Introduction by our Chair

Thank you so much for your interest in volunteering with Off the Record Bath and North East Somerset. (OTR BaNES). This applicant pack aims to give you more insight into the role of being a trustee with OTR and the types of roles that we are looking to fill.

OTR is seeking 5-6 volunteer trustees to join us at an exciting time of development for the charity.  We are looking for trustees who have some specific experience or expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Finance (Treasurer)
• Digital/Tech
• HR/Employment Law
• Young Person (18-25 years old)
• Working with/identifying with communities of social and economic deprivation, people of colour and boys/young men.

We welcome candidates for the trustee roles from all backgrounds, but we will prioritise those who will help us to continue to diversify the team.

We are particularly keen to appoint trustees with lived experience that reflects an aspect of the lives of the young people we serve and aspire to serve. In our new strategy we have committed to increasing the proportion of young people accessing our services from communities where health and wellbeing issues are more prevalent: people from low income backgrounds, people of colour and boys and young men. We are committed to creating an equitable environment where all can thrive. We will ensure that the recruitment process and decision making has representation of both age and other forms of diversity.

You will be joining an active and supportive team of trustees at an exciting time for our well established and highly regarded charity. The role will be challenging at times but very rewarding. It will provide invaluable experience and the opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of young people. We meet as a Board six times a year, plus some additional meetings for any subgroups and other trustee activities. We’ll provide you with a full and thorough induction, and give you the chance to meet staff, volunteers and most importantly the young people we serve.

In this pack, you will find more details about this trustee role, and specifics about the sort of people we are looking for.

Having young people represented on the Board of Trustees is invaluable. OTR recognises that young people’s current life experiences may be different to those of older trustees. OTR is looking to ensure that we have the youth voice at the heart of the Board and strategic decision-making. Trustees will bring their current lived experience as a young person today in the local area to OTR to help inform the Board’s discussions and decisions and to hold OTR accountable.

The Trustees of Off the Record are committed to becoming a board that better represents the young people we serve. We welcome all applications, even if you don’t feel you fulfil all aspects of the role.

The purpose of the role

To promote youth leadership and bring the youth voice to the OTR Board discussions to make sure that OTR’s Board of Trustees is providing leadership in an effective and well-informed way for the young people we support.

Responsibilities include:

• Overseeing OTR’s engagement with young people, in discussion with the Director, the other trustees and Head of Voice, to ensure the Board listens to the needs and views of the young people it serves
• Advising on the best ways of listening to and advocating with young people, parents, staff, schools/ colleges and youth organisations.
• Advising on the development of youth engagement in relation to the organisation's strategic plan
• With the Director, presenting reports to trustees at appropriate intervals on youth engagement
• Take part in the normal business of being a Trustee of a busy charity
• Be an ambassador for OTR at events and networking occasions
• Take part in interviews for new staff, trustees, and volunteers.

What we are looking for

You should have recent lived experience of being a young person in the area and be committed to making a difference in the lives of other young people. You should also have knowledge of, and be able to speak about, issues facing young people in Bath and the surrounding area.

You do not necessarily need to have any experience of being a trustee, and OTR will give you a full induction and individual support to help you develop into this role.

We are committed to diversifying the Board and welcome applications from people whose identities are currently under represented on the Board: people from within the Trans community, people from the LGBTQ+ community, Disabled people and people from racially minoritized communities.