Want to play your part in supporting action on climate change? Ashden is looking for a youth trustee to join the Board.
Ashden’s mission is to accelerate transformative climate solutions and to build a more just world. Through our prestigious annual awards scheme, we find and share inspiring climate solutions that will help accelerate the shift to a fairer, low carbon world. We support local authorities developing their climate action plans and we run campaigns in the UK – such as www.letsgo.zero for all our schools to be zero carbon by 2030; or internationally www.powerupnow.org to bring sustainable energy to all, including in refugee settings.
This is a fabulous opportunity to join a smart and committed group of Board members at a critical time for the climate and to guide Ashden as we seek to grow our impact and deliver our strategic focus on green jobs, skills and livelihoods.
- We are keen to increase diversity on our board, and in particular we are looking for a younger person to ensure the right balance. We also want the Board to reflect the sectors in which we work, including our Let’s Go Zero campaign which brings together a coalition of sustainability organisations together with teachers, pupils and parents. We would like to recruit a trustee with appropriate knowledge and experience.
- You don’t have to have been a trustee before, although if you have that is an advantage of course. You do have to be ready to learn about the roles of trustees, their legal duties and responsibilities.
- And we do want someone who has campaigned or in some way supported action on the climate, perhaps in your school or college or your wider neighbourhood.
What makes you a good trustee?
- A commitment to Ashden and its mission.
- A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort.
- Strategic vision; good, independent judgement and a willingness to speak your mind; an ability to think creatively.
- An ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
- A commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
We are looking for:
- A good understanding of and interest in climate solutions.
- Experience of being involved in a climate campaign, or of supporting climate solutions. You will have some understanding of how to engage and interest people in creating change. You may even have been involved with a climate action when you were at school or college.
- Any experience of participating in an awards scheme is also always welcome! As well as our main Ashden Awards, we will be running two competitions for schools this year.
Trustee Duties:
Ensuring the proper management of Ashden in accordance with its charitable objects and charity law, which includes:
- Ensuring that Ashden is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit.
- Ensuring that Ashden complies with its governing documents, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
- Acting in Ashden’s best interests, including safeguarding the good name and values of Ashden.
- Managing Ashden’s resources responsibly and caring for the staff.
- Ensuring that Ashden is accountable, complies with statutory accounting and reporting requirements, and is well run and effective.
- Contributing to the development of Ashden’s strategies.
In addition to the above statutory duties, each trustee should use their specific skills, knowledge or experience to help the Board of trustees reach sound decisions and support the staff to deliver the plans. This may involve scrutinising board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, or other issues in which the trustee has special expertise. Trustees may be involved with internal strategic discussions, or help with external relations as appropriate, such as fundraising or speaking at events.
Trustees should be willing to prepare for and attend board meetings four times a year plus an annual away day; and, depending on where you are based, attend our annual awards ceremony or particular events we may be hosting with schools as part of Let’s Go Zero. We hope you will also join some of our events through the year; be prepared to work with members of the Management Team on specific areas in which you have specialist knowledge, or contacts, including joining external meetings as appropriate
Term of trusteeship is three years which is subject to renewal a maximum of two times, with a reassessment after each three-year term. Current board members can be found on our website here.
Application Process:
To apply for this exciting opportunity, please send your CV with a one page covering note explaining why you are interested to anita.henderson@ashden.org. All applications should reach us by Friday 10 February. All applications will be considered by representatives of the board and team representatives, and we will ask a short-list of candidates to be interviewed. We expect to conduct first interviews on 15 and 16 February and second interviews on 22 February. In an ideal world, we will appoint the new Trustees by our March board meeting.
We look forward to hearing from you!
