The Role of a Groundwork Trust Board

It is the job of the board to

Establish the strategic direction of the organisation by, for example:

Defining the trust’s mission
Developing a vision of the changes and impact that the Trust is seeking to achieve
Ensuring that the vision is relevant to local needs and based on links with local communities
Ensuring that this vision is reflected in trust priorities, programmes and targets
Monitoring Trust performance against these targets and doing something if they are not met

Provide leadership to the organisation by, for example:

Helping to attract resources and support from key partners for the Trust’s work
Communicating the success and achievements of the Trust
Providing support and guidance to the Executive Director
Ensuring that finance and other policies are in place to establish the framework to be followed by the staff team
Taking an active interest in the Trust’s work, meeting staff, visiting projects and attending events

Ensure that public and charitable funds are properly safeguarded by, for example:

Overseeing and approving the audit of the accounts and the production of the annual report and ensuring that the Company meets the legal requirements of a company and a charity
Ensuring that the Trust complies with all relevant employment legislation and that it employs suitably qualified staff who will discharge their responsibilities in accordance with the high standards expected by Groundwork
Putting in place sufficient financial regulations and controls to ensure that Trust funds are spent properly
Undertaking regular checks to ensure that all financial reports are accurate and up to date
Monitoring the performance of the Executive Director and ensuring that regular performance reviews are carried out for all other staff
Ensuring that the trust upholds the reputation and image of Groundwork