Volunteer Inspirational new Chair required for a Charity supporting people aged 30 + with arthritis in Reading

What will you be doing?

This is a time of transition for Arthros.  The founding members are planning to step back during the next 12 months.  We have recruited 3 new Trustees - a person with lived experience of childhood arthritis, a Digital Trustee looking forward to supporting the development of our website and social media strategy and an experienced Treasurer.  We are just at the beginning of refreshing our strategy. so this is the perfect time to join.  Our focus now is on finding a great Chair.  We are looking for someone willing to bring energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the role, and who will broaden the diversity of thinking on our board. The Chair will  lead the board, ensuring that it governs the charity effectively, and delivers the charity’s vision and mission. We're looking for someone to  lead in an inclusive way, supporting the board to work together well, and acting as an ambassador for the charity. As a small charity, currently with no employees, there will be times when the trustees will need to be actively involved beyond Board meetings. This may involve scrutinising board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, presenting externally, or other issues in which the trustee has special expertise What we are looking for We're looking for someone who is based in the Reading area, who is able to lead Arthros through this period of change.  You will

 Provide strategic leadership to the charity and the Board, ensuring that Arthros achieves its mission. Lead the board in ensuring that it fulfils its responsibilities for the governance of the organisation. Optimise the relationship between the board and Arthros’s partners and volunteers. Plan and chair the board meetings and the AGM, with others as appropriate. Act as a spokesperson and figurehead for Arthros

Don’t look for our website, we don’t have one YET.  What we have is secure funding through investments that mean we are going to be able to help people for the foreseeable future.

What are we looking for?

Personal skills and qualities Essential

Experience of being a trustee. [You do not need to have been a Chair before). Experience and understanding of the impact of arthritis on wellbeing Live or work in Reading A keen sense of strategic purpose. An inclusive leadership style: able to inspire and support everyone to participate on an equal footing. The ability to listen and engage effectively. You are comfortable with challenge and debate and are able to encourage that in others whilst fostering a collaborative board environment.  Advocate - be able and willing to champion Arthros’s work through personal networks, social media, and other channels. A strong personal commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. Be responsive, as a small charity, currently without any employees, things sometimes ‘come up’ that require the Chair to advise, support or give consent to.  Ability to think creatively and strategically, exercise good, independent judgement and work effectively as a board member. A commitment to partnership working. Willingness to lead according to our values. Commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.

Desirable

An understanding of health services and structures

What difference will you make?

Your leadership will help Arthros become fit for the future, recognising the changing needs of people living with arthritis in Reading.  Working together with our consultants and founder Trustees, you will develop and implement a new strategy, based on a theory of change.  Our current beneficiaries are small in number, but our work has great impact.   You will help Arthros develop based on what our consultants have heard from people, so we can help more people live well with arthritis, reducing loneliness and isolation and helping them live their best lives. “Arthros have made an immense impact on my life. Arthros have given me that confidence that I can do anything” – grant beneficiary.