We are always eager to hear from potential new trustees, so do consider this too.
Shape our financial future as we build dressmaking communities that help people rise out of financial hardship.
The deadline may have passed but we are still on the look-out for a new Treasurer, please do apply if you consider this your gifting.
Shape our financial future as we build dressmaking communities that help people rise out of financial hardship
We believe that fashion should not be detrimental to our people or to our world.
Yet the fashion industry is riddled with unjust practices, largely hidden from the view of those who buy and wear the clothes.
Our vision is of an empowered global community, practically and economically engaged in the creation and sale of dresses. We’re inspired by Dorcas, a Biblical figure who made clothes for people in need.
Dorcas hubs around the world equip dressmakers to rise out of situations of financial hardship through the provision of training, tools and a replicable business model.
Using digital technology, we restore the broken links of human contact between the start and end of the fashion chain, dressmaker and customer, forging a wider community connection.
About the role
Our trustees set the direction for the charity as we build intentional communities that support and value the people who make our clothes, grounded in the Christian values of community, generosity and compassion.
Over the past year, we’ve been blessed with a Treasurer with a good head for numbers and a passion to see the charity thrive. Thanks to his brilliant work, we’ve been able to identify gaps in our financial knowledge and understanding and we’ve recognised the need for specialist financial experience within our team.
Our current Treasurer wants to step down from the Treasurer role to make space for someone with relevant financial experience.
What we need:
We’re looking for someone who can help us to plan and budget responsibly, assess and recognise financial risks, and make financially informed decisions.
You’ll need:
- experience in overseeing budgets and accounts in an established organisation, or relevant financial training
- commitment to creating opportunities for people living in financial hardship to thrive
- a personal Christian faith. This is a genuine occupational requirement in line with our charitable goal
- access to WhatsApp and a laptop with a secure login and internet connection.
As a team, we meet online, use the Google Suite to create, share and store information and WhatsApp to communicate between meetings. If you’ve not used these tools before, we can provide support and training to get up to speed.
- to be over 16 and eligible to act as a trustee in the UK
You don’t need previous board or trustee experience as training will be provided.
You’ll get:
- Training and support on how to be an effective trustee and Treasurer, including a handover period with our existing Treasurer
- The opportunity to shape our financial systems and structures, building a foundation of good financial management that will underpin the charity’s success for years to come
- The chance to support and directly engage with dressmakers facing a range of practical and economic challenges in diverse places around the globe
The role is unpaid but you’ll receive reimbursement for reasonable expenses (e.g. costs to travel)
96% of trustees said that they learnt new skills by being a trustee
22% got a promotion due to being a trustee
73% said it boosted their confidence
84% said it made them happier
Research from Getting On Board
Time commitment:
- 4 hrs/month for regular trustee duties, plus an additional 3-5 hrs/month for Treasurer-specific duties. It’s expected that there will be a busier period around the time of submitting accounts
This includes:
- 1 trustee meeting every 2 months, online
- Yearly in-person team day, usually held in Oxford
- Annual General Meeting held in the summer
Trustees are appointed for a term of 3 years, with the option to be re-appointed up to a maximum of 3 terms.
Key Treasurer responsibilities:
- Overseeing the charity’s accounts to make sure that proper accounting records are kept and that appropriate accounting procedures and controls are in place
- Reviewing yearly accounts and preparing a report to submit to the Charity Commission
- Advising the Trustee Board on the financial implications of governance decisions
- Supporting the development of robust financial policies and making sure these are correctly implemented
- Be available to review and sign documents as treasurer within a few days or a week
Responsibilities of all trustees:
- Actively participate in training, meetings and decision-making
- Get to know the charity’s governing documents, team and activities
- Support and challenge the charity CEO
- Review and approve the charity’s financial statements
- Ask questions if you don’t understand something
- Promote the charity to your networks
Inclusion:
We’re actively seeking to build a diverse trustee team, with representation across age groups, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and life situations. As we serve people facing financial hardship for a variety of reasons, we welcome people with lived experience of mental health challenges, physical disability, migration, and financial hardship.
Occupational requirement to be a practising Christian:
Our charitable goal is ‘the relief of financial hardship anywhere in the world by providing sewing equipment, training and support to enable individuals to generate a sustainable income and be self-sufficient and to do so using Christian values and for the public benefit.’
The trustee team holds responsibility for shaping the culture and setting the direction of the charity, which includes upholding our foundational commitment to Christian values. This means there is an occupational requirement in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 for the post-holder to be a practising Christian.
Next steps
Apply by 3rd January 2025 using this form.
Informal interviews will take place on Monday 13th or Tuesday 14th January 2025 (9:00am – 7:00pm at everyone’s convenience)
For an informal chat about the role, contact Maria Skoyles, our CEO on maria@dorcasdressproject.org.
Find out more about our current trustees: https://dorcasdressproject.org/learn/meet-the-core-team/
If you would prefer to be a general trustees, rather than a treasurer – find out more here.