Introduction
PECAN is a dynamic Christian charity which has been working throughout Southwark for 35 years. Our offices are in Peckham, South-East London. We help people who face seemingly impassable barriers to find a way through, re-write their futures and flourish.
Our strong staff and volunteer team work with the most vulnerable people to transform lives and communities. Our work is founded on our mission, vision and values, and we are committed to showing kindness, raising self-belief and inspiring hope for the future in the individuals we serve. We currently run Southwark Food Action Alliance, Southwark Foodbank, Peckham Pantry (a membership discount food store), Women’s Services, and “Together” community hub. We have 37 staff, 100 volunteers, mortgage-free offices, a £1.3m turnover and £0.5m reserves.
We believe helping our charity move forward will be rewarding for our incoming Chair who will be working with an experienced CEO and a welcoming team of trustees.
PECAN is seeking to appoint a new Chair of Trustees as the previous Chair has stepped down after many years of devoted service. Under PECAN’s governing articles of association its trustees, including the Chair, are appointed for a three-year term, which may be renewed for a further two terms (so a maximum of nine years’ unbroken service).
The Chair will work in partnership with the CEO. Ideally, they will have an understanding of at least one aspect of PECAN’s work. It is essential that the Chair can demonstrate empathy towards the vulnerable people with whom PECAN is working. It is also essential that the new Chair has experience of committee work and has previously served as a trustee in at least one organisation. It would be desirable to demonstrate experience of the Chair role and/or be willing to join the Association of Chairs to increase their knowledge that will help with the role.
PECAN typically has a board of 9-12 Trustees whose skills include accountancy, governance, legal, strategic planning, project management, community/trust fundraising and human resources. One of the board officers is the Treasurer, with the incumbent due to step down at the end of their nine years’ service at the end of 2024. We will therefore need to appoint a successor, encouraged by the willingness of the current Treasurer to continue their separate volunteering role with PECAN and thus to be on hand to provide continuity. PECAN is committed to diversity and inclusion, including in the membership of its Board.
Trustee meetings are usually held a minimum of six times per year, and in addition the Board currently has a number of sub-committees, with the chair expected to serve on one. The formal meeting commitment is thus likely to be approximately monthly, with regular catch-ups with the CEO. Some of the formal meetings are in person. The Chair is also responsible for additional communications such as liaising with Trustees between meetings formally and informally. The Chair should be able to devote on average at least two days per month to the charity, in addition to the meetings. All Trustees are expected to attend training and planning workshops as required. The Chair has a key role in ensuring that these are attended as necessary.
Our new Chair must be a Christian. They should also be an experienced trustee/Board member, highly motivated, with excellent leadership skills, and someone who can commit the time to help drive the charity forward to its next stage, leading us in addressing challenges and transforming people’s lives. As PECAN celebrates its 35th anniversary its services are needed more than ever. We believe helping our charity move forward will be rewarding for our incoming Chair who will be working with an experienced CEO and a welcoming team of trustees.
Summary
Remuneration: | The role of Chair is not accompanied by any financial remuneration, although reasonable expenses may be claimed (eg. for travel and subsistence). |
Location: | PECAN is based in Peckham, south-east London (121a Peckham High Street, London SE15 5SE). Although many meetings are held remotely, the Chair will need to be able to travel to PECAN for other sessions, including some board meetings. |
Time Commitment: | Board or sub-committee meetings are held approximately monthly. Additional chair duties are likely to take up approximately two days per month. Board meetings are normally around two hours long. The Chair is expected to have regular meetings with the Chief Executive Officer and also represent the charity at various events and meetings with key stakeholders, including with staff. |
Term of office: | Three years, starting from the date of appointment. This may be renewed for a maximum of two further three-year terms (a total of nine years). |
Reporting to: | Board of Trustees |
Role Description
Objective
The Chair will hold the Board and Executive Team to account for the Charity’s mission and vision, providing inclusive leadership to the Board of Trustees, ensuring that each Trustee fulfils their duties and responsibilities for the effective governance of the charity. The Chair will also support the management team and ensure that the Board functions as a unit and works closely to achieve agreed objectives. They will act as an ambassador and the public face of the charity in partnership with the CEO.
Key responsibilities
- Provide leadership to the organisation and the Board by ensuring that everyone remains focused on the delivery of the organisation’s charitable purposes to provide greater public benefit.
- Chair and facilitate board meetings, oversee and ensure proper record-
- Ensure that decisions taken at meetings are
- Give direction to board policy-
- Ensure that the charity has a clear vision, mission and strategic plan, and that there is a common understanding of these by the management team and the Trustees.
- Develop the Board of Trustees including induction, training, appraisal and succession
- Ensure that the Board is able to regularly review major risks and associated opportunities and satisfy itself that systems are in place to take advantage of opportunities and manage and mitigate the
- Ensure that the Board fulfils its duties to ensure sound financial health of the charity, with systems in place to ensure financial accountability.
- Encourage positive change where appropriate and address and resolve any conflicts within the
- Act as an ambassador for the cause and the
- Bring impartiality and objectivity to decision-
- Address conflict within the Board and within the organisation and liaise with the CEO to achieve this.
- Foster, maintain and ensure that constructive relationships exist with and between the
- Liaise with the CEO to keep an overview of the organisation’s affairs and to provide support as appropriate.
- Lead the process of supporting and appraising the performance of the
- Sit on appointment and disciplinary panels where
With the CEO:
- Plan the annual cycle of board meetings and other general meetings where required, for example annual general meeting.
- Set agendas for board and other general
- Ensure that the Board receives sufficient and timely information to make informed
Relationship with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the wider management team
- Establish and build a strong, effective and a constructive working relationship with the CEO ensuring they are held to account for achieving agreed strategic
- Support the CEO, whilst respecting the boundaries which exist between the two roles.
- Ensure regular contact with the CEO and develop and maintain an open and supportive relationship within which each can speak openly about concerns, worries and
- Liaise with the CEO to maintain an overview of the charity’s affairs, providing support as necessary.
Note: Where the Chair is expected to ‘ensure’ that something happens, it is not necessary for the Chair to carry out the task personally but they are responsible for making it happen.
Person Specification
PECAN is a Christian charity whose values are kindness, belief and hope. There is a requirement for all Trustees, including the Chair, to sign a statement of belief. The CEO is also required to be a Christian.
In addition to the qualities required of a Trustee of the charity, the Chair should have the following qualities:
- Leadership
- Experience of committee work, including at least one previous Trustee role.
- Tact and diplomacy, with the ability to listen and engage
- Good communication and interpersonal
- Impartiality, fairness and the ability to respect
- Ability to foster and promote a collaborative team
- Empathy
Terms
The charity’s Chair (and board members) serve a three-year term.
Application and Selection Process
To apply, please submit to careers@pecan.org.uk
- Your CV (no more than 2 pages).
- Your covering letter (1-2 pages) expanding on your passion for this work and describing how you meet each of the requirements in the person specification, including the faith requirement.
Application deadline: 12pm on 27 September 2024.
Selection process
All applications which meet the application criteria will be reviewed by a panel of existing trustees.
Interviews will take place in person at 121a Peckham High Street, London SE15 5SE from late June onwards. The panel is expected to include the CEO and at least two current trustees.
