The Higgs Charity. Trustee Candidate Information. Contents: Welcome from The Higgs Charity Chair. About us. The person we re looking for

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1 The Higgs Charity Trustee Candidate Information Contents: Welcome from The Higgs Charity Chair About us The person we re looking for Trustee Role Responsibilities Trustee Person Specification How to apply Recruitment Timetable

2 Welcome from The Higgs Charity Chair Dear Candidate, Thank you for your interest in becoming a Trustee of The Higgs Charity. We are a relatively small local charity, but we believe we can and do make a significant difference to the lives of many in our beneficial area. Whilst staying true to my father s wish to benefit underprivileged children where possible with the legacy he left, the trustees have very considerable discretion over the donations they make. We believe that benefit to disadvantaged families and children can be achieved by many means and we are able to take a broad view in the decisions we make. Full information about the trustee role and responsibilities can be found in this pack, and you will also find details of the recruitment timetable, and how to apply. For any other information, or for an informal conversation with the charity s Clerk, Peter Knatchbull-Hugessen, please contact Emma at our recruitment partner, Trustees Unlimited. Best wishes, Marilyn Knatchbull-Hugessen JP Chair

3 About us The Higgs Charity is a registered grant-making Charity established in 1979 on the death of Alan Higgs to benefit the inhabitants within a 25-mile radius of Coventry. Alan Edward Higgs was a local business and family man. Through experiencing deprivation in his own childhood Alan was particularly motivated to support and encourage underprivileged young people, and left instructions on his death that a charitable foundation should administer his considerable fortune to benefit the people of Coventry and its surrounding area. For the last 30 years charitable giving through this Charity has ranged from a large number of small local projects, such as provision of minibuses, family holidays and support for disadvantaged children, community groups and youth clubs, to large strategic or infrastructure projects. Some donations are specific single grants, and some are to support ongoing activity by smaller charitable organisations and community groups. What binds all these projects together, is that investment in them creates tangible, beneficial and enduring impacts on the lives of local people. Most of the charity s funds are invested on the stock market, however, the Trustees have also from time to time invested their funds in Coventry. For example, the investment in the Ricoh Arena created over 3,000 new jobs in the City as well as ensuring that the important civic asset of a major arena was built in Coventry. An independent bar and restaurant, part of a larger scheme for the restoration and re-use of The Drapers Hall as a music hub, has been acquired providing the opportunity for an active programme of employee training. The trustees hope to be able to continue to contribute to the regeneration of the City Centre, as well as providing a return on their investment to be added to the funds available for distribution in the area. Donations to individuals are not invited or considered. The trustees are keen only to invest in projects, and support causes where there are widespread or profound impacts, and not, for example, last wish projects. Support for disadvantaged families is to, for example, engender stronger familial relationships or provide access to life-changing opportunity, and not to enhance material wealth: large-scale civic projects may provide the same sort of benefit. This is an opportunity for someone who is enthused by the prospect of supporting the sorts of projects mentioned above and applying creativity to the benefit of the local area. For full information about our range of support please visit our website: The Higgs Charity Details of our Accounts can be found on the Charity Commission s website: The Higgs Charity

4 Who we re looking for The charity s current board comprises three trustees who are members of the Higgs family and an independent trustee. Experience and skills include as a family magistrate (current Chair); social policy management; commercial law, and M&A insurance; and procurement and commercial property management. The Board wishes to expand its expertise and recruit two independent trustees. The new trustees will have a combination of knowledge of the West Midlands, an understanding of the needs of charities in the area and, ideally, service delivery experience. Hands on experience of social engagement with the community would be valuable. Experience of involvement on a grant review panel for a community foundation would also be of interest, or involvement at senior operational, or board level within another grant-giving, or institutional funder organisation. Trustee Role Description: The Board of Trustees are jointly and severally responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of The Higgs Charity, its financial health, the probity of its activities and developing the organisation s aims, objectives and goals in accordance with their agreed strategy, legal and regulatory guidelines. The statutory duties of a Trustee are: To ensure the organisation complies with its articles of association. To ensure the organisation applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objectives. 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. To ensure the financial stability of the organisation To make full use of any specific skills, knowledge or experience to help the Board make good decisions.

5 Trustee Person Specification & specific skills: Charity service delivery experience, including Impact Evaluation and Reporting Experience of being involved on grant review panel, such as for a community foundation senior operational, or board level experience within another grant-giving, or institutional funder organisation Able to contribute strategically across a wide range of issues A collaborative team player with a proven track record of sound judgement and effective decision-making Financially and commercially astute Knowledge, skills and understanding: Commitment to the organisation: an understanding of and a commitment to the values of not for profit organisations and especially the principles of The Higgs Charity a willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to the development of the charity: an appreciation of the impact the organisation is already making, and sharing a passion for supporting people who would most benefit from its work Good, independent judgement and strategic vision An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship An ability to work effectively as a member of a team, and an understanding of the respective roles of the Chair and Trustee

6 Time Commitment Higgs Charity Trustees will serve a 3-year term and will be eligible for re-appointment for one additional term. There are usually six Board meetings held during the working day at a place convenient to trustees. Additional special meetings have been held using telephone conferencing. Meetings with external stakeholders as and when appropriate Trustees are expected to attend training sessions as appropriate to their role, experience and expertise How to apply If you re interested in joining the Higgs Charity as a Trustee and have the skills and experience to support and help further develop our organisation, please send us: A supporting statement illustrating your fit for this role against the criteria and experience sought, and crucially, your motivation for applying for the role; A current comprehensive CV, including details of two referees (who will not of course be contacted without your prior knowledge and consent). Recruitment Timetable The closing date for applications is Friday 29 th June. Please note the other important dates in the recruitment timetable, and applicants should please advise any dates that are not convenient so every effort to accommodate can be made: Preliminary interviews with Trustees Unlimited: Weds 4 th July AM & Fri 6 th July AM central London Final interviews with the Higgs Charity Board: 17 th July and will include an informal meeting with the Charity s Chair central London