Volunteer Finance Lead/Treasurer

What will you be doing?

Launched in 1926, Vigilance is an historic Brixham sailing trawler, the last built by Upham's boatyard, andone of only two remaining in Brixham, and seven in the world, from the hundreds that once formed the fleet. After many years in use, and numerous repairs, she is now undergoing major works to save her for the next hundred years. The first phase of work, to rebuild the frame and hull is costing £1.3 million, of which £1,120,000 is being funded by the National Heritage Memorial Fund. The remaining works to replace the deck and refurbish upperworks will cost a further £300,000, of which we have been awarded £250,000 by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and we have now raised most of the remaining £50,000 needed to complete this final phase. Needless to say this enormous project requires a considerable amount of skilled financial expertise, planning and control, and our new trustee will be central to this.  When she returns to Brixham in spring 2025, there will be a period of fitting out and crew training, after which Vigilance will once again take visitors and others out to sea under sail, and when in port be open to non-sailing visitors. Although all activities are undertaken by volunteers, costs remain significant, and ongoing financial management is vital to success both for day to day running and to cope with future repair and maintenance needs. Our new trustee will be key to ensuring that we achieve this success. Of great importance is the ability to navigate the world of Lottery and other charitable finance, and ideally to have a feel for heritage projects, their value and the reasons they exist. It goes without saying that budgetary planning and financial control form are key to the role.  Although we have not recently used the title, the new Trustee will in effect be Treasurer, and thus very central to all we do in the coming years.

What are we looking for?

Besides key skills that include accountancy and financial management, experience of obtaining  and managing Lottery and other charitable grants would be very useful.

What difference will you make?

When seeking volunteers for Vigilance, I often joke that everyone is happy to pull ropes while sailing around Torbay, but nobody wants to be Treasurer. But the role of Treasurer is utterly fundamental to the success of the whole venture. Our retiring finance lead doesn't himself sail, but has been driven by an overriding wish to see Vigilance's red sails continue to grace the Bay, for years and decades to come. We hope the next person to fill this role - whether sailing or not - will find that aspiration enough to drive success.