Helping Headway - Trustees

Headway MK is a charity and a company limited by guarantee.

Registered in England No 4121656 the registered Charity Number is: 1086035

Headway MK is affiliated to Headway UK – the brain injury association – which is also a registered charity

Our trustees are the people legally responsible for the overall management and decision-making for Headway MK. The Trustees are part of a Management Committee that includes Trustees and Volunteers as well as the Headway MK Co-ordinator.

The Management Committee wish to enlarge the membership of the Committee and the number of Trustees.

Volunteers who may wish to help manage and direct the future of Headway MK do not need to become Trustees, they may wish to join the Management Committee and offer their skills and experience without the legal responsibilities associated with the role of Trustee.

What do trustees do?

The Trustees are responsible for the direction and performance of Headway MK and the service it offers. They achieve this with and supported by the members of the Management Committee. The Headway MK staff carry out the day to day work of the organisation and the trustees are responsible for monitoring and controlling their activities. Being a trustee can be a challenging role and the trustees bear ultimate responsibility for both the legal and financial health of the organisation. It can be extremely interesting and rewarding being a Trustee or volunteer member of the Management Committee, giving you the chance to use your existing skills, develop new ones and help develop the service and future for Headway MK that it offers the community of Milton Keynes.

Who can be a trustee?

Only individuals age 18 or above can be a trustee, and some people are disqualified by law from acting as trustees of charities, such as:

• Anyone who has been convicted of an offence involving deception or dishonesty, unless the conviction is spent.
• Anyone who is an undischarged bankrupt
• Anyone who has previously been removed from trusteeship of a charity by the court or the Charity Commissioners
• Anyone who is under a disqualification order under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986.

What are the qualities needed to be a trustee?

"Trustees need to be able - and willing - to give time to the efficient administration of the charity and the fulfillment of its trusts. We recommend they be selected on the basis of their relevant experience and skills and must be prepared to take an active part in the running of the charity." The Charity Commission.

What skills are we looking for:

Headway MK must ensure that the organisation is supported by appropriate governance and this requires the correct number of trustees to be present when key decisions are made by the Management Committee and to help with legal constitutional and strategic thinking. We would welcome more trustees with new ideas and a vision for the future.

Headway MK is looking for a trustee or member of the Management Committee to take responsibility for Finance – to provide overall management and reporting of the accounts to the Management Committee. The calculation of salaries for the Headway staff has been outsourced.

We are keen to improve the support we give to our Headway MK staff and therefore human resource skills and experience would be welcome.

Headway MK would welcome a new Management Committee member who would be keen to work with the centre staff to develop plans to attract more volunteers to the organisation, especially in support of the day centre activities.

We are keen to improve the link between the Management Committee and the clients of Headway MK and are particularly interested in trustees and/or Management Committee members who may be able to offer some time to attend the unit at Neath Hill during the day time sessions.

Headway MK is always seeking to secure further funding and we are interested in Trustees and/or members of the Committee Management team that would focus on this type of activity.

How much time will I have to give?

Trustees must attend most of the meetings of the Headway MK Management Committee which take place once a month at the Neath Hill Centre.

Some committee members with specific interests and responsibilities may not need to attend all the Management Committee meetings.

Headway MK is a flexible organisation and welcomes an opportunity to seek your help and support through the time you are able to give. Please contact us to discuss what might be possible.