Volunteer Trustee with legal experience to join the board of Afrikindness | AFRIKINDNESS

Afrikindness is looking to strengthen its Board of Trustees. We are seeking a trustee with legal experience to support our work by joining our Board.

What will you be doing?

We are a pioneering non-profit association founded in 2021 out of the desire to foster more awareness of Kindness among (albeit not exclusively) children and young people of BME origin (black & minority ethnic). Our charity’s sole purpose is to advocate for kindness. We are focused on inspiring, educating, and empowering children and young adults to be kind to themselves (mental health), kind to others, kind to the environment, and kind to Africa. At the core of our founding vision is the passion to create a world where every child can transform their community and make a global difference through Kindness.

Our trustees play a vital role in making sure that Afrikindness achieves its core purpose. They oversee the overall management and administration of the charity. They also ensure that Afrikindness has a clear strategy and that our work and goals are in line with our vision.

We are seeking a dynamic legal professional to work closely with our Co-leaders and the Board to maintain an overview of the regulatory environment and our contractual obligations and support strong governance. You will have strategic vision, experience, and expertise in charity law, commercial law, or employment law. We welcome those who share our values thinking, speaking, and acting in a caring, collaborative, creative, and critical manner. You will be undertaking a lead role for the Board of Trustees on all matters associated with the legal aspects of the organization. You will work alongside the legal team in Africa.

We encourage candidates with experience in one or more of the below areas to apply

• Legal experience from either the private or public sector with experience in non-profit organizations.
• Strategic planning, vision, and good, independent judgment.
• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of trusteeship.
• Commitment to the principles of public life selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership.
• Knowledge and experience in the charity sector.
• Ability to advise on employment law / HR policies
• Commitment to Equal Opportunities and Diversity
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children willing to undertake safeguarding training
• Understanding of data protection legislation and changing regulations.
• Understanding of fundraising and charity legislation.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for a trustee with legal expertise to play a significant role in strengthening our board of trustees. The trustee will remain legally compliant, and ascertain the challenges entailed in partnership working including the potential of mergers, working with children, appraising the implications of contracts, intellectual property, and data protection. To help develop and review policies and contractual documents. We are looking for people willing to bring energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to the role, and who will broaden the diversity of thinking on our board. We are looking for someone who is passionate about children and young adults, who is keen on Africa, and looking at making a difference in the educational sector.

Personal Skills And Qualities

• Willingness and ability to understand and accept their responsibilities and liabilities as trustees and to act in the best interests of the organization.
• Ability to think creatively and strategically, exercise good, independent judgment, and work effectively as a board member.
• Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of trusteeship.
• Effective communication skills, networking skills, influencing, and willingness to participate actively in the discussion. Experience in a leadership role.
• Experience in working within the charity, voluntary, private, or public sectors.
• A strong personal commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Enthusiasm for our vision and mission.
• Commercial and/or governance experience.
• Understanding of fundraising and charity legislation.
• Understanding of data protection legislation and changing regulations.

We welcome applications from all sections of the community to enable us to have a diverse trustee board that reflects the work of our charity.

The role provides a great deal of experience and satisfaction, the opportunity to develop your skills and utilize your expertise and knowledge. If you are a people person with enthusiasm for networking alongside making a big difference to a small charity, then we would really like to hear from you.

What difference will you make?

You will be joining our charity during an exciting point in our development and a period of real growth; your expert knowledge and experience will be critical to our success. You will have a key role in ensuring we can maintain the work that we do. You will be a part of our small, friendly, passionate, and forward-thinking charity team.

We facilitate children-led projects across the UK and in Africa, provide African-based content and educational resources that promote kindness, and advocate for kindness by working with the government and Ministry of Education to incorporate into the school curriculum – Kindness in schools, especially in Africa, and rollout African content on Kindness in UK schools. Our work extends to Africa, making a global impact within the educational sector. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to make a real, lasting difference to young people. We started with one child and since we have expanded to many children within the UK making great strides & inspiring their communities.

The trustee will

• Guide and advise other board trustees on the legal requirements for and implications of the charity’s strategic plans and in the process of formally approving the annual report and audited accounts, and in managing the appointment and resignation of trustees.
• Responsible for ensuring that the organization complies with its governing documents, charity law, and relevant legislation.
• Safeguard the name and reputation of the Charity and ensure the organization has financial stability.
• Ensure that key risks are being identified, monitored, and controlled effectively.
• Use independent judgment, acting legally and in good faith to promote/protect Afrikindess’s interests, to the exclusion of their own personal and/or any third-party interests.

Before you apply

Please contact us via Reach with any questions,

Interviews will be an informal Zoom chat with the CEO”

“Please provide a cover letter detailing why you are interested in this role and your relevant experience.”

Causes

• Black, asian and minority ethnic groups
• Children / families
• Education
• Local / community
• Mental health
• Young people

Organisation type

Small or unincorporated organisation

Afrikindness aims to promote the development of emotional intelligence & education of kindness in children most especially black and minority children & young adults in the UK & Africa…