Contract: Permanent. We would expect the Chair to dedicate, on average, 20 hours per month on a flexible basis
Remuneration: Voluntary appointment with no remuneration
Start date: January 2024
The ClementJames Centre is a North Kensington-based award-winning charity that empowers the community to release its potential in one of London’s most disadvantaged areas. ClementJames registered as a charity in 1992 and our expertise lies in understanding the changing needs of residents and providing tailored services which deliver excellent outcomes. We do this through our five key programmes: Employment Support, Adult Learning, Children & Young People’s Education, Wellbeing Support and Information, Advice and Guidance.
Every year we support approximately 2,500 people through a combination of group and individual sessions, working with some of the most vulnerable and marginalised individuals in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. North Kensington is an area facing considerable challenges, with a number of its wards experiencing significant economic, educational and employment-related marginalisation. It is also an area that has experienced considerable trauma and hardship, especially with the Grenfell tragedy 6 years ago.
At ClementJames, we are committed to providing people with the tools and opportunities to help them to improve their life chances and find positive solutions to their challenges. With respect to young people, we deliver educational programmes focused on improving attainment and increasing social mobility, whilst also delivering play therapy, confidence-building activities and advice and support for young people at risk of exclusion. Similarly, our work with adults includes advice and support for issues including financial, immigration and legal matters, programmes challenging isolation & educational support. Our holistic approach to working with people is why we are able to build such strong connections in our community and help our clients so profoundly.
ClementJames has an excellent track record in fundraising despite pandemic constraints. Funding comes from a variety of sources: our local authority, corporates, trusts and foundations and individual donors. In the future, we have ambitious plans to increase our provision with a Capital Project, and this will require a considerable effort from both the Fundraising Team and the Board.
ClementJames has been able to establish a prominent position in the community because of a skilled and dedicated staff team and Trustee Board. Trustees play a significant role not only in respect to the governance, financial and safeguarding matters central to the Charity, but also in helping to maintain the institutional knowledge and ethos of the organisation. The Chair is at the heart of this work and we hope to appoint someone whose values are aligned with those of ClementJames, and who can help guide the Charity with collaborative leadership, passion and new ideas. If you feel that you can bring this, then we’d love to hear from you.
The deadline for applications is on Friday 3rd November. Please submit your application in good time as late submissions will not be considered.
To apply for the role of Chair, please complete the application form below. The form consists of information about you and the opportunity to upload your CV and cover letter. If you have any issues completing the application form, please email dami@clementjames.org or call us on 020 7221 8810.
If shortlisted, you will first be asked to attend an initial zoom interview, and if successful, the second stage will include a follow-up interview and other selection tasks relevant to the role.
For more information on the roles and responsibilities of a trustee, please look at information from the Charity Commission. Our Diversity & Inclusion Forum supports a culture of inclusion, and a strong ethos within the charity is underpinned by the shared values of Teamwork, Compassion, Aspiration, Quality and Talent. These values guide everything the charity does, and we would expect that you will share our deep commitment to them. Our website contains more information on our work, our staff and the residents of our community.
Completion of the Equal Opportunities section of the form is optional but submission of this helps us to ensure that our recruitment procedures operate in such a way as to provide genuine equality of opportunity. You do not need to answer all the questions and the information provided will not be available to members of the selection panel.
The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced disclosure through the Disclosure and Barring Service
If you have any questions or would like more information about the application process, please contact dami@clementjames.org or call 020 7221 8810. We are committed to providing reasonable flexibility throughout the recruitment process and will endeavour to be as accommodating as possible. If you require the application documents in a different format please do not hesitate to contact us.
The ClementJames Centre is a welcoming and unique place to work and if you would like to speak to a member of staff prior to submitting your application, please email dami@clementjames.org to arrange a phone call or a visit to the site.