Southern Brooks Community Partnerships

Trustee Information Pack

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Dear Candidates

Originally known as Patchway and Bradley Stoke Community Development Project, we were established in October 1991 as a result of collaboration between the Community Associations of Bradley Stoke and Patchway. In 2005 we changed our name to the Southern Brooks Community Partnerships, which is a better reflection of both the area that we work in and our work. We are a registered charity.

We have a voluntary Board of Trustees and regularly review the skills on the Board to ensure that they are competent to manage the organisation. Brand and marketing is the current gap, along with financial skills. The Board meets monthly holds a Celebration Event in November each year.

Over the past 15 years the organisation has seen incredible growth in its work, and now employs over 40 full and part-time workers with a bank of 54 active volunteers. Various sub-groups have been set up to guide the work of different areas of the project. These groups include key stakeholders and a member of the Board. Ultimate responsibility for all of the work of the project remains with the Board.

In particular we are looking for individual to

become Treasurer.

I would like to think you for your interest in our

organisation in becoming a trustee and if you

share our values and vision then we would very

much welcome your application.

David Bell , Chair

Trustee Appointments

Our vision is to create

“Strong Communities

Powered by People”.

Who we are

Southern Brooks Community Partnerships a

community development organisation, which

brings people together to build strong

communities.

We are a charity who works with the community to deliver a wide range of support services across South Gloucester and Bristol. Some of the projects we run include one to one support for families, adults and children, 3 Youth Clubs, employment coaching for

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Our Ethos Statement: We are passionate about helping people to make a difference in their lives, families and neighbourhoods. Southern Brooks Community Partnerships values are at the heart of everything we do.

• We all have the right to reach our potential.

• Everyone has the right and responsibility to be fully involved in society and in decisions that affect them.

• Discrimination always needs to be challenged.

• Everybody has the right to feel included and valued.

• We all need to be involved in protecting our environment for future generations.

• We all learn and develop through our life experiences.

Anti-Hate Crime Ambassador Programme

Staff piloted an 8 week set of interactive work-

shops with pupils from Filton Hill Primary School

The children learned about equalities and diversi-

ty, hate crime bullying and communication skills.

They were enthusiastic and now have a genuine

desire to support fellow students being bullied and

want to build a fairer society.

Following the success of this pilot, we have se-

cured funding for a 3 year post to continue this

project.

What does Southern Brooks Community Partnerships do? We work with communities to understand local needs, and bring people together to find better ways of doing things. We provide practical support to help people get on in their lives, from training courses to job clubs to one-to-one support. We run a community café and youth centre, where people can connect, try new things and get support to make changes in their lives and communities. We work with families, older people and children and young people We aim to fill gaps in service provision, where communities’ needs are not being met.

What’s happened over the past year This year we have entered a period of growth and expansion having secured significant new funding including from various funders well as seeing growth in our community café in Patchway, Brooks Café, and learning/skills income. In April 2017 we have merged with Community Ignite in Kingswood and expanded our services. Our aim is that by 2022 we will have established

SBCP as a community development partner

offering a high quality, wide, deep and integrated

range of services for existing and new

communities across South Gloucestershire and

into Bristol and BANES.

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Term of Office

The term of appointment if for three years with

the possible renewal for a further three years.

We would like trustees to commitment sufficient-

ly to make a valuable contribution throughout the

year.

It is expected that trustees will attend monthly

board meetings.

What we look for

• Commitment to our values

• Able and willing to devote the necessary

time to the role

• An understanding of barriers that people

face to achieving success and willingness

to learn more about this

• Knowledge about or an interest in the local

areas of Patchway and Kingswood

• Knowledge or interest in finance, business

development or marketing and

communication.

Green Spaces

Sarah was made aware of the Grow Your

Own course at Blakeney Road Community

Allotment following her attendance at the

Work Club. Initially Sarah was very anxious

about coming to a new group, but with the

support our staff she was able to attend.

Sarah did brilliantly on the course and as

she says, “My confidence grew a little each

week”. As the course came to an end Sarah

became a key part of the weekly drop in, she

welcomes new people and is involved in

deciding the future of the garden.

Sarah’s confidence boost meant she was

able to get a job, and she’s picked up some

of her old hobbies, Including pyrography,

and made us a beautiful sign for our garden.

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David Bell

Having been involved in Filton People, (a local Community organisation), and a number of other community organisations I was invited to join the Board of Trustees at Southern Brooks Community Partnerships in 2008, and have been here ever since.

Being involved in the local community has always been important to me, making a contribution and improving things.

The Trustee Role is a fascinating one. We get an overview of an incredible organisation and its work, and to contribute to the organisation and its success. To see the communities it has been involved in develop and our service users get so much from the organisation has been one of the most rewarding parts of the Trustee role.

As Chair I have the obvious Chairing Roles, but also a broader leadership and oversight role. I am proud of helping the organisation to be such a success in its delivery.

Bouncing Babies Group

“Amazing group! I have been taking Emily

since she was 6 weeks old. Very welcoming

and I have met some lovely friends there as

well. Lots of good advice from all of the Mums.

No matter what issues our babies are having

you can always find someone who has been

though it already and has a solution!”

This weekly support and activity group pro-

vides networking for parents, aims to reduce

the risk of post-natal depression, supports the

bonding process between parent and child.

Being a trustee

Southern Brooks Community Partnerships has been transformative for communities and for individuals. Its paid staff and volunteers and the organisation as a whole have established a reputation for the quality of their work and the results they achieve.

The Trustee Board needs people with a commitment to the community, and the values of the group, but we also require people with particular skills and expertise. It is a very responsible role and requires a level commitment and work in order to fulfil trustee obligations.

Being involved in Southern Brooks Community Partnerships is immensely rewarding, especially being part of successful organisation that makes a positive impact in its communities and improving the lives of the people in those communities.

I hope this has provided you with useful information about the role and if you are interested in meeting me and the trustee board then please get in touch.

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South Gloucestershire & Yate Demen-

tia Action Alliance

Yate Leisure Centre agreed to be involved in

the Dementia Friendly community initiative.

Staff Mike & Jan Jones volunteered to be

trained as Dementia Champions and the lei-

sure centre became part of the newly formed

Yate Dementia Action Alliance.

The Centre Manager pledged time and re-

sources to form a social and activity group.

November 2015 was the first session with 15

attending. The group is continuing to grow in

numbers and has an average of 35 mem-

bers.

“Very good support staff with a variety of ac-

tivities. A very friendly welcoming and encour-

aging time”

Tasks and Duties

The statutory duties of a Trustee:

To ensure that the organisation complies with its

governing document, charity law, company law and

any other relevant legislation or regulations

To ensure that the organisation pursues its objects

as defined in its governing document

To ensure the organisation uses its resources

exclusively in pursuance of its objects: the charity

must not spend money on activities which are not

included in its own objects, no matter how

worthwhile or charitable those activities are

To contribute actively to the board of trustees' role

in giving firm strategic direction to the organisation,

setting overall policy, defining goals and setting

targets and evaluating performance against agreed

targets

To safeguard the good name and values of the

organisation.

To ensure the effective and efficient administration

of the organisation

Role Profile To ensure the financial stability of the organisation

including implementing a fund raising strategy

To protect and manage the property of the charity

and to ensure the proper investment of the

charity's funds

If the charity employs staff, to appoint the chief

executive officer and monitor his/her performance

Other duties

In addition to the above statutory duties, each

trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge

or experience they have to help the board of

trustees reach sound decisions. This may involve:

Scrutinising board papers

Leading discussions

Focusing on key issues and priorities – expertise

in family support, community development or

building a strong and thriving VCS

Skills in developing social enterprises and

sustainable funding

Providing guidance on new initiatives

Other issues in which the trustee has special

expertise

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Trustee Person Specification

Commitment to the organisation

Willingness to devote the necessary time and

effort

Strategic vision

Good, independent judgment

Ability to think creatively

Willingness to speak their mind

Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties,

responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship

Ability to work effectively as a member of a team

Nolan's seven principles of public life:

selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability,

openness, honesty and leadership.

Believe in the organisations core values –

reflective practice, working and learning together,

respect, embracing equality and diversity,

encouraging participation, building a sustainable

community.

We are activity seeking individuals with

knowledge or interest in one of the following;

finance, business development or marketing and

communication.

Finance

You will have experience, knowledge or interest

in one or more from the list below

• Understanding charity accounts

• Experience of using quick books or other

financial reporting mechanisms

• Accounting

• Able to compose and oversee budgets by

overseeing bank accounts

• Supporting staff in chairing a finance sub

group

Youth Work Courses

One student enrolled ton the Introduction to

Youth Work Course to explore other career

options. She realised that youth work really

interested her. After completing this course,

she was so enthused that she then did the

Southern Brooks Level 3 Diploma in Youth

Work Practice.

Since starting on this new career path, she

has left her previous job and now has

several jobs working with young people. She

has a job as a 1-2-1 worker with a young

person in school, as a youth worker for

Southern Brooks and is also working the

summer in the Four Towns Play Association

to gain more experience with a wider range

of ages.

Role Profile

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Family Support

X lost a baby and her marriage broke down. She also suffered from diabetes. We found it difficult to meet her at first but this was resolved through working in partnership with Merlin.

X was facing eviction and was being taken to court as she was ‘not doing anything to change her situation’. We liaised with the housing benefit team, Merlin Housing Association, North Bristol Advice Centre and the Duty Solicitor. We supported X to access counselling sessions to talk about loss of her child.

She is no longer in debt, has improved her mental health and can now deal with financial matters.

Business Development

You will have experience, knowledge or interest

in one or more from the list below

• Attending business breakfast events

• Networking across organisations in the area

• Contacts in the business community

• Experience in fundraising in the public sector

• Proven experience of income generation

Marketing and Communications

You will have experience, knowledge or interest

in one or more from the list below

• Developing communication strategy and

offering direction to staff

• Social media and traditional media

• Advising staff with website development

and online marketing

• Branding design and development

How to Apply

Please send a CV form along with a covering letter to office@southernbrooks.org.uk Alternatively you can post to Coniston Community Centre The Parade Coniston Road Patchway South Glos BS34 5LP www.southernbrooks.org.uk