We are looking to appoint Charity Non-Executive Directors/ Trustees
The Forest of Avon Trust is a registered Charity (and Company Limited by Guarantee).
The work of the charity is overseen by 6 unpaid Non-Executive Directors (Trustees) and we are looking to expand this team and grow the skills within it, and we are currently appointing charity directors with skills in one or more of the following areas:
• Legal & Compliance
• Finance
• Farming & Landowning / Land Management.
If you feel you can help in these areas, it would be great to hear from you, so please see the document below, or email jon.clark@forestofavontrust.org for further details.
We look forward to hearing from you!
FOREST OF AVON TRUST NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (TRUSTEE) BRIEF
The Forest of Avon Trust is the tree and woodland charity for the West of England. As one of England’s Community Forests (ECF’s) it is an independent member of a network of forests across England.
The charity delivers a wide range of projects and activities to bring the many benefits of trees to people in Bristol, Bath & the West of England now and to deliver a more sustainable future.
The charity’s objectives are to:
To promote for the benefit of the public the conservation and improvement of the Forest of Avon by:
- Creating, conserving and protecting woodlands and the wider environment.
- Delivering public engagement programmes on the importance of woodlands and the environment.
- Create opportunities for the public to enjoy woodlands and other places within the Forest of Avon.
The charity is currently focused on:
- Implementing the Forest of Avon Plan: A Tree and Woodland Strategy for the West of England (June 2021), working with diverse partners.
- Working with local authorities, landowners and communities to support and fund tree and woodland plant- ing through the Defra Trees for Climate grant programme which the Trust manages as one of ECFs.
- Advising and supporting landowners to manage and enhance their woodlands.
- Running Woodland Wellbeing activities to enable those living with dementia, people with mental health needs and those with learning disabilities to benefit from woodlands.
Over the last 11 years, the charity has:
- Helped children plant over 70 school orchards, an important contribution to healthy living and more, suc- cessfully delivering the Defra funded Trees for Learning scheme.
- Trained over 210 accredited Forest School Leaders, a significant contribution to UK outdoor learning.
- Pioneered Woodland Wellbeing for people in need, with over 675 directly benefiting from activities.
- Engaged over 6,500 school children in learning about the importance of trees now and for the future.
- Planted 40,000 trees with schools, communities, councils and farmers including 550 street trees in 2021, im- proving quality of life now and in the future; (a further 50,000 will be grant-aided in 2021.22).
- Helped manage 850ha woodlands, conserving and sustaining this critical resource.
- Delivered 2 nationally important iTree Eco studies and promoted the true value of trees.
- Ensured funding for the West of England and a strong focus on trees and woodlands, through active mem-
bership of England’s Community Forests.
This is an exciting time for the Forest of Avon Trust, with significant interest in tree planting in Bristol, Bath & the West of England, as well as in our Woodland Wellbeing activities.
Charity directors
The Forest of Avon Trust is a registered Charity (and Company Limited by Guarantee) and has a staff team of 6 led by an Executive Director and comprising a Deputy Executive Director, Finance Officer, two Tree & Woodland Officers and a Health & Wellbeing Officer. The work of the charity is overseen by 6 Non-Executive Directors (Trustees) and we are looking to expand this team and grow the skills within it, by recruiting additional charity directors.
Our current charity directors come from varied backgrounds, including conservation, arboriculture, business and higher education. Whilst previous charitable or non-executive directorship experience would be an advantage, it is not critical. If you have suitable higher-level experience and can commit to attending quarterly 2-hour Board meetings and providing support at an average of one hour per week, then we would be very interested to hear from you.
We are currently appointing charity directors with skills in one or more of the following areas:
- Legal & Compliance
- Finance
- Farming & Landowning / Land Management
Successful candidates would also work with other directors to oversee and help shape the work of the charity.
These positions are unpaid voluntary roles with four yearly board meetings in the Bristol area (or online). They also involve regular liaison with the Forest of Avon Trust Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director.
Appointments are initially for 1 year.
We are committed to creating a diverse environment and are pleased to be an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will receive consideration for this role without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, or age.
This is a great opportunity to contribute ideas and expertise to further grow the charity’s work for local trees &, woodlands, benefitting people now and in the future.
Interested?
If so, please email a summary CV and also a covering letter setting out your interest in a particular role and the skills that you can bring to it, to Jon Clark, Executive Director, at: jon.clark@forestofavontrust.org
For more information on the Forest of Avon Trust, visit: www.forestofavontrust.org
The Forest of Avon Trust, Charity Number 1122314, Company Number 6252763.
Patrons: Mike Dilger, Naturalist, Presenter and Writer; Professor Alice Roberts, Anatomist, Writer and Broadcaster.
Contact: Brickyardwood Barns, Brockley Lane, Chelvey, North Somerset, BS48 4AB jonclark@forestofavontrust.org