Trustee as Volunteering Lead for Harrow Cycle Hub

Direct Report Works closely with the Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, staff and other volunteers

Type of Experience Management, HR, volunteering, local knowledge, cycling Introduction

Harrow Cycle Hub is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) which aims to enable more people to cycle in Harrow.

The preamble to Trustees’ Vision for the Hub, agreed in 2023, is:

‘In five years' time, we envisage the Harrow Cycle Hub as a thriving, inclusive, and sustainable community hub dedicated to transforming Harrow into a cycling-friendly borough. Our vision is to see Harrow as a place where cycling is not just a mode of transport but a way of life, positively impacting the wellbeing, environment and connectivity of our community.’

This is an exciting time to be joining the board, as we work towards building a new cycle hub for Harrow, with Harrow Council’s support. Our volunteers are crucial to our success. We need a Trustee - Volunteering Lead to enable us to recruit and manage volunteers effectively.

50 volunteers, and one part-time staff member, offer the following services and activities:

• Teaching people to ride and maintain a bicycle

• Wheels for All, enabling people who find two-wheelers difficult to enjoy cycling, using adapted cycles

• Supporting led rides in Harrow and beyond

• Providing information on obtaining, riding and maintaining cycles

• Working in partnership with other organisations who share our aims We plan to do more of the following as resources allow:

• Repairing donated cycles and teaching people to repair them

• Advising local authorities and employers on ways to enable more people to cycle

Harrow Cycle Hub is a multicultural and community-based organisation which welcomes all people irrespective of ethnicity, culture, religion, age, gender, gender identity, disability or sexual orientation. We rely heavily on volunteers and seek to follow best practice in all we do. As a charity, as well as raising money by trading, we need grant funding; impeccable charity governance is required to manage the charity and to raise funds.

To be a Trustee of Harrow Cycle Hub is a fulfilling role. We are building a Board with individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds, experiences and skill sets. Trustees work to

ensure that the charity fulfils its mission to enable everyone in Harrow who wishes to cycle, to do so. The role of Trustee is voluntary, but out-of-pocket expenses may be claimed according to the Volunteering Policy.

We especially welcome applications from women, disabled people and people of Global Majority communities who live in Harrow; people from these groups make up most of the participants in our services. Our meetings take place in the accessible Harrow Council Hub.

Duties of the Volunteering Lead

• To provide leadership to, work with and support the volunteer Volunteering Officers • To review and develop the Volunteering Policy

• To ensure that volunteer recruitment advertising reaches the widest possible audience • To be familiar with best practice and ensure that volunteers are appropriately selected, onboarded and supported

• To encourage all team members to value volunteers

• To report to Trustee meetings

Statutory duties of a Trustee

• To ensure that the organisation pursues its objectives as defined in its Constitution • To support, and help develop, its current Vision and Mission

• To contribute actively to the Board of Trustees' role in setting overall policy, giving strategic direction to the organisation, defining goals and setting targets, and evaluating performance against agreed targets

• To safeguard the good name, values and resources of the organisation • To ensure the effective administration and financial stability of the organisation 

What skills do I need?

Qualities of the Trustee – Volunteering Lead

Essential

• Commitment to the vision and mission of Harrow Cycle Hub

• Strong experience of volunteer or Human Resources management

• An understanding of the difference between volunteers and paid staff in relation to management and motivation

• Appreciation of the benefits of volunteering to an organisation

• Ability to stay abreast of developments in the volunteering/charity sector (vital for long term relevance).

• Skill to advocate/influence and champion our volunteers at board level (shaping how volunteering is valued across the charity).

• Good administration skills including familiarity with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, email and use of a shared drive for file storage

• Analytical and evaluation skills, demonstrating good judgment and strategic vision • Acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship • Good communication skills

• A team-oriented approach to problem solving

• Willing to speak their mind, even on a difficult topic

• Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of the charity’s work

Desirable

• Experience in a similar role

• Willing to attend meetings occasionally with external bodies

• Skills and experience in any other relevant areas e.g. strategic planning; business, public sector or charity management; organisation development; IT; marketing; fundraising; legal; cycle mechanics; equality, diversity and inclusion

Time Commitment and Location

• The Board of Trustees currently meets six times a year and Trustees would ideally attend every meeting, including the Annual General Meeting in March

• Trustees are asked to attend at least one evening meeting a year of the Hub Steering Group which is responsible for day-to-day management

• Trustees are asked to familiarise themselves with, and support, the charity’s work and people by attending activities and events from time to time

• Board meetings will be held in Harrow, or online if necessary

• Trustees should be committed to serving for a three-year term

Procedure

Prospective trustees will meet informally with trustees tasked with recruitment and be asked to complete an application form. Harrow Cycle Hub works with children and vulnerable disabled adults. Any Hub volunteer could be called upon to support these participants, so all are asked to undergo an Enhanced DBS check at the Hub’s expense. Prospective trustees will need to provide two references. All Trustees are asked to take online Safeguarding training.

Trustees may be co-opted at any time of year and will need to be elected by Members at the following Annual General Meeting according to the provisions of the Constitution.

Trustees must be Members of Harrow Cycle Hub, having paid the required subscription, currently £6.

To find out more and arrange an informal chat, please email [email protected]

About Harrow Cycle Hub

Harrow Cycle Hub is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) which aims to enable more people to cycle in Harrow. Wheels for All is the Hub's Inclusive Cycling programme to enable all abilities to cycle and give everyone access to cycling. Cycling is fun and Wheels for All enable people with mobility impairments and disabilities to experiencem them freedom and joy ofm cycling.

When do I need to be available?

	Morning	Afternoon	Evening
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Details

Volunteers will be required at Trustee meetings and ad-hoc basis