Charity Secretary

Buckinghamshire Disability Service (BuDS) is the county’s leading disability charity and its only independent pan-disability organisation. Our visionary aim is to _abolish disability_ by building a world which is _Fair4All_, free of the barriers which disable people. We are led by disabled people and committed to the social model of disability.

BuDS is a working community of over 180 volunteers, mostly local disabled people, who work together, supported by 8 paid staff, to achieve our goals. Our 16 projects, many of which are unique to the county, empower thousands of disabled adults, young people and children across Buckinghamshire and permanently remove the barriers facing disabled people so that they can live and work independently.

We tackle the issues which most affect disabled people in Buckinghamshire by whatever means necessary. Our Disability Services help disabled people directly, while our Fair4All projects bring about permanent change to the built environment, structures, systems and infrastructure so that disabled people do not face barriers to living independently. Our Reach4Work projects help disabled jobseekers into work and education. All our work is evidence-based, project-led and responds to the real needs of disabled people.

As a user-led activist charity, the role of BuDS Trustees is different from that in many other charities. As a charity, we are by policy strongly Trustee-led. It is inherent in our status as a user-led organisation that the BuDS Trustee Board is the clear leadership and direction setting body for the charity. Accordingly, we expect and require all Trustees to have a strong commitment to our values and objectives, and for Trustees to play an active role in the life of the charity.

The role of Secretary is pivotal for the charity. As an officer, you will work alongside the Chair, Vice-Chairs (if appointed) and Treasurer to provide leadership and direction to the charity, alongside and as part of the wider Trustee Board.

While the Secretary does not have a specific role as a public representative of the charity, the Secretary as an officer of a user-led disability charity will need to embody our values and ethos. This means in practice that a disabled person with a strong connection to Buckinghamshire is most likely to meet the requirements of the role. BuDS values diversity and inclusion and encourages everyone who meets the needs of the role to apply, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Specific Responsibilities:
Alongside the duties of a Trustee, the Charity Secretary has the following specific responsibilities, as part of the wider Trustee team:
Primarily responsible for the smooth and efficient running of the **Trustee Board** and any sub-committees, providing assistance and support to the Chair of trustees and other officers. This includes arranging meetings, preparing and circulating agendas, ensuring that proper notes and records of meetings are kept and circulated, preparing action lists and chasing outstanding actions between meetings.

Primarily responsible for the **Annual General Meeting** in November, including preparing and circulating agendas, ensuring that proper notes and records of meetings are kept and circulated, preparing action lists and chasing outstanding actions between meetings.

Primarily responsible for ensuring that the charity’s **Annual Report**, Return and other statutory documents are prepared in good time for approval and submission to the Charity Commission in accordance with statutory requirements.

Be the charity’s primary contact for the **Charity Commission** and ensure that all necessary updates and communications are dealt with.

With the other officers, take forward the development of BuDS from an unincorporated association to a **charitable company limited by guarantee**, including in due course acting as the Secretary to the charitable company.

With the other officers, contribute to the charity’s **Strategic Plan** and support strategic planning meetings and developments.

As an officer, be a **signatory** for the charity on agreements, invoices, payments, etc.

Person specification:

- Strong knowledge and understanding of charity governance issues (training available), including ideally the role of charity secretary.
- Experience and knowledge of supporting meetings and decision-making, including taking notes and preparing minutes and agendas.
- Excellent communication skills and interpersonal skills and able to act as a senior representative of the charity
- Ability to work in a highly organised way and act with initiative where appropriate
- Able to identify problems and provide solutions
- Flexible and positive approach
- Ability to present information clearly, concisely, accurately and relevantly in ways that promote understanding
- The ability to commit to a minimum of 12 hours per month

BuDS’ policy is that prospective Trustees join the charity as safeguarded volunteers and shadow the Tr