Voluntary Opportunities
TRUSTEES – ST DAVID’S HOME FOR EX-SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN – EALING
Job Title: Chair, Finance Committee and Treasurer (Trustee)
Location: North West London
Sector: Charity
Job Type: Volunteer
Charity: St David’s Home, Castlebar Hill, Ealing, London, W5 1TE.
Background:
St David’s Home is a charity founded in October 1918. The beautiful house and grounds in Ealing
had previously belonged to Her Majesty Queen Victoria’s father HRH the Prince Edward. When the
owner’s son was killed in 1914, the family founded St David’s in his memory to provide lifelong
support for badly wounded servicemen.
St David’s Home is support up to 76 residents (including, but not exclusively, former service
personnel). The Home provides care for the elderly, rehabilitation, short/long term care, respite
and day care. It is currently in a process of further modernisation, including 7 self-contained flats
for residents, and improvements throughout the Home. St David’s Home is looking to continue its
growth, manage the challenges of running a Home in modern times especially coming through the
pandemic and provide a caring, positive and inclusive environment for our residents.
See www.stdavidshome.org.
The Board:
The Board of St David’s Home currently comprises of up to ten trustees drawn from the public and
private sector, ex-services and the Church. Trustees are responsible under the governing
documents for oversight and guidance for the management and administration of the charity.
Role – Chair of the Finance Committee
St David’s Home is now seeking a new Chair of the Finance Committee. We are very keen to
appoint a Chair with a broad background, but we would especially welcome individuals with recent
and relevant financial or business experience. Professional accountancy qualifications are not
necessary but would be advantageous. Day to day financial operations are managed by the
finance team who report to the Care Home Director.
The treasurer takes the lead at board level on:
• making sure the charity keeps proper accounts
• reviewing the charity’s financial performance
• drawing up or reviewing policies for finance and investment
• ensuring that the charity has robust and effective financial controls in place
• liaising with finance staff and with the charity’s independent external auditor
Experience:
• Experience / understanding of regulations and compliance in terms of financial reporting for
the charity sector,
• Experience of budget forecasting both annually and future projections to provide oversight
of the Home’s financial management.
• Awareness of audit requirements for a charity.
• Understanding of financial management to make the Board aware of risk and opportunities
for the charity.
We are primarily looking for experienced, effective individuals who will bring a wise head and a
strategic mindset to the Board. You would be expected to chair the bi-monthly Financial
Committee meetings and attend 5/6 board meetings and AGM.
We are keen to build a Board that reflects both the diversity of those we help and expertise to
cover the challenges facing a modern care facility. All Board meetings take place at the Home in
Ealing, London, although there is the facility to attend virtually if required on occasions. Trustees
can be expected to attend up to 6 Board meetings a year as well as conducting visits and attending
functions. The role in unpaid, but reasonable travel expenses are covered.
We would hope to appoint successful candidates in 2022, with a formal appointment at the AGM in
the latter part of 2022.
Anyone interested in the role, is very welcome to have an informal conversation with Sue Pillar-Lea
(suepillar@gmail.com), the current Interim Finance Committee Chair, or David Searle, the Board
Chair (contact through Rhona Baptiste).
We would then welcome a short covering letter and CV to Rhona Baptiste
(rhona@stdavidshome.org) for the Board to discuss applications.