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L’Arche is looking for three new trustees to join our Board in its role overseeing our governance, mission and identity in the UK.

L’Arche builds Communities where people with and without learning disabilities share life, friendship, homes and spirituality. We stand for inclusion and full lives for people with learning disabilities.

This Board role is an opportunity to help us build authentic spirituality and community alongside people with learning disabilities, and join the global movement for the voice and rights of disabled people. You will contribute to profound change in people’s lives, and you can expect to be changed yourself too.

The UK Charity works in 11 UK towns and cities, as part of an international movement in 38 countries. Our UK turnover is about £17m. We provide housing, support as well as community life and belonging for 300 people with learning disabilities across England, Scotland and Wales.

We are at a pivotal moment as we refresh our vision and strategy and move from a founder-led generation to a new era where we stand as a beacon of what brilliant care, human community and a full life can be. As part of this refresh we are looking to bring more diverse voices, experiences and expertise onto our Board.

In particular we would welcome interest from people with expertise in HR and employment; in learning disability services and practice; or in housing. We are actively seeking more representation on the Board of people with ethnic minority backgrounds, with lived experience of disability, and from LGBTQ communities. We guarantee an interview to all candidates from these backgrounds who meet minimum requirements of the role.

The overall purpose of the Trustee role is, collectively with the other Trustees, to be responsible for the governance and strategic direction of L’Arche in the UK, ensuring our UK aims and purpose align with both relevant legislation and regulation and with our international mission and identity.

The Board typically meets on weekdays 6 times a year (including for an AGM), with a mixture of in-person and on-line meetings. The role is voluntary and unpaid, but L’Arche will meet reasonable expenses, and provide necessary training and support, including reasonable adjustments where needed.

Trustees are appointed for a 4-year term, which can be renewed twice.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Jointly with other trustees:

• Ensure the L’Arche in the UK has a clear vision, mission and strategy and is focused on achieving them ,working with other Trustees, the Chief Executive and other staff.
• Be responsible for the performance of the Charity, and its corporate behaviour.
• Ensure the L’Arche UK Charity complies with all legal and regulatory requirements.
• Be a guardian of the Charity’s assets, both tangible and in tangible, taking all due care over their security and proper use.
• Ensure the Charity fulfils its purpose and aims.
• Use your specific skills, knowledge, professional and lived experience in support of L’Arche.
• Inform yourself of the key responsibilities, expectations and best practice for Charity
• Trustees as set out by the Charity Commission and others, and stay up to date with best practice in the sector.

SPECIALISMS REQUIRED

We particularly welcome applications from people who can bring experience and expertise in one or more of these areas:

• Human Resources and employment issues.
• Social care, especially learning disability services and practice.
• Housing management, compliance and policy
• Law.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for three new Trustees who have:

• A desire to use their skills, experience and energy to help us broaden the diversity of thinking and voices on the Board.
• Excitement for the mission and values of L’Arche, and a commitment to give time and energy to make L’Arche a beacon for a more human society.
• An openness to building meaningful and mutual relationships with people with learning disabilities, and to supporting people with disabilities to achieve their rights, find full opportunities, and display their gifts to the world.
• A willingness to understand and accept the responsibilities of trusteeship and act in the best long-term interests of the organisation as a whole.
• Ability to think creatively and strategically, to exercise good judgement and to participate actively in discussion.
• Curiosity and readiness to learn and change through your belonging to L’Arche.
• Strong personal commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Openness to the spiritual dimension and growth of every human person. We welcome Trustees both with and without a formal religious faith of their own.

REF-204580