Charity registered in Scotland SC029770
Home-Start West Lothian is a charity offering support, friendship and practical help to parents with young children living in West Lothian. Families with children under five years old can sometimes find life difficult and stressful. We recruit and train volunteers to visit such families in their own homes, usually on a weekly basis, and offer non-judgemental practical and emotional support. This support helps to build the family’s confidence and ability to cope. Home Start West Lothian is a scheme within Home Start UK – the UK’s largest family support organisation.
Home-Start West Lothian is looking to appoint a Chair to the Board of Trustees
Location: West Lothian (meetings held in person and/or virtually)
Time Commitment: Approximately 4 to 6 hours per month with Board meetings held every 8 - 10 weeks.
Salary: Voluntary (expenses reimbursed)
About Home-Start West Lothian: Home-Start West Lothian, a member of the Home-Start Federation, is a well-established local charity for 25 years providing compassionate, practical support to families with young children across the region. We believe that all children deserve a happy and secure childhood, and that parents play a key role in giving their children the best possible start in life. We aim to make a lasting and positive impact on the development of children and the health and wellbeing of the family. We do this by empowering parents, promoting resilience and confidence through friendship, guidance, and tailored assistance. We support hundreds of families each year with a team of nine staff and twenty-five volunteers.
The Role: We are seeking an experienced, passionate, and dedicated individual to take on the voluntary role of Chair of the Board of Trustees. This pivotal position ensures strong leadership and strategic oversight, working collaboratively with fellow trustees and the senior management team to shape the charity’s future.
Building on our successes to date, we want a new Chair to lead us through the next exciting phase of our journey. You will have a strong background and track record of providing leadership at board and/or senior executive level and will have a passion for supporting the early years in life for a better future. You should have the judgement and vision to operate effectively at strategic level and you should demonstrate the skills and expertise to help drive our mission forward.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide leadership to the Board, ensuring it fulfils its responsibilities for governance and strategic direction.
- Support and guide the CEO to achieve the charity’s aims and objectives.
- Oversee the implementation of policies and ensure compliance with relevant legal and regulatory frameworks.
- Act as an ambassador for Home-Start West Lothian, fostering relationships with key stakeholders and promoting the charity's work.
- Ensure the Board operates efficiently, encouraging engagement and diversity of thought among trustees.
- Lead the Board in ensuring the charity’s financial stability and long-term sustainability.
- Represent Home-Start West Lothian at external events and within the local community.
- Bring impartiality and objective to decision making.
- Chair Board meetings and the AGM.
Skills and Experience:
- Proven leadership or management experience, ideally at Board level (charity sector experience desirable but not essential).
- Strategic thinker with the ability to support and challenge the team constructively.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- A passion for supporting families and an understanding of the challenges they face.
What We Offer:
- An opportunity to make a tangible difference to families across West Lothian.
- A chance to lead and influence a respected local charity.
- Supportive and collaborative Board environment.
- Induction, training, and ongoing support.
- Reimbursement of reasonable expenses.