Board of Directors
Application Pack
All Applications must be submitted by 12 noon Friday 27th November 2015
Introduction
As a charitable company limited by guarantee Include Youth is governed by a Board
of Directors. We are seeking to recruit new members to the Board to ensure that the
organisation remains effective and sustainable. We are keen to enhance our Board
and to attract new members who are committed to the values of Include Youth. In
particular, we are keen to receive applications from those with backgrounds in
fundraising, academia, business or with an understanding of the needs of young
people who are in or leaving care.
This role is a voluntary one and is subject to vetting through the Access NI process.
The new Board members will be selected through based on the applications
submitted. Names will then be submitted for endorsement to the AGM on the 2nd
December 2015.
Alpha House, 3 Rosemary Street, BELFAST, BT1 1QA
028 9031 1007 www.includeyouth.org @includeyouth facebook.com/IncludeYouthOrganisation
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About Include Youth
Include Youth’s vision is of a society that realises and fulfils the rights of all children
and young people and works to promote and protect the rights and best interests of
disadvantaged and vulnerable young people.
Who We Are
Include Youth is an independent non-governmental organisation that actively
promotes the rights, best interests of and best practice with disadvantaged and
vulnerable children and young people. The organisation was established in May
1979 as the Northern Ireland Intermediate Treatment Association (NIITA).
The young people we work with and for include those from socially disadvantaged
areas, those who have had poor educational experiences, those from a care
background, young people who have committed or are at risk of committing crime,
misusing drugs or alcohol, undertaking unsafe sexual behaviour or other harmful
activities, or of being harmed themselves.
We achieve our objectives through policy advocacy that both informs and is informed
by our direct practitioner and young people support services. We also produce
resources and provide training, information and support to practitioners and
organisations.
Our work is based throughout Northern Ireland and many of our projects are
delivered in partnership. You can read more about our collaborative work and how
we are funded here
What We Do
1. Policy Advocacy
By challenging and influencing public policy in the areas of youth justice, policing,
education, employment and training of young people Include Youth aims to ensure
Alpha House, 3 Rosemary Street, BELFAST, BT1 1QA
028 9031 1007 www.includeyouth.org @includeyouth facebook.com/IncludeYouthOrganisation
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that policy, legislation and practice complies with rights and best practice. Include
Youth works to promote a greater public understanding of the experiences of
disadvantaged
and vulnerable
children, young people,
their families
and
communities through engagement with the public, decision makers and the media.
Robust evidence based on rights and best practice alongside the views and
experiences of young people shape all of our policy work and enable us to produce
well-informed and researched
2. Participation
Our participation work seeks to make sure the voice of young people is heard and
acted upon by organisational representatives and decision-makers. We consult with
young people involved in Include Youth and other services, gathering their views and
gaining feedback on their experiences, as a means to improving the effectiveness of
our services and gaining young people's insight to assist in the development of our
policy positions.
Young people from across our projects and sites can also have a say about our
internal decision-making processes through our 'Ideas Voice Action' youth forum. We
also host a bi-annual Practitioners' Forum for those working with young people to
inform them of policy developments and new legislation relating to young people in
need or at risk.
3. Improving Young People’s Employability
Include Youth improves the long-term employability of disadvantaged and vulnerable
young people, contributes to improving their health and well-being and creates
opportunities for them to learn and achieve.
We achieve this through our Give and Take Scheme, Employability Services and
working in partnership with communities to deliver employability programmes and
projects.
Alpha House, 3 Rosemary Street, BELFAST, BT1 1QA
028 9031 1007 www.includeyouth.org @includeyouth facebook.com/IncludeYouthOrganisation
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The Board of Directors
Purpose
The Board’s key purpose is to ensure the Include Youth’s prosperity by collectively
directing the company’s affairs whilst meeting the appropriate interests of relevant
stakeholders.
In addressing the key tasks, the Board must ensure that the company and its
employees comply with relevant laws and regulations.
Activities
o Providing leadership
o Decision-making
o Learning and developing.
Tasks of the Board
A. Establish Vision and Values
o Determine the company’s vision and mission to guide and set the pace for its
current operations and future development
o Determine the values to be promoted throughout the company
o Determine and review company goals.
B. Set Strategy and Structure
o Review and evaluate present and future opportunities, threats and risks in the
external environment; and current and future strengths, weaknesses and risks
relating to the company
o Determine strategic options, select those to be pursued, and decide the means
to implement and support them
Alpha House, 3 Rosemary Street, BELFAST, BT1 1QA
028 9031 1007 www.includeyouth.org @includeyouth facebook.com/IncludeYouthOrganisation
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o Determine the business strategies and plans that underpin the corporate
strategy
o Ensure that the company’s organisation structure and capability are
appropriate for implementing the chosen strategies.
C. Delegate to Management
o
Delegate
authority
to
management
and
monitor
and
evaluate
the
implementation of policies, strategies and business plans
o
Determine monitoring criteria to be used by the Board
o
Ensure that internal controls are effective
o
Communicate with senior management.
D. Exercise Accountability and be Responsible to Relevant Stakeholders
o
Ensure that communications both to and from relevant stakeholders are
effective
o
Understand and take into account the interests of relevant stakeholders
o
Monitor relations with relevant stakeholders by gathering and evaluation of
appropriate information
o
Promote the goodwill and support of shareholders and relevant stakeholders.
Alpha House, 3 Rosemary Street, BELFAST, BT1 1QA
028 9031 1007 www.includeyouth.org @includeyouth facebook.com/IncludeYouthOrganisation
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Include Youth Board Member
Role Description
Overview of the Board’s Role
o The Board provides the overall leadership for the company, setting its direction
and major policies, appointing and supervising the most senior manager,
ensuring it complies with relevant laws and regulations and being accountable
to the stakeholders.
interests.
The directors are the stewards of the stakeholders’
The board is ultimately responsible for the performance of the
company.
o In law, all the directors are jointly and severally responsible for the conduct of
the company and have a duty to care for it. All the directors are equal in the
eyes of the law, regardless of their title or appointment.
Role Description
Purpose:
To ensure the good governance of Include Youth
1. To ensure the organisation uses its resources exclusively in pursuance of its
objects: the organisation must not spend money on activities which are not
included in its own objects,
2. To safeguard the good name and values of the organisation.
3. To ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation
4. To ensure the financial stability of the organisation
5. With other Board Members to ensure that the organisation complies with the
legal and financial requirements of a charitable organisation and strives to
achieve best practice.
6. To appoint the Director and monitor his/her performance
7. Attend and participate in meetings of the Board and relevant committees.
Alpha House, 3 Rosemary Street, BELFAST, BT1 1QA
028 9031 1007 www.includeyouth.org @includeyouth facebook.com/IncludeYouthOrganisation
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Other duties
In addition to the above core duties, each trustee should use any specific skills,
knowledge or experience they have to help the board of trustees reach sound
decisions. This may involve:

Scrutinising board papers

Leading discussions

Focusing on key issues

Providing guidance on new initiatives

Act as an ambassador for Include Youth when required.
Person Specification
1. Leadership
2. Commitment to the rights of disadvantaged and vulnerable young people
3. Experience of working on Management Committees / Boards of Directors
4. Experience of setting strategic direction, setting a vision
5. Experience in Policy Advocacy
6. Any previous or current relationship with Include Youth.
Alpha House, 3 Rosemary Street, BELFAST, BT1 1QA
028 9031 1007 www.includeyouth.org @includeyouth facebook.com/IncludeYouthOrganisation
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