Thank you for your interest in becoming a Trustee of Worcestershire Wildlife Trust. This is a really important time to support nature’s recovery and help protect wildlife and wild places across our county.
You’ll find information below to help you decide whether you would like to apply to become a Trustee. If you have any questions not answered below, please email enquiries@worcestershirewildlifetrust.org
The Council of Trustees
Worcestershire Wildlife Trust is governed by a Council of Trustees. The Council is responsible for ensuring effective governance, setting and monitoring the Trust’s strategic direction and policies and ensuring compliance with all relevant legislation and regulations (including the Charities Act 2011 and Companies Act 2006).
Trustees are required to attend Council Meetings. There are eight of these per year, although this may be supplemented with additional meetings as needed. Before March 2020, meetings were usually held on Monday evenings in person at our HQ at Lower Smite Farm but they moved onto Zoom during the pandemic; this remains under review and we will likely settle on a combination of online and in-person meetings in the future. Trustees are also required to attend the Annual General Meeting and meetings of any committees or working groups they are involved in. The Chair, Vice Chair, Honorary Treasurer and Honorary Secretary are elected by Council annually. The Council has a current membership of 15, some of whom will be standing down at the next AGM in October 2023. You can read the profiles of current Trustees on our website.
The normal mode of communication for Council matters is email and electronic format documents. This enables the effective use of time and resources and minimises our environmental impacts where possible.
The Duties of a Trustee
Trustees are committed to devoting time and effort to use their skills, knowledge and experience to help Worcestershire Wildlife Trust achieve its aims:
- Ensure that the Trust complies with its governing documents, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
- Contribute to the development of the Trust’s strategic plan and review as appropriate.
- Act always in the Trust’s best interests, working with fellow Trustees to make balanced and adequately informed decisions, considering the long term as well as the short term.
- Avoid putting oneself in a position where one’s duty to the Trust conflicts with personal interests or loyalty to any other person or body.
- Ensure the financial stability of the organisation, taking special care when investing or borrowing and never over-committing the Trust.
- Ensure the Trust’s assets are only used to support or fulfil its charitable purposes and in accordance with its strategic aims and policies.
- Avoid exposing the Trust’s assets, beneficiaries or reputation to undue risk.
- Use reasonable care and skill, making use of knowledge and experience and taking appropriate advice when necessary.
- Devote enough time, thought and energy to the role, for example by preparing for, attending and actively participating in all Trustees’ meetings.
- Comply with statutory accounting and reporting requirements and ensure appropriate accountability to members.
Additional Duties
- Scrutinising papers before Council meetings.
- Leading or participating actively in discussions.
- Maintaining a focus on key issues.
- Participating in other meetings or working groups as required.