Safeguarding Lead Trustee

What is required

As well as fulfilling the wider responsibilities of all trustees (see below), the Lead Trustee for Safeguarding will be responsible for the following three main sets of duties related to safeguarding.

Strategic

• Consider Mandala Yoga Ashram’s Constitution and policies, making sure they reflect safeguarding legislation, regulations specific to our activities, statutory guidance, and the safeguarding expectations of the Charities Commission.
• Work with the director and designated safeguarding lead regularly to review whether the things the organisation has put in place are creating a safer culture and keeping people safe.
• Check the organisation’s risk register reflects safeguarding risks properly and plans sensible measures to take, including relevant insurance for trustees’ liability.
• Be aware of any relevant activities that need inspections, be prepared for said inspections and respond to any following reports.
• Ensure there is space on the agenda for safeguarding reports and help trustees understand and challenge those reports.

Effective policy and practice

• Ensure there is an annual review of safeguarding policies and procedures and that this is reported to trustees.
• Understand the monitoring your charity does to see whether policies and procedures are effective.
• Call for audits of qualitative and quantitative data (either internal or external) when they’re needed.
• Learn from case reviews locally and nationally, to improve your organisation’s policies, procedures and practices.
• Oversee safeguarding allegations against staff or volunteers, together with director and designated safeguarding lead.
• Be a point of contact for staff or volunteers if someone wishes to complain about a lack of action in relation to safeguarding concerns.

Creating the right culture

• Champion safeguarding throughout Mandala Yoga Ashram
• Support the trustees in developing their individual and collective understanding of safeguarding.
• Engage with teachers, team and beneficiaries to understand safeguarding on the ground.
• Work with the chair, director, designated safeguarding lead and operations team to manage serious safeguarding cases.
• Support regular safeguarding updates for staff, volunteers and beneficiaries.
• Ensure you have ways of gathering the views of staff and volunteers in relation to safeguarding and sharing these with the board.

Responsibilities of all trustees

• Support and provide advice on Mandala Yoga Ashram’s purpose, vision, goals and activities.
• Approve operational strategies and policies and monitor and evaluate their implementation.
• Oversee Mandala Yoga Ashram’s financial plans and budgets and monitor and evaluate progress.
• Ensure the effective and efficient administration of Mandala Yoga Ashram.
• Ensure that key risks are being identified, monitored and controlled effectively.
• Review and approve Mandala Yoga Ashram’s financial statements.
• Provide support and challenge to Mandala Yoga Ashram’s Director in the exercise of their delegated authority and affairs.
• Keep abreast of changes in Mandala Yoga Ashram’s operating environment.
• Contribute to regular reviews of Mandala Yoga Ashram’s own governance.
• Attend Board meetings (mostly online), adequately prepared to contribute to discussions.
• Use independent judgement, acting legally and in good faith to promote and protect Mandala Yoga Ashram’s interests, to the exclusion of their own personal and/or any third party interests.
• Contribute to the broader promotion of Mandala Yoga Ashram’s objects, aims and reputation by applying your skills, expertise, knowledge and contacts.

As a small charity, there will be times when the trustees will need to be actively involved beyond Board meetings. This may involve scrutinising board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, or other issue, in which the trustee has special expertise.

Additional attributes, skills and qualities

• Willingness and ability to understand and accept their responsibilities and liabilities as trustees and to act in the best interests of Mandala Yoga Ashram.
• Ability to think creatively and strategically, exercise good, independent judgement and work effectively as a board member.
• Effective communication skills and willingness to participate actively in discussion.
• A strong personal commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Enthusiasm for our vision and mission.
• Willingness to lead according to the ashram’s values.
• Commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.

We are looking for people willing to bring energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the role, and who will broaden the diversity of thinking on our board. You do not need previous governance experience – we will provide induction and training.

Terms of appointment

Terms of office
This is a voluntary position, however, in return for your service to the ashram, we can offer you a complimentary place on a residential retreat of your choosing, up to a maximum of 5 days, for each year of service given. Longer courses of 7+ days are excluded from this offer. There would be an initial trial period of six months before this offer can be taken up.

Time Commitment (Estimated at approximately 5 hours per month)

• Attending Trustee meetings according to the needs of the ashram. Currently meetings are held remotely, with one in person meeting held at Mandala Yoga Ashram in Wales, usually in March.
• Regular meetings with the Director of the ashram, with flexibility to respond swiftly to the occasional ad hoc issue.
• Attending strategy/training sessions as they arise.

If you are interested in this role, please forward a covering letter and copy of your CV to [email protected]. Please use the subject line in your email FAO: Board of Trustees re Treasurer vacancy. 

Closing Date: 9th March 2025