Buttle UK Chief Executive Officer Candidate Information Pack Charity number: 313007
Contents Welcome letter from the Chair Background information Organisational structure Governance Background reading The Chief Executive Officer role Person specification How to apply & Recruitment Timetable Page 2 3 6 7 8 9 12 14 1
Welcome letter from the Chair On behalf of the board of Trustees, thank you for your interest in the CEO role at Buttle UK. This is a significant time for Buttle UK as we move forward with our strategy for developing our approach to grant giving. We aim to provide the vulnerable children and young people we support with a holistic package of funding that will not only help them overcome a crisis in their lives, but help remove the barriers preventing them from unlocking their potential. To help meet the goals of this strategy we launched a Fundraising Campaign with an ambitious target over the next 5 years. We are thrilled we have reached over 2m to date with many more fundraising opportunities in the pipeline. This CEO role comes at a time when there is an ever increasing number of children and young people in the UK living in poverty without being able to access basic support. This means that there is an even greater need for the creative grant giving for which Buttle UK is known. We are at a pivotal point in our journey which provides an opportunity for the successful candidate to help us implement our strategy and develop our ambition to help vulnerable children and young people. Professor Caroline Gipps Chair of Buttle UK 2
Background Information Buttle UK: here to give children and young people a chance for change Our mission is the maintenance, education and advancement in life of children and young people who through poverty and family circumstances are in need of, and will benefit significantly from, Buttle UK s support. Since 1953, Buttle UK has been creating chances for change to tens of thousands of children, all across the UK, through direct financial support. This is done through a unique network of over 4,000 support organisations, made up of other charities, children s services departments and housing associations. After 14 years of delivering BBC Children in Need s Essential Items programme the Trustees decided not to tender for a further period when the current contract ended in March 2018 and to focus our efforts on our future strategy to deliver Chances for Children grants. To that end we have forecast to spend a minimum of 2.5m on our grant provision in 2018-19 and this is funded by Buttle UK s own money and fundraised income from donors, trusts and foundations. In the past few years Buttle UK has tested a new type of grant that involves a holistic funding package for each family or young person. The value of these which we call Chances for Children grants - is up to 2,000. The results of testing our Chances for Children grants have been overwhelmingly positive with a clear impact for the grant recipients far beyond their monetary value, including children affected by domestic abuse, estranged young people and struggling families. Through these grants we have been working more closely with local support organisations and this approach has been extremely beneficial in itself, both in terms of ensuring we are targeting the funds at the children and young people who need them most, but also in the way that the grants can support these organisations own objectives for their clients. Chances for Children grants can fund a wide range of costs, including items to meet immediate material need such as cookers, fridges and children s beds as well as things to support children in the longer-term like computers, counselling, therapy or after-school activities. In some cases it can mean a place at a boarding school. Buttle UK has offered this type of support for all of its 65 years and for children living in very chaotic and disrupted homes, and who are at future risk of going into care. We know that for the right child this can be a transformational opportunity. 3
Today, our Chances for Children grants are swift, direct and personalised. We have offices in each country of the UK to ensure that we respond to local circumstances. We have partnerships with thousands of people and organisations working at the frontline of social care. Through a process of monitoring and evaluation of the impact of our grant giving we are able to understand better the needs of individual children and young people, getting to grips with both the longer term and shorter- term needs that our grants can meet effectively. This positions us as a credible thought leader, a role for the Charity we wish to develop further. However we are more than simply a grant-maker we are becoming known for our niche grant giving, supporting children and young people in particular circumstances in a way that no other individual funder does. Over the past six decades we have safeguarded and grown the financial endowment that was left to us by our founder, the Reverend Frank Buttle. At the same time, we ve honoured his memory as an independent thinker and a pioneering force for change by using the insights and learning we gain from a unique data set (generated through our grants database) to provide us with a platform to undertake ground-breaking research and speak out about the issues which vulnerable children and young people in the UK face, and what works to remove the barriers in their lives in a cost effective and efficient way. We have a board of trustees fully committed to the exciting innovations we have made in our grant giving and dedicated to seeing the approach develop and grow, allowing us to offer these larger grants to more children and young people across the UK in the years to come. So we have ambitious plans for the future, supported by a fundraising campaign to raise 10m; we are pleased to have raised over 2m of our target to date. It is a significant time in our history. 4
Our vision Giving children, young people and families a chance for change. Our mission The maintenance, education and advancement in life of children and young people who through poverty and family circumstances are in need of, and will benefit significantly from, Buttle UK s support. Our values Non-judgmental. Focused on the needs of the child without passing comment on those around them. Expert. Can be trusted by donors to make a difference with their money. Can be relied on by beneficiaries to do the right thing for them, championing their cause if it is being overlooked. Having the courage of our convictions, to back a solution that may be divisive or challenging. Personal. Not a huge corporate entity a small organisation inspired by one visionary. Flexibility. Able to answer to the needs of individuals with bespoke solutions. Practical. The on-the-ground knowledge and years of experience to develop solutions that work in the real world not just on paper. Innovative where a new solution or approach is needed. Connected. Working in partnership with the front line workers who understand the problems and are aware of those most in need of help. Entrepreneurial. True to Frank Buttle s vision, constantly seeking new solutions, unencumbered by layers of bureaucracy or process. 5
Organisational structure 6
Governance Trustee Officers Buttle UK has a Chair, and a Deputy Chair as its officers. Trustee Board The Scheme allows for a Trustee Board to consist of not less than eight Trustees and no more than 20. It is felt that a Board of 10-12 Trustees meets the needs of the Charity at the present time. The Board is responsible for the governance of Buttle UK and all its activities. Committees The Trustee Board uses Committees to advise on certain aspects of Buttle UK s operations and to control certain activities on its behalf: Corporate Advisory Committee Governance Advisory Committee Investment Committee Campaign Board. External Advisers Buttle UK from time to time appoints external professionals to contribute to its work. They are appointed in terms of their interests and expertise and are expected to be willing to contribute to discussions and decisions contributing to policy and practice issues. 7
Background reading For further information about our grant programmes and wider work please access on our website: The history of Buttle UK Annual Review and Accounts Research reports Details of our current grant programmes and the process for application Chances for Children Campaign and fundraising activity Board of Trustees 8
The Chief Executive Officer role Purpose: To provide the overall leadership and management of Buttle UK in line with the strategic plan and to promote the profile and position of Buttle UK to a variety of stakeholders Responsible to: Board of Trustees through the Chair Direct reports: Director of Fundraising & Marketing Director of Finance & Administration Director of Grant Programmes & Project Development Location: Victoria, London. Remuneration: 70,000-80,000 Principal responsibilities and accountabilities Strategy and planning To assist the Board with achieving its strategic aims by developing Buttle UK s strategic and business plans. To be accountable to the Trustee Board for the effective delivery of the strategic and business plan through leadership of the staff and working in partnership with other organisations, where appropriate. To expand and promote the work of Buttle UK with external stakeholders, including identifying new opportunities and promoting our work through networking and forging strong links with the private, public and voluntary sectors. To ensure that Buttle UK s supporting infrastructure is fit for purpose to deliver the strategies and plans. This includes the ongoing development of IT systems to support more efficient grant giving and better data/information for research and impact measuring purposes. Fundraising To take an active lead role in the development and success of Buttle UK s fundraising campaign alongside the Director of Fundraising & Marketing. Where appropriate, to take the lead in negotiations over funding contracts and 9
oversee the management and the appropriate use of that funding. Thought leadership To take responsibility for developing our marketing work to achieve multiple related goals: positioning ourselves as a thought leader, raising the profile of the Chances for Children brand and marketing our grants to a social care sector in a state of considerable change. To ensure the development and consolidation of Buttle UK s impact and evaluation function to enable us to extract, analyse and process data to be used in a manner that enhances the efficacy and clearly demonstrates the shorter and longer-term impact of all our grant-giving, as well as developmental and marketing work that fully underpins our thought leadership capacity. With all of the above, build positive relationships and work in partnership with key stakeholders, including government departments and partner schools, to ensure the voices and needs of our beneficiaries are understood. To be responsible for the strategic external positioning of Buttle UK acting as the chief spokesperson with the media, with politicians and other key stakeholders. Finance To work closely with the Investment Committee supported by the Director of Finance & Administration to aid the development and review of Buttle UK s endowment. To ensure that effective financial controls and reporting processes are developed and maintained, alerting the Trustees to any issues that may require remedial action. To ensure the prudent setting and management of budgets for Trustee Board approval. Staff management, training and development To have responsibility for the recruitment, performance and well-being of all staff members and volunteers. To provide leadership to the team, ensuring the strategic and operational plans are promoted and communicated to team members, and that staff members are at all times focused towards achieving Buttle UK s key priorities. 10
To attend all staff meetings. To actively promote equality and diversity in all activities. To work effectively with professional advisers to ensure Managers and Trustees can make decisions on a timely basis with adequate and relevant information. Governance and Trustee Board To service the Trustee Board, ensuring timely reporting of progress against the strategic and business plans, alongside changes, and developments in the external environment and management of governance and risk. To support the Chair in the management of the governance of the Charity, ensuring timely compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements. To maintain the risk register. Principal working relationships The Board of Trustees The Fundraising Campaign Board The Staff Team Donors and Funders External stakeholders, including partnership organisations and other charities. The above list of duties and responsibilities is not exhaustive and you may be required to undertake other responsibilities and training as requested and as appropriate. 11
Person Specification Requirements Essential Desirable To be demonstrated on/at: Educational attainment A formal management qualification. Application form An understanding of child poverty in the UK and the impact it has on children s ability to access opportunity. Personal statement and Interview Degree level or equivalent. Evidence of recent and continuing professional development. Knowledge required An understanding of: charity regulation governance employment law diversity and equal opportunities. Previous engagement with a charity. Experience of managing grant giving. Experience required Experience of: working as a strategic leader financial and budget management influencing strategic and operational outcomes managing diversity senior operational management effective Experience of: being a CEO reporting at Board level. Personal statement and interview A proven track record 12
communication of effective interaction with the media. Successful record of change management. Clear understanding of the importance & impact of fundraising within the Charity. A proven track record of effectively delivering a fundraising strategy. Awareness of the importance of diversity in the workplace. Skills and aptitudes required Strong leadership and management skills. Personal statement and Interview Effective networking and influencing skills. Excellent written and verbal skills. Entrepreneurial and creative skills. Problem solving skills. Ability to provide a flexible & hands-on approach. Personal qualities required Personal resilience. Interview Ability to inspire and motivate a variety of others. 13
How to apply Send a covering letter and the attached application form to: cerecruitment@buttleuk.org If you require clarification on any aspect of the application or recruitment process then please use the email address above and we will endeavour to help you. Recruitment timetable Activity Date Closing date for applications Sunday 6th May 2018 Shortlisting completed by Friday 18th May 2018 Assessment & Information Day 6 June 2018 Formal Presentation & Interview 13 June 2018 The appointment will be made subject to satisfactory references. 14