About Birth Companions
Birth Companions is a charity that supports women experiencing multiple disadvantage during the perinatal period in the community in London and the South East, and in prisons across the country.
Our work aims to improve the lives of mothers and babies by:
- improving the mental health and wellbeing of pregnant women and new mothers
- enabling new mothers to give their babies the best possible start in life
- empowering women to fulfil their potential through engagement
- driving improvements in the local and national policy and practice that impacts on mothers and their babies.
By working towards these aims, we hope that all women who face disadvantage and inequality during this crucial point in their lives will have the support they need to give their baby the best possible start, and to fulfil their own potential, whatever their circumstances.
Birth Companions’ values have shaped the organisation’s approach from the outset and are still as important to us as ever. We are a women’s organisation built on feminist principles, delivering woman-to-woman support. Choice, empowerment and protecting women’s rights have always been central to the way we work. Through the work of our staff and trained volunteers, we offer practical and emotional support before, during and after birth. We work in a woman-centred way that is trauma-informed, flexible and non-judgemental, basing our support on what a woman tells us she needs.
We are now looking to recruit a Treasurer to join our Trustee board. This is a voluntary role.
Role purpose
As a member of our Trustee board you will be responsible with the rest of the board for ensuring that Birth Companions complies with its statutory responsibilities.
The Treasurer will also work closely with the Director and the finance manager. Supporting them to maintain an overview of the organisation’s affairs, ensuring its financial viability through the maintenance of proper financial records and procedures whilst also ensuring the organisation operates within the legal and financial guidelines set out in current legislation.
Being a trustee with Birth Companions offers the chance to get involved in an exciting, worthwhile and unique organisation. It also provides a great opportunity to work with an all-female, skilled board of existing trustees and to be part of a well-run organisation with wonderful, committed staff and volunteers.
This post is open to female applicants only as this is deemed a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) for this role under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010.
Currently Black and Asian women, and women from other groups who experience racism in our society are under-represented on our trustee board and we therefore particularly welcome candidates from these communities. If appropriate, we will use positive action under the Equality Act 2010 in the final stages of our recruitment process (see below for more details). We are committed to ensuring that Birth Companions is a safe space for our Black and Asian staff, volunteers and trustees and for those from other groups who experience racism. We have put a range of measures in place to ensure this –
It is the policy of Birth Companions to conduct disclosure checks on all staff and volunteers. This policy includes members of the trustee board. Disclosure of a criminal record does not necessarily prevent any applicant from being successfully appointed. Should any applicant need to disclose they can discuss this with the Chair of the Trustees either prior or during the application process.