Notice of Election of Independent Trustees 2024
An election of Independent Trustees for The Minster Centre will take place in December 2024 with nominations closing on Wednesday 18th December and voting starting on Thursday 19th December and closing on Monday 30th December 2024. If there are fewer than 14 Trustees after the elections, the Trustees can seek to co-opt further Trustees to the Board.
Three of the current Trustees, Nick Carley, David Collins and Carena Rogers, will be standing for re-election. In addition, The Minster Centre is seeking further nominations to join the Board as Independent Members from January 2025. Independent Trustees are appointed by election by the Members of The Minster Centre, who are alumni of the Centre or individual psychotherapists who maintain their UKCP Registrations through the Centre.
Nominations need to be made by 18th December 2024.
Nominees will need to send a brief CV and a statement of why they wish to be elected as a Trustee (maximum two sides of A4). Please note these documents will be circulated to members as part of the voting process and will also be available on our website until the election closes. Personal data (excluding your full name) will be removed. Please submit your documents in Microsoft Word. Send your nomination to the HR & Governance Manager, Afua Pierre by email on [email protected]
If you are interested in becoming a Trustee but have no current connection with the Minster Centre, please email Afua a brief CV and we can talk you through the process of nomination.
The Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees is the governing body of the Centre.
Members of the Board are charity trustees, and their principal responsibilities are:
- to ensure the Centre is meeting its charitable purposes for the public benefit,
- to comply with our governing document and the law,
- to act in the charity’s best interest
- to ensure the Centre’s resources are managed responsibly
- to act with care and skill
- to ensure that the Centre is open and accountable.
The Board undertakes it role in an environment of mutual respect and with an understanding of the respective roles of the Board and the Executive. The Board contributes to the development of, and monitors the implementation of, the Centre’s strategic mission, vision and values. It ensures that adequate systems of control and risk management are in place and that the Centre is sustainable and financially viable.
There can be up to 14 members of the Minster Centre Board of Trustees. Its members include:
- Up to 11 independent Trustees (elected by Minster Centre Members (alumni and psychotherapists who maintain their UKCP registration through the Centre)
- a member of staff elected by the staff
- a student, on a course at The Minster Centre extending over more than one year, elected by students attending a course extending over more than one year
- the Director
It is not necessary to have graduated from The Minster Centre or to be a psychotherapist or counsellor to be a Trustee.
The role and time commitment
The Board of Trustees typically meets six times a year. Currently meetings have been taking place on a Friday afternoon/evening via Zoom, but this is subject to review dependent on Trustees’ availability. The full day meeting is normally in person. The Board usually meets in January, April, June, July (full day), September and November. The first planned date for a 2025 meeting is 24th January.
There are two standing committees of the Board: Finance and Remuneration. In addition, trustees serve on the following Centre Committees: Bursaries, Ethics, Quality, Premises. These meet at least twice a year with most meeting four to five times a year.
Board papers are sent out at least a week in advance of meetings and Trustees are expected to familiarise themselves with them. Board meeting preparation and attendance is the minimum commitment expected and will amount to 4-5 hours every two months.
In addition, Trustees can serve as officer (Chair, Vice Chair and Treasurer) in which case the time commitment will be more like 4-5 hours every month. Trustees also serve as members of committees or to join time-limited working groups. Trustees may also be asked to represent the Centre at external events. There are many other opportunities for Trustees to engage with, and support, the Centre if they wish including attending graduation ceremonies and other student and staff events, shadowing or mentoring staff.
Trustees are not remunerated but may reclaim reasonable travelling expenses incurred in the course Minster Centre duties.
Qualities needed
We are seeking Trustees who are enthusiastic about The Minster Centre’s work and values, who understand the distinction between management and governance and can operate as an effective trustee across the range of subject matters that will be considered by the Board.
The Centre has a strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. Trustees will be expected to share this commitment, and the Board would like this to be more fully represented in the composition of its Board of Trustees. We would particularly welcome applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, the LGBT+ community, care leavers, people with disabilities and people from other underrepresented groups in the profession. The Board has also identified that Trustees who can bring the following skills and experience would enhance the Board:
- Someone willing to serve as Treasurer who has accountancy, audit and/or Charity Governance expertise.
- Fundraising
- Commercial property (leases and acquisition)
- Legal knowledge, particularly relating to property, commercial and employment
- Business development, entrepreneurial background
- Equality, diversity and inclusion in psychotherapy and counselling and Higher Education
- Practising psychotherapists or counsellors
This does not rule out nominations from people with other skills to offer.
Further information can be downloaded below.
Deadline
Nominations must be received by noon on Wednesday 18th December 2024. Existing Trustees and members of the Minster Centre can nominate independent candidates and should use the nomination form (downloadable below).
Nominees will need to send a brief CV and a statement of why they wish to be elected as a Trustee (maximum two sides of A4). Please note these documents will be circulated to members as part of the voting process and will also be available on our website until the election closes. Personal data (excluding your full name) will be removed. Please submit your documents in Microsoft Word.
Voting will start on on Thursday 19th December and close on Monday 30th December 2024.
Nominations and Applications
For further information about the role of a trustee, and how to make a nomination, please see the downloadable pack below.
