Company Director
All the members of the board of directors have an overall responsibility for Action 21's statutory and contractual legal and financial duties, management arrangements and promoting good practice arising from company law and formal guidance.
Primary functions
- To understand and compy with Action 21's Memorandum and Articles of Association
- Develop strategy for Action 21
- Ensure the objectives of Action 21 are met
- Act as an ambassador of Action 21
- Exhibit skill and care commensurate with your particular expertise
- Exercise fiduciary duty (act in the best interests of) the company, not individual members of the same
As a director, you will be working as part of ateam with other board members to ensure that the following are carried out:
- Ensuring that Action 21 is accountable to its funders and emmbers and to the registrar of companies as required by law
- Overseeing the development of policies to govern organisational activity
- Setting up employment procedures
- Ensuring compliance with the Law
- Maintaining proper fiscal oversight
- Selecting and supporting the chief executive
- Maintaining effective board performance
- Delegating tasks as appropriate to Action 21 staff
Benefits
Being a company director, a respected, recognised and responsible role, is an excellent way for you to apply your skills, to gain more experience at strategic level and get involved with new networks and people. You will have the opportunity to make a significant difference to a cause you care about, to assist Action 21 with high priority work, and to use your existing skills and experience to make a positive difference in the community.
Time commitment required
The minimum commitment for this post is four hours per month, including one monthly meeting. You will be required to attend one training session/away day per year.
Becoming an Action 21 director entails providing a strategic lead, which is not compatible with short term involvement. We do not wish to be prescrptive about the length of commitment; however we suggest you do not take on this role unless you feel you can commit for at least 1-3 years.
Location
Home working and community meeting rooms, with occasional meetings at the Action 21 offices at the Recycle Warehouse, Re-Useful Centre or Riverside House, all in Leamington Spa.
Training and expenses
Appropriate training for the role of non-executive director will be provided. Reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.
Procedure for new directors to join the Action 21 management board
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New person expresses interest or is approached and talks through responsibilities with Action 21 Manager or Volunteer Programme Manager.
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Candidate is given supporting information, to include information about Action 21, director responsibilities and a volunteer role description.
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Candidate attends an initial meeting of the board of directors to see if there is a mutual common understanding. At this stage the board and the candidate should discuss the person’s area of interest, and in which areas they might contribute.
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If the candidate is still interested, they write a letter of application addressed to the chairperson, outlining their interest in the work of Action 21, and what they feel they can contribute.
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The board then considers this letter at the next meeting and takes a vote to decide whether or not the person joins.
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The candidate is then co-opted onto the board and is voted on formally at the AGM.
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The candidate then signs up formally as a volunteer, in line with Action 21’s volunteering procedure, including becoming a member of Action 21 free of charge.
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The candidate fills out form 288a and registers as a non-executive director of Action 21 with Companies House.