, teamwork and much more.

• Strategic planning
• Experience on a board
• Holding senior leaders to account and the ability to provide challenge
• Maintaining oversight of budgets and finance
• Analysing data
• Strategic project management
• Oversight of marketing
• Communication and teamwork
• Decision-making
• Problem solving

Additional information

We encourage our Trustees to visit the school during the day occasionally so that they get the chance to see the school in action and can meet our wonderful students.

Trustees also sometimes need to undertake specific training to enable them to discharge their roles effectively.

There are 6 Trustees meetings a year plus regular ‘check ins’ with Coordinator as well as with other trustees.

If you would like to know more about becoming a the Chair of Trustees at Red Balloon Learner Centre, please get in touch with the Coordinator.

Email: jessica.lechner@cambridge.rblc.org.uk

Please send your CV with accompanying cover letter to jessica.lechner@cambridge.rblc.org.uk