DF Trustee Role

From Tribewanted

Draft Trustee Role Description

• Background

Tribewanted Ltd was set up as a Registered Limited Company with Companies House (England and Wales) in April 2006 with the unique aim of setting up a community on the island of Vorovoro in the Mali district of Fiji, coupled with an online community with members from all over the world. It was always the aim of the founders of Tribewanted to set up a charitable arm to further developmental and educational opportunities for the people of the Mali district.

• The Tribewanted Dream Foundation (TWDF)

In January 2007 a “Tikina” (Council in Fijian) was set up from within the on-line community to drive forward the setting up of the Charity. The Tikina is made up of self-selected Tribe members who have researched the various options.

The Tikina has decided to set up a Charitable Trust (unincorporated charity) governed by seven Trustees with the following aims:

• Sustainable Development

To promote sustainable development in the region of Mali, Fiji, for the benefit of the public, by:

(a) the preservation, conservation and the protection of the environment and the prudent use of resources;
(b) the promotion of sustainable means of achieving economic growth and regeneration.

To advance the education of the public in subjects relating to sustainable development and the protection, enhancement and rehabilitation of the environment and to promote study and research in such subjects provided that the useful results of such study are disseminated to the public at large.

Sustainable development means “development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

• Young People

To act as a resource for young people up to the age of 25 living in the region of Mali, Fiji, by providing advice and assistance and organising programmes of physical, educational and other activities as a means of:

(a) advancing in life and helping young people by developing their skills, capacities and capabilities to enable them to participate in society as independent, mature and responsible individuals;
(b) advancing education;
(c) relieving unemployment;
(d) providing recreational and leisure time activity in the interests of social welfare for people living in the area of benefit who have need by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disability, poverty or social and economic circumstances with a view to improving the conditions of life of such persons

• The Role of a TWDF Trustee

Being a Trustee of the TWDF will be hard work and require commitment and is an unpaid voluntary position. But by contributing you will also gain. Trusteeship is rewarding, providing opportunities for personal development. As you give your skills to the running of TWDF, you will at the same time gather new skills and experience. For instance, you will need to plan the strategic future of the charity and its work. You will need to take the lead in developing and managing staff and volunteers – for most charities, their most important resource. You may also need to become involved in policy decisions within the charity, in the Mali community, regionally or nationally. Innovation, problem-solving and representing the charity in public may also be needed. Charity Trustees come from all walks of life, and are united by their wish to create positive change in society.

• Duties and Responsibilities

• To be familiar with the TWDF constitution
• To have read and understood the Charity Commission’s publication The Essential Trustee: What you need to know http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Library/publications/pdfs/cc3text.pdf
• To accept ultimate responsibility for directing the affairs of TWDF, and ensuring that it is solvent, well-run, and delivering the charitable outcomes for which it has been set up
• To ensure that the charity complies with charity law, and with the requirements
of the Charity Commission as regulator; in particular ensure that the charity prepares reports on what it has achieved and annual returns and accounts as required by law
• To ensure that projects or activities undertaken by TWDF comply with the requirements of other legislation and other regulators (if any), e.g. Fijian law
• To act in the best interests of the charity, act with integrity, and avoid any personal conflicts of interest or misuse of charity funds or assets
• To avoid undertaking activities that might place the charity’s funds, assets or reputation at undue risk,br> • To take special care when investing the funds of the charity, or borrowing funds for the charity to use
• To consider getting external professional advice on all matters where there may be material risk to the charity, or where the Trustees may be in breach of their duties
• To ensure that the Trustees retain overall responsibility and control of the trustee recruitment, selection and induction process.
• To assist in the induction of new trustees
• To identify and manage conflicts of interest

• Additional information

• You must be over 18
• You must not have already been disqualified as a company director
• You must not have been convicted of an offence involving dishonesty or deception
• Police checks will be carried out on all successful candidates before they take up office
• The seven Trustees will elect their own Chair, Treasurer and Secretary. These posts will have wider responsibilities set out in an additional job description.
• You must be available for regular consultation as and when required
• You should be available for formal meetings 4 times a year (possibly on-line) and available for occasional away days and training days
• The term of office will be for 3 years with the possibility of re-election.