Founding Trustee & Board Secretary (Voluntary)

Location: Remote (UK)
Commitment: Approximately 4–8 hours per month
Remuneration: Voluntary (reasonable agreed expenses may be reimbursed where applicable)

About The Amara Centre

The Amara Centre is a new cancer charity working to reduce the financial hardship caused by cancer through practical support, advocacy and awareness.

Our work focuses on addressing the financial, practical and wellbeing-related challenges that can accompany a cancer diagnosis. Through practical assistance, advocacy, cancer awareness, patient education and lived-experience engagement, we aim to help people affected by cancer access essential support, maintain dignity and feel supported throughout diagnosis, treatment and recovery.

As we establish the organisation, we are seeking a Founding Trustee & Board Secretary to help build strong governance arrangements and support the effective operation of the Board of Trustees.

The Role

As a Founding Trustee & Board Secretary, you will serve as both a trustee and a key support to the Board’s governance processes.

Working closely with the Chair of Trustees, the Founder and fellow trustees, you will help ensure that trustee meetings are well organised, governance records are maintained and the Board operates effectively, transparently and in accordance with its responsibilities.

Key responsibilities include:

• Serving as a member of the Board of Trustees.

• Supporting the Chair in preparing meeting agendas.

• Organising trustee meetings and circulating relevant papers.

• Taking accurate minutes of trustee meetings.

• Maintaining governance records, policies and trustee documentation.

• Supporting the Board in meeting its governance and compliance responsibilities.

• Helping ensure decisions, actions and agreed responsibilities are appropriately recorded and followed up.

• Contributing to the strategic direction and development of The Amara Centre as a trustee.

• Acting in the best interests of the charity at all times.

Term of Appointment

The initial term of appointment will be three years, subject to successful appointment as a trustee and the requirements of the charity’s governing document.

The appointment may be renewed for further terms, subject to mutual agreement, satisfactory contribution, continued eligibility to act as a charity trustee and the ongoing needs of The Amara Centre.

The Board will periodically review its effectiveness, composition and leadership needs to ensure that it continues to support the charity’s mission effectively.

Who We Are Looking For

We welcome applications from individuals who:

• Believe in improving access to cancer care and support and reducing the additional hardship cancer can create.

• Share our CHIME values of compassion, hope, integrity, meaning and empowerment.

• Are organised, reliable and detail-oriented.

• Have strong written communication skills.

• Are comfortable preparing documents and maintaining accurate records.

• Can work collaboratively while exercising sound judgement and discretion.

• Can commit the time and energy required to help establish a charity with strong governance foundations.

Experience in any of the following areas would be particularly valuable:

• Charity governance

• Board administration

• Company or charity secretarial work

• Project administration

• Law

• Business administration

• Public administration

• Organisational management

Previous trustee experience is welcome but is not essential.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to become part of The Amara Centre at the beginning of its development and help establish the governance foundations that will support its future growth.

Your contribution will help create strong systems that promote transparency, accountability and effective decision-making as the charity develops.

As a founding trustee, you will play an important role in building an organisation committed to reducing the financial hardship caused by cancer and supporting people affected by cancer with compassion, dignity and meaningful support.

How to Apply

If you would like to be considered for this voluntary role, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Please complete the application form below and tell us about yourself, your experience and why you would like to support The Amara Centre as a Founding Trustee & Board Secretary.

We welcome applications from people who are passionate about our mission and who would like to contribute their skills and experience to building a charity with purpose, integrity and compassion.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Full name *

First

Last

Email address *

Telephone number

Location (city and country) *

LinkedIn profile or website

Current occupation/professional background. If unemployed, please state so. *

Brief summary of your experience and expertise *

Please describe any previous experience serving as a charity trustee, board member, committee member, or board secretary. *

Please describe your experience preparing agendas, taking minutes, maintaining governance records, or supporting meetings. *

Please describe your organisational and administrative experience. *

Why are you interested in becoming a Founding Trustee & Board Secretary for The Amara Centre? *

describe responsibilities. and

What aspects of The Amara Centre’s mission resonate most with you? *

What skills and experience would you bring to this role? *

Are you familiar with the role and responsibilities of a charity trustee? *

• Yes
• No

If yes, please briefly describe your understanding of trustee responsibilities. *

Are you able to commit approximately 4–8 hours per month to this voluntary role? *

• Yes
• No

Please describe any existing commitments that may affect your availability.

Skills (select all that apply) *

• Board administration
• Minute taking
• Governance
• Charity experience
• Legal
• Finance
• Project management
• Business administration
• Public administration
• Communications
• Microsoft Office / Google Workspace
• Record keeping
• Other (please specify)

Please describe how you approach teamwork, confidentiality and integrity. *

What does good governance mean to you? *

Do you have any potential conflicts of interest that may affect your ability to act independently as a trustee? *

• Yes
• No

If yes, please provide details. *

Do you confirm that you are eligible to act as a charity trustee under UK charity regulations? *

• Yes
• No

Do you understand that, where appropriate, successful applicants may be asked to complete safeguarding or background checks? *

• Yes
• No

Upload CV (optional but recommended)

Drag & Drop Files, Choose Files to Upload

Upload supporting document (optional)

Drag & Drop Files, Choose Files to Upload

Declaration *

• I agree

I confirm that the information provided in this application is accurate and complete. I understand that this is a voluntary trustee position and that appointments are subject to approval by The Amara Centre’s Board of Trustees.

Submit Application