News
Join our board of trustees - this opportunity is now closed
If you’re a SCI member of SIA please consider contacting us to express an interest in this exciting opportunity.
Use your lived experience of spinal cord injury (SCI) to represent the voice of our diverse community, and put your skills and expertise towards strengthening the governance of SIA.
Our work and its impact
Everyone has a right to a fulfilled life and that means the life they choose, a life that has the same opportunities as everyone else. Our work in campaigning, education and support is based on the personal experiences of our members.
As a user-driven organisation, this lived experience is so important to us and is central to our work. We inform and influence decision-makers on matters relating to health and social care policy, in addition to campaigning for disability rights across the spectrum of our community’s needs. By listening to our members and the views of the wider sector, we provide high quality services that are increasingly tailored to the needs of everyone affected by SCI, including family and friends.
Read more about our work and the impact of our services
What is the role of a trustee?
If you subscribe to our quarterly magazine, Forward, you’ll have read in our recent edition that trustees share ultimate responsibility for governing SIA and directing how it’s managed and run. We have a legal responsibility to make sure SIA carries out its purpose for the public benefit and that its resources are managed appropriately. We act in the charity’s best interests at all times.
Compliance with our governing document
At least 75% of our board must be people who are SCI. This means that we’re truly led by SCI people, for SCI people. We’re also bound by our governing document (Articles of Association) to have a minimum of five trustees elected to the board by and from within our membership.
This is where you come in
At the end of this governance year, a couple of long-standing elected trustees will reach the end of their final term and step down from the board. We will therefore be holding membership elections in the coming months, with a view to three new elected trustees officially joining the board from February 2023.
Any SIA member who is SCI is eligible to participate and we particularly welcome expressions of interest from individuals with high-level injuries and people from diverse backgrounds. Previous board experience is not essential, however you must be willing and able to dedicate approximately 15-20 hours per quarter to SIA business in a voluntary capacity (reasonable expenses will be reimbursed).
What you need to do
If you’re interested in being considered for election, please email your CV and a cover letter to [email protected] by Monday 10 October. Your cover letter should be no longer than two sides of A4 and state why you’re interested in the role, the value you could bring and your understanding of governance.
The next stage (in October) will be a short video submission and supporting statement supplied by you, which full members will be able to view and vote on electronically (in November).
Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
At SIA, we value diversity. We’re committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment as we believe diversity fosters a more innovative, creative, and caring culture. We’re striving to create a culture that fully represents all the communities we serve. We are an equal opportunity organisation, and all candidates will be considered regardless of race, age, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, family or parental status, or disability status. As noted already, for this particular opportunity all candidates must have a SCI for compliance purposes.
Email Claire Martin our current chair for an informal chat or to request a full role profile, which will be made available to all candidates prior to the next stage.
Even if this position isn’t for you, please keep your eyes peeled for future announcements so you can get involved in voting to ensure our board remains representative of the views and wishes of our members.