Being a LEEF Trustee

The role of a LEEF trustee is to ensure that LEEF as a charity (no. 1168740) is operating legally and fulfilling its aims and mission as outlined on the charity commission website. 

We do this by:

• Ensuring that policies and procedures are kept up to date in accordance with English law and the principles of our organisation.
  
• Supporting the paid employee and volunteers so that they can fulfil their roles delivering workshops, training days and networking events to LEEF members.
  
• Attending LEEF events and getting to know other LEEFers
  
• Ensure the financial solvency of the organisation and ability to function effectively.
  
• Overseeing the fulfilment of any grants gained and the reporting to the funding bodies.
  
• Actively promoting LEEF and its events and representing the organisation in a positive light.
  
• Always acting in the best interests of the charity – Not allowing your personal interests, views or prejudices affect your conduct as a trustee
  
  

Being a trustee is a voluntary position but the benefits in terms of networking and being involved in training events are limitless. There is also the obvious benefit to your professional development as trustees work closely with a wide variety of experienced professionals in the field. There are trustees from a variety of organisations (and freelancers!) across London, standing for terms of 4 years, renewable indefinitely.

Trustees are expected to bring with them their enthusiasm, commitment, love of the environment and willingness to rope in friends and colleagues when the need arises.

Trustees are expected to:

• Attend board of trustee meetings held quarterly, usually at the LEEF offices. (currently South London botanical Institute, Tulse Hill). These meetings are at 6.00pm and last approx. two hours.
  
• Attend our annual trustee awayday which takes place on a weekend day in the spring.
  
• Attend a minimum of two LEEF events a year, networking or training.
  
• Offer either your venue or a voluntary trainer for one event a year (generally daytime).
  
• Participate in LEEF steering group meetings and / or take on a specific trustee role.
  
  

We are particularly looking for a mix of people including those who

• Have a solid financial understanding and can follow budgets, accounting etc.
  
• Can represent: a large organisation, a smaller organisation, freelancers in a relevant field.
  
• Offer up a venue with good transport links for training events
  
• Have experience in marketing and promotion via word of mouth, digital and non digital media.
  
• Have been involved with successful grant applications and the subsequent project management.
  
• Are experienced in monitoring and evaluating projects against their objectives.
  
• Listen to others and enjoy contributing to a team effort.
  
• Have a bit of common sense
  
• Have a robust knowledge of education and/or the environment that they are confident sharing with others.
  
  

Trustee Roles:
All LEEF trustees are expected to fulfil the LEEF Trustee role. In addition, some Trustees will hold the following roles. These are agreed between the trustees and the role holder may change as required.

Role Description Chair

• Named by charity commission as holding overall responsibility for LEEF
  
• Being a point of contact for the charity commission
  
• Be a figurehead for the charity.
  
• Produce agendas for trustee meetings
  
• Attend trustee meetings and ensure that they are productive, timely and on topic.
  
• Manage the scheduling of future meetings
  
• Be a signatory for LEEF bank account
  
• Leading on the development of the board and ensuring its decisions are implemented.
  
• Taking urgent action (but not decision making unless authorised) between board meetings when it isn’t possible or practical to hold a meeting.
  
  

Role description Treasurer

• Presenting financal reports to the board in a format that helps the board understand the charity’s financial position
• Advising the board on how to carry out its financial responsibilities
  
• Liaising with professional advisors
  
• Overseeing the preparation and scrutiny of annual accounts
  
• Supporting the LEEF project manager with day to day financial duties, such as book-keeping, budgeting and preparation of reports.

Role description Line Manager

• Supporting and supervising the LEEF Project Manager and acting as a channel of communication between board and staff.
  
• Day to day line management e.g. holiday, sick, etc
  
• In addition Trustees would have a role in guiding the charity and making decisions about the following areas of work:

 Membership
 Training and Events
 Communications/Marketing (including website support)
 Health and safety
 Funding applications
 Charity governance