Governing Council 2018/19 nominations now open

Have you got what it takes to be a SIA Trustee?

SIA’s Trustee body, the Governing Council, is responsible for the governance of our Charity, as distinct from the operational, day to day running of the organisation. SIA now has over 10,000 members, an annual turnover of £2m and employs 45 staff. As a Trustee, your role carries a fiduciary responsibility for ensuring that SIA conducts its affairs in a legally compliant and ethically responsible way, and requires you to provide strategic guidance to ensure that the Charity will be able to provide services to people with spinal cord injuries in the years ahead.

What is expected of a Trustee?

As a Trustee you will be required to prepare for and attend Governing Council meetings (there are a minimum of 4 annually) held at SIA House in Milton Keynes. You will also be expected to attend and contribute to sub-committees/ working groups involved in specific aspects of our work. On occasion, you may also be asked to represent SIA at fundraising and other events involving our supporters. The role is voluntary, but reasonable expenses, including travel costs, are remunerated.

How do I know if I have ‘what it takes’?

An effective Board of Trustees involves people with a variety of different and complementary skill sets and representing differing SCI interest groups and levels of injury. We are especially keen to attract currently under-represented minorities and those who can add something new to the skill set of our Board.

Further details of our current Trustees are available here and more information about being a trustee is available on the Charity Commission’s website.

What do I do next?

First please read the notes on the nomination form to make sure that you are eligible to serve as a Trustee. If you meet the eligibility requirements and are a full member of SIA the next step is to complete and submit the online nomination form. 

As part of the form you will need to complete the thumbnail statement telling us:

• why you think you would make a useful contribution to SIA as a Trustee;
• what skills and attributes you can bring to the role;
• what additional qualities and relevant external experience you possess;
• a brief description of how you became SCI and your present status.

If you would like a nomination form sent to you in hard copy or by e-mail please telephone Helen Maxwell, Governance and Facilities Manager on 01908 604191 ext. 210 or e-mail [email protected].

The closing date for receipt of nominations is 7 May 2019. We look forward to hearing from you.