Would you like to help create a fairer, more open and more compassionate justice system in England and Wales? Transform Justice is a small but dynamic charity which tries to achieve all these things. It’s a challenge but we can achieve it with great team working. If you would like to join our trustee team, here are the details of who we are and what being a trustee for us involves.
Transform Justice
Transform Justice is a small charity which seeks to create a better justice system in the UK. We generate and use evidence to advocate for positive change. We focus at any one time on a series of projects all of which we hope will further our overarching reforming aims – less crime, fewer people in prison, fewer people punished. We have four members of staff all of whom work virtually.
Our board
We have six on the board currently and would like to expand the board by two people. We are not looking for any particular skills or expertise, nor for prior experience of being on a board but we are looking for people who are committed to our values. Applications to join our board are welcome from all. We are however keen to make our board more racially diverse and so would particularly welcome applications fromblack and other minoritised communities and/or those with lived experience of the criminal justice system.
The statutory duties of a trustee are to:
- Contribute actively to the Board in giving firm strategic direction to Transform Justice, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets
- Safeguard the good name and values of Transform Justice.
- Ensure that Transform Justice complies with its governing document, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations
- Ensure that Transform Justice pursues its objects as defined in its governing document
- Ensure Transform Justice uses its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects: the charity must not spend money on activities which are not included in its own objects, no matter how worthwhile or charitable those activities are.
- Ensure the effective and efficient administration of Transform Justice
- Ensure the financial stability of Transform Justice
- Protect and manage the property of the charity and to ensure the proper investment of the charity’s funds
- Appoint the CEO and monitor her/his performance
- Attend three board meetings a year in London for which reasonable travel expenses available (remote access potentially available if travel challenging)
Other duties
In addition to the above statutory duties, each trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the Board reach sound decisions. This may involve:
- Scrutinising Board papers
- Leading discussions
- Focusing on key issues
- Providing guidance on new initiatives
- Other issues in which the trustee has special expertise
Trustee Person Specification
- Commitment to and willingness to work in accordance with Transform Justice’s principles and values
- Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort
- Strategic vision
- Good, independent judgement
- Ability to think creatively
- Willingness to speak their mind
- Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship (funded training provided for new trustees)
- Ability to work effectively as a member of a team
- Nolan’s seven principles of public life as outlined in the Trustee Code of Conduct: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership