Volunteering

Vice Chair

For SEDSConnective

Register your Interest

The Vice Chair is a key leadership role in our voluntary charity not a ceremonial title so the opportunity to make a difference.

You will work closely with the Chair to ensure we are legally compliant, well-governed and strategically effective.

You will also help lead the board, shape our direction and step in for the Chair whenever needed.

This role requires proven experience, energy and a strong commitment to our mission.

All trustees share responsibility for making sure that the charity's money is safe, used properly and accounted for.

Trustees must: 

• Act in the interests of their charity and its beneficiaries.
• Protect and safeguard the assets of their charity.
• Act with reasonable care and skill.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead on Governance
• Ensure the charity complies with its governing document, charity law and all regulatory requirements. 
• Champion best practice in governance, safeguarding and risk management.
• Work on strategy and tactical documents.
• Keep organizational policies up to date and relevant.
• Planning the annual cycle of board meetings subcommittee or other meetings if appropriate.
• Set agenda with Chair and other general meetings.
• Chair meetings and represent the charity in the Chair’s absence.
• Provide leadership, support, and guidance to other trustees.
• Direct board policymaking.
• Board Effectiveness
• Work with the Chair to set agendas, ensure focused meetings and track follow-up actions.
• Support recruitment, induction and development of trustees and charity where appropriate.
• Strategic Leadership
• Play a key role in shaping and monitoring our strategic plan.
• Bring constructive challenge and fresh ideas to the board.
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Build positive relationships with Patrons, advisers, volunteers and stakeholders.
• Act as an ambassador for the charity externally

Skills

Essential:

• Minimum 3 years’ experience in governance, leadership, or trustee roles (charity or equivalent sector).
• Clear understanding of, and commitment to, the charity’s vision and values.
• Organised, dependable and willing to give consistent, hands-on support.
• Strong communication, diplomacy and leadership skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively and take decisive action when required.
• Knowledge of the charity sector’s regulatory environment.

Desirable:

• Experience in policy development, compliance, or organisational change.
• Flexibility.

About SEDSConnective

We are a unique disability, chronic illness neurodivergent (autistic, ADHD, dyspraxic) all voluntary charity group. We support people of all ages with symptomatic hypermobility or if they have a diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos syndromes Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders. Nearly all of us are neurodivergent or have neurodivergent children. We have issues with connective tissue.

We started as a village group in 2018 and now grown across Sussex and beyond. We are multi-award winning particularly in Covid as Covid champions and recently the autism support group and peoples award for autism heroes in 2021/22.

Our aims are to actively support our members by giving them a safe space with belief. We are one of the most neglected stigmatised groups particularly adults were not allowed to be neurodivergent or any of us have invisible health issues or pain. We offer personalised support as we have musculoskeletal injuries and pain inside and on surface of body.

Details

• Yes - DBS check required
• Yes - Equality and Diversity Policy
• Yes - Expenses reimbursed
• Yes - Health and Safety Policy
• Yes - Is it fully accessible
• Yes - Ongoing support
• Yes - Suitable for physical or sensory impairment
• No - Suitable for Under 18's
• Yes - Training provided
• Yes - Volunteer induction
• Yes - Volunteer Policy
• Yes - Volunteers covered by insurance
• Yes - Written role description

Availability

Time & Commitment • 3-7 hours per week across meetings, preparation, governance tasks and events. • Trustee board meetings 4 x year plus subcommitee meetings. • Most work is remote, but occasional in-person attendance is expected. • This is an active, involved role for someone who has time to give in office hours as well as evening as needed, keen, proactive and deeply aligned with our vision.

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