Trustees (up to 3)

With some of our Trustees coming to the end of their terms of office, we are seeking to recruit three new Trustees to join our energetic Board and help us to achieve our ambitious goals.

Experience of sail training is not essential but real passion to make a difference and to improving peoples' lives is - especially those of young people. As a Trustee, your skill in working effectively in a team environment is important. It would be very helpful if you understand governance structures and responsibilities within charities.

We would like each of the three trustees appointed to bring experience in one or more of the following areas:

- Leadership in youth organisations

- External affairs and/or marketing

- Management of investments

The role:

- Working as part of the Board of Trustees to contribute to business plans, operational strategies, policies and to monitor and evaluate their implementation.

- Oversee ASTO's financial plans and budgets and monitor and evaluate progress by reviewing and approving ASTO's financial statements.

- Ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.

- Ensure that key risks are being identified, monitored and controlled effectively.

- Provide support and challenge to ASTO's CEO in the exercise of their delegated authority and affairs.

- Keep abreast of changes in ASTO's operating environment.

- Contribute to regular reviews of ASTO's own governance.

- Attend Board meetings, adequately prepared to contribute to discussions.

- Use independent judgment, acting legally and in good faith to promote and protect ASTO's interests, to the exclusion of their own personal and/or any third-party interests.

- Contribute to the broader promotion of ASTO's objects, aims and reputation by applying your skills, expertise, knowledge and contacts.

About the organisation:

ASTO is the membership organisation for over 30 UK sail training charities and non-profits. We exist to enable our members to transform lives through adventure at sea and we are on a mission to grow the access to this amazing activity so that increasing numbers of people can benefit each year.

Sail training charities in the UK make a life-changing difference to around 10,000 young people and 1,500 adults with additional needs each year. Participants, often with challenging lives, join voyages on sailing vessels and through engaging in all the activities necessary to complete the voyage, learn to work together in difficult conditions, to take responsibility and to rely on each other.

Our objectives are:

* to help the sector to grow the scale of benefits that it delivers through communication of its members' work

* to use income from its endowed investments to fund bursaries that allow member organisations to remove financial barriers to participation

* to act as a focal point for collecting and disseminating best practice amongst its members, facilitating collaboration.

* to work with the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) and the MCA in shaping and contributing to relevant regulatory changes.

* as was the case during COVID, to support members when existential crisis threatens the financial stability of the sail training sector.

ASTO has a permanent salaried staff of a CEO and administrator. Our Patron is HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh.

Applying:

Those participating in sail training are a very diverse group and we would very much welcome applications that reflect this diversity.

The Board of Trustees meets four times a year - twice online and twice in person. The roles are not paid, but what we do brings its own rewards! Travel expenses are available.

Please note these roles require a Basic DBS check and references.