Trustee with legal experience

Organisation overview 

Action Duchenne is a charity providing holistic support to those living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (Duchenne) and their families. Our core activities involve bringing people together to share their experiences and learn from one another, increasing awareness of Duchenne, and bringing together families, Clinicians and pharmaceutical companies to increase understanding of the needs of those living with Duchenne. We provide support for families from the moment of diagnosis through their whole Duchenne journey.

Role Details

The Trustees of Action Duchenne are pivotal roles, providing oversight and ensuring legal compliance. Board members are each expected to actively participate in monthly (soon to be quarterly) meetings, and in turn are expected to dedicate sufficient time to the role.

The Trustees appointed will become Directors of the Company limited by guarantee (no. 04899036) and a Trustee of the registered charity (no. 1101971), and therefore need to be eligible to take on these roles.

All Trustees must

•                     ensure that the charity is carrying out its purpose for the public benefit

•                     Comply with governing documents and the law

•                     Act in the charity’s best interests

•                     Manage the charity’s resources responsibly

•                     Act with reasonable care and skill, and

•                     Ensure the charity is accountable.

The Trustee role is voluntary and unpaid, but reasonable expenses will be met.

The majority of formal meetings are conducted remotely through emails and conference calls, with bi-annual away days.

The Trustees currently meet monthly, and aim to move to quarterly meetings. For each meeting, there is an expectation of pre-reading and preparation, and where there is capacity and appropriate expertise, Trustees can advise on their anticipated standards relating to areas of work (safeguarding, fundraising, HR, for example).

The anticipated time commitment is likely to be 4-8 hours a month, with the away days in addition to this.

A trial period of six months is offered, to ensure the fit works for both the new Trustee and the Board, and a maximum term of three years, with the opportunity to be re-elected once, to serve for a total of two terms - six years.

If you would like to talk through the role and organisation ahead of applying, please contact Vicky, our Chair of Trustees at vicky@actionduchenne.org 

Skills and Experience

 Applicants must clearly demonstrate:

•                     A strong commitment to the holistic approach of support

•                     Relevant skills and experience drawn from a professional background

•                     A willingness to devote time to the governance of Action Duchenne, including preparing for and attending Board meetings and Away Days

•                     Emotional intelligence to understand the physical, mental, social and emotional challenges facing those living with Duchenne

•                     An understanding and acceptance of legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities associated with trusteeship, or the willingness and ability to acquire this

•                     Strong independent judgement and the ability to constructively challenge ideas on the Board and with the CEO

•                     Proven ability to work creatively and strategically in a Trustee or Board setting.

•                     Strong communication and analytical skills

•                     Experience working in the law

Action Duchenne is looking for new Board members with a wide range of skills; please note these are a few areas of focus, but we are also looking for general Trustees, so please apply as we are looking to grow the Board in a number of ways.

•                     Finance experience and skills

•                     Governance experience and skills developed through time on a Charity Board

•                     Fundraising experience and expertise, with evidence of success across different income streams

•                     Legal experience

To apply for or express an interest in this position, please email bicenquiries@weareadvocate.org.uk