Job Introduction

We’re looking for a fabulous trustee to join the Card Factory Foundation Board. The right person will share our passion to make a difference for families and communities at moments that matter in their lives. The right person will be keen to help set our strategic direction, make great decisions about what we should fund and ensure we comply with our responsibilities as a charity.

As part of our Trustee Board, your job will be to provide strategic oversight of the Foundation. You’ll work as part of a team of trustees who meet regularly to consider, debate and approve all major decisions. Between meetings, your support and advice will be invaluable for Head of Foundation and Foundation Administrator. You may also occasionally be invited to represent the Foundation at external events, or to visit Foundation projects.

Trustees in the UK are unpaid, but expenses to attend meetings or visit projects will be covered, and we will support you in every way to be an effective trustee including training and mentoring.  Trustees are appointed for a three-year term, with the option for re-appointment for up to two further terms. You will be able to attend two daytime meetings in Wakefield (where Card Factory is based) each year, plus additional shorter online meetings, and might also consider additional travel to visit projects and attend events or training. 

Role Responsibility

Trustees have an important role to play in the success of the Foundation as well as legal responsibilities, which we will give you every kind of support to fulfil.

A trustee is responsible for ensuring the charity:

• delivers its mission
• has a robust and clear strategy against which it tracks progress
• measures its impact and outcomes
• keeps within its financial resources
• complies with charity regulations
• adequately supports staff and safeguards the people it is helping

Trustees do this by:

• attending regular Board meetings, coming ready to ask questions, clarify and understand challenges and offer ideas
• reviewing reports on progress and challenges
• acting as a critical friend to the staff team

We also expect our Trustees to also become ambassadors for the charity, helping to promote the work of the charity.

The Ideal Candidate

You will have:

• a desire to make a positive difference for the people and communities where Card Factory works
• creative and analytical style who can explore the complex decisions needed to develop our strategy, with a pragmatic approach to implementation
• a strong team player, prepared to speak your mind at Board level and influence others to make change happen
• a great communicator who can be a credible, authentic and inspiring ambassador for the Foundation
• comfortable working in a corporate environment
• willing to travel to Wakefield for two half day meetings a year, plus attend up to six shorter online meetings
• clear on the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of being a trustee.

Ideally, you will also have one or more of the following:

• IT knowledge, skills and experience to support the Foundation in addressing technological challenges, implementing digital strategies, and optimising IT infrastructure to enhance operational efficiency and maximise impact.
• Legal knowledge, skills, and experience to support the Foundation in addressing legal compliance, navigating regulatory frameworks and providing strategic legal guidance
• Experience of working within the kind of organisations we support – this could be a grassroots community organisation or a major national charity
• Knowledge of charity governance requirements
• Time to visit foundation projects and occasionally represent the foundation at external events

About the Company

The Card Factory Foundation was set up in 2018 by Card Factory with a generous annual income from sales of their single use plastic bag. The Foundation’s purpose is to make a positive difference for past and present colleagues of Card Factory, their families, and the communities where they live and work. From 2018-2022, Card Factory has donated over £4m to the Foundation, and we’ve supported hundreds of families and communities. Five years into our journey, we’re in the process of refreshing our strategy and are excited about the next chapter.

The Foundation is overseen by our friendly, supportive and committed Board – Brian (our Chair), Jane, Julie and Susan all work at Card Factory and Nicola and Steve are our independent trustees. It is run day to day by our new Head of Foundation, Pushpinder, assisted by our Administrator, Lily. 

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