Who we are
Our mission is to ‘Create a world where women and girls can live their lives free from the fear of male violence; and the threat of such violence.’ Action Breaks Silence is an educational charity. To ensure long-term success we adopted a multi-pronged approach, rolled out through the Action Breaks Silence Community Intervention to end violence against women and girls delivered in school settings.
The role
Action Breaks Silence is a frontline prevention educational charity, whose aim is to is to create a world where women and girls can live their lives free from male violence.
A youth/young people peer-to-peer mentorship approach is adopted through our Train-the-Trainer Programme which provides trainers to deliver our schools’ programmes, which aim to tackle sexual harassment and sexual violence in youth relationships.
We focus on disadvantaged communities which face a multitude of challenges, including economic challenges and high levels of VAWG, in London. Many of the women and girls we engage and support are survivors of male violence.
The intervention consists of the following:
- A Train the Trainer Programme – upskilling youth and young adults to deliver our programmes
- Empowerment through Self-Defence and Understanding Toxic Masculinity Workshops
- The Primary School Programme to end VAWG
- The Action Breaks Silence Youth Ambassador Programme – uniting youth to become active bystanders to address VAWG in youth relationships.
The role
We are seeking a Chair to 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 Chief Executive and ensure that the Board functions as a unit and works closely with the entire Executive of the charity to achieve agreed objectives.
They will act as an ambassador and the public face of the charity in partnership with the Chief Executive.
In addition to the responsibilities of Trustees, you will have the following responsibilities:
1.1 Leading Trustee discussions on the strategic plans for Action Breaks Silence and enabling the Chief Executive to implement them.
1.2 Ensuring that Trustees understand their legal responsibilities for the governance of Action Breaks Silence.
1.3 Ensuring the Board has a clear understanding of the different responsibilities of Board members and staff and acting as a channel of communication between the Trustees and staff.
1.4 Planning, setting and chairing Trustee meetings and Leadership away days.
1.5 Supporting the fundraising programme for the organisation by meeting funders and public speaking.
1.6 Attending internal and external meetings and functions with stakeholders to promote the organisation’s interests and to raise its profile.
1.7 Ensuring the efficient conduct of business and Board meetings and monitoring the implementation of decisions.
1.8 Manage any conflicts of interest in line with Charity Commission guidelines.
1.9 Stimulating and managing the participation of Trustees and ensuring that they work as an effective team.
1.10 Ensuring that the performance of the Board and the Trustees is reviewed at least every 2 years.
1.11 Ensuring that the Board reviews its composition and the skills of its individual members with due consideration to succession planning.
1.12 Appoint the Chief Executive, jointly with other Trustees; meeting regularly to monitor and support performance; leading the appraisal of the Chief Executive and carrying out regular one to one review meetings.
1.13 Acting as a counter signatory on cheques and applications to funders if the Finance Trustee is unwilling to do this.
1.14 Making an individual donation to demonstrate personal commitment.
Committment
Trustee meetings are held every quarter in via Zoom and last 2 hours. There will also be a number of other meetings e.g., finance committee, with key donors, other trustees and regular one to one reviews with the Chief Executive.
Experience shows that the expected time commitment for the Chair is 2 – 4 hours per week average over a year.
Reasonable travel expenses to attend meetings will be payable in accordance with Action Breaks Silence’s Trustee Expenses Policy.
The Chair is elected to serve office for a term of 3 years and is then able to stand for re-election for a further term.
How to apply
To apply, please submit your CV and Cover Link via the link above.
Deadline: 29 September 2023.
Supporting document(s)
- chair-role-description-_-final.pdf - Download
