2406 - Ryder-Cheshire Volunteers Trustee
Coalville, Leicestershire
About the charity:
Ryder-Cheshire Volunteers (RCV) is a family of charities providing direct support to adults with a physical disability. It is not a care organisation in the traditional sense, but a fun and vibrant organisation that encourages adults with a physical disability to become more involved in community leisure and learning opportunities, through trained volunteers.
RCV’s founder:
RCV’s inception was personally overseen by, and based on, the vision of Leonard Cheshire. His determination to create a society based on the principles of inclusion was, without doubt, an idea before its time. Although the vision has succeeded him, Ryder-Cheshire Volunteers lives on, and currently supports people with a physical disability across 7 counties of England.
RCV’s work in the East Midlands:
In order to reach more people with a physical disability in the future, RCV is in the process of creating affiliated branches of the national organisation. This involves setting up registered and regional charities, which use RCV’s name and sign up to its standards of practice. For over 20 years, RCV has been providing support across North Leicestershire and South Derbyshire. In 2009, RCV officially launched its East Midlands Branch (Registered Charity 1129666), with two part-time members of staff, whose role it is to co-ordinate befriending (volunteer) opportunities. As a relatively small charity, RCV East Midlands’ operating costs are low (totalling some £40,000 per year) and the majority of income has been secured for the new financial year.
Why we need you:
One of the hallmarks of an effective charity is having a board (Management Committee) which brings together a range of skills and breadth of experience. RCV is looking for new Trustees to join its East Midlands Branch in order to ensure that it continues to excel at delivering leisure and learning opportunities for adults with a physical disability across the region. Trustees are themselves volunteers, and undertake a strategic role, collectively taking responsibility for the management and decision-making of the charity.
Commitment:
From RCV –The national charity (RCV Central) will provide any new trustee with at least one day’s training (with the option to pursue other regular training opportunities) and a trustee toolkit (a written resource to be launched at the national charity’s AGM in September 2010). RCV Central assumes the role of best practice provider, and ensures that all affiliated branches are provided with the necessary information (good practice, policy, legal and management information) to run their branch successfully, and hosts regular meetings throughout the year, to enable Trustees to meet colleagues in other Branches.
From you – The time commitment is, at a bare minimum, approximately 12 hours per year, which is based on attendance at 4-6 meetings a year in Coalville. There is also the opportunity for Trustees to take on additional responsibilities where they feel ready for the challenge or are keen to put their experience to good use! This can include taking on the role of Chairperson, Line Manager (of paid staff), Secretary or Treasurer. Due to the nature of its work, all Trustees are required to undertake an Enhanced CRB check, which the organisation will bear the cost of.
RCV adds colour to life, and becoming a Trustee might add some unexpected colour to yours. If you feel you may be interested, but want to know more, please contact Anna Mills on 0115 9247419 or email anna.mills@bitc.org.uk
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