Cheshire Connect
Cheshire Connect is a registered charity based in Cheshire which was established over 11 years ago by the former Lord Lieutenant, David Briggs. We match business skills offered by businesses or expert individuals, free of charge, to charities that need those skills to make them sustainable, more resilient and reach more people. We also provide leadership development training to charity leaders and aspiring leaders to improve skills and retain talented charity workers in the sector.
What we do
We work with charities across Cheshire, Warrington and Halton to identify their business needs and then secure those skills, offered for free, from the business community. Required skills can be legal, HR, IT, finance, marketing and communications, leadership, mentoring, finding trustees, managing resources, facility management and strategy development etc.
How we do it
We have a small team of business connectors who are knowledgeable about their geographical areas and who build close relationships with the business and charity sectors to make meaningful connections. The benefits of the skills matching service to the charities is to bring business expertise to the charities that they would not normally be able to access and to provide CSR opportunities to businesses and staff development opportunities.
How we measure our success
It is vital that we make a real difference to charities to enable them to be effective, efficient and reach more people. We measure the impact of each of the 250 or so skills matches each year not only in the value of matches and number of hours of skilled expertise but also the tangible difference these matches make to the skills development, confidence and governance of the charities and their staff and subsequently, their clients and communities.
Trustee Recruitment
Cheshire Connect are now recruiting several new Trustees to join our incredible board. We are particularly interested in hearing from impactful leaders with strong expertise in one of the following areas...
1. Marketing & Communications
2. Social Impact Measurement
3. Leadership Development & Training
The role of Trustee requires a strong understanding of business principles, a good knowledge of the local community and a passion to make a positive difference. We are seeking new Trustees with cross-sector experience who will support Cheshire Connect in reaching more people in the charity and business sectors. Your collaborative work will improve people's lives in Cheshire and Warrington, making a significant difference in our community.
Essentially, we are looking for someone who may have a specific area of expertise but is comfortable quickly understanding multifaceted proposals, analysing and distilling issues, and contributing to strategy discussions. Cheshire Connect is a registered charity and passionate about making a difference in the community. As a Cheshire Connect Trustee, you will represent the values of the organisation which are:
Collaboration – working effectively in partnership with businesses, charities and key stakeholders to develop stronger communities together.
Understanding – we build knowledge of our local communities and strong relationships to clearly understand how we can best direct our resources.
Passion - we are passionate about stimulating lasting change and stronger communities. Everything we do at Cheshire Connect is based on our values. We are working closely with multiple partners including Businesses, Charities, CVAs, Local Government, Cheshire Constabulary, the Church and local charitable trusts. All these partners are key stakeholders in Cheshire and effective collaboration and community engagement is essential to our work.
The role of all Trustees on the Cheshire Connect board is to…
• Make an active contribution to the Board’s role in advising the CEO & colleagues on the continued development of the Cheshire Connect offer to Cheshire-based charities & businesses.
• Provide their expertise, knowledge, and experience to enable the Board to address the needs of charities and include businesses and individuals in meeting those needs in Cheshire and Warrington.
• Take the lead and provide strategic direction for the Board of Trustees on issues and areas in which they have particular skills, expertise, and experience.
• Build, maintain and utilise strong networks to promote the development of Cheshire Connect in Cheshire and Warrington.
• Be prepared to actively participate in and collaborate with other boards, groups, and networks within Cheshire and Warrington and those that connect us to neighbouring geographies across the North, in both the public and private sectors, in the best interests of Cheshire Connect.
• Attend Board meetings and other events as appropriate.
• Be an ambassador and champion for Cheshire Connect in terms that resonate with the charitable, private, and public sectors.
• Actively uphold the Nolan Principles of public life standards and exemplify integrity and selflessness for the broader benefit of Cheshire Connect in the Cheshire and Warrington region.
Essential Requirements for all trustees include:
• A significant connection to Cheshire and Warrington.
• Genuine interest and good understanding of Cheshire and Warrington, particularly the opportunities and challenges faced by charities and businesses operating in Cheshire.
• Be independently minded – able to be detached from personal issues and provide clarity in the development of strategy and the identification of opportunities for Cheshire Connect.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills; articulate, passionate and have an ability to influence and network.
• Experience of serving on groups or boards of other businesses or organisations.
• A perspective and understanding of the opportunities and difficulties faced by those who are under-represented in business, for example, due to age, gender or ethnicity, or those who face challenges due to disability, background or other factors.
• An ability to quickly understand, analyse, and distil issues and contribute to strategy discussions.
• Experience of working in a partnership environment and a strong commitment to collaborative and partnership working, including with the public sector and neighbouring regions.
To Enquire or Apply...
Trustees work on a voluntary basis and commit to a minimum of one day per month. Candidates requiring more information are asked to contact Rob McKay (Trustee) in the first instance. Candidates interested in applying are asked to submit a full CV and Cover Letter.
rob.mckay@sherringtonassociates.co.uk
