Charlie Waller

Welcome

We take a practical and positive approach to helping people stay mentally well.

The Charlie Waller Trust was set up by the Waller family in 1997 after Charlie tragically took his own life aged 28 whilst suffering from depression. We provide training and resources based on sound evidence, and we encourage people, especially the young, to talk about mental health problems.

Our vision is of a world in which young people grow up talking naturally about their mental wellbeing. We strive to ensure their voices are heard throughout our work; Charlie sits at the heart of our vision.

We give parents, carers, teachers and employers confidence to spot when a young person might be struggling with their mental health and help them get support. The sooner someone can be helped, the better, so early intervention is key to our approach.

Our parent and carer programme offers practical advice, training and support to parents, carers and families. It is led by parents with experience of supporting a child with mental health problems.

Our schools trainers build relationships with the whole school community, helping staff, pupils and parents learn how to look after their mental wellbeing.

We work in partnership with universities and colleges, helping them identify what they do well in relation to student mental health and how they can improve.

In the workplace, we offer training to senior leaders, line managers, HR staff and employees. Breaking the stigma of mental health at work is extremely important to us.

Our sister organisation, the Charlie Waller Institute at the University of Reading, delivers training in evidence-based psychological treatments, increasing the availability of therapists, alongside a programme of research.

All our work is based on sound evidence and most of it is free. The only exception is our work with employers, the income from which is invested in extending our work to support young people.

The Trust is at an exciting stage of its development. The year 2022/23 has marked 25 years since its founding. During that time it has become one of the UK’s most respected charities, growing in influence and impact – a trajectory we aim to continue through the next 25 years.

The Charlie Waller Trust was set up by the Waller family in 1997 in response to the loss of their son and brother, Charlie, who tragically took his own life whilst suffering from depression. We have since become one of the UK’s most respected mental health charities.

About us

Our overarching mission is to educate young people and those with responsibility for them - parents and carers, teachers, college and university staff, and employers - about their mental health and wellbeing.

We recognise the importance of diversity and equality in mental health conversations, ensuring that our educational resources and outreach efforts are inclusive and accessible to individuals from all backgrounds.

We aim to improve people’s understanding of mental health, to give them the knowledge and skills to look out for and support themselves and those around them, and to give them greater confidence in talking openly about the subject.

There has been a significant increase in conditions such as anxiety and depression since 2020 and the global pandemic. This, together with economic and social factors that increase vulnerability to mental ill-health, means that our work is more important than ever. Our challenges over the next five years include addressing climate anxiety, extending our reach in marginalised communities and expanding our work to support parents, whilst maintaining the quality and ethos of our charitable activity.

The Charlie Waller Trust is a great place to work, with around 20 employees, over 40 freelance mental health trainers, speakers and experts, and more than 50 volunteers.

We value collaboration and believe that diverse perspectives contribute to our team’s success.

The Trust has an excellent reputation; it is well managed and financially robust, providing an exciting opportunity for our new CEO to lead the charity’s future growth.

The Charlie Waller Trust is a great place to work. We care about mental health and wellbeing in our team and have a positive, enabling workplace culture.

Our values drive our work:

Warm

Positive personal connections are central to mental health; we aim to reflect that in all our relationships with beneficiaries, supporters, staff and volunteers.

Empowering

We support all those we work with, and who work for us, to use their minds, hearts, energy and creativity to fulfil their potential.

Collaborative

Partnership and cooperation are at the core of our work; we seek the views of those we wish to support and aim to put them at the centre of our activity.

Compassionate

We recognise vulnerability in ourselves and others, especially where there is more than one reason people may be vulnerable to mental health problems, discrimination or inequality.

Open

We believe in being honest about the way we work, our aspirations and where we need to improve; openness and good communication are key to good mental health.

Evidence-based

We ensure that our work is up-to-date and evidence-based.

With these values, we strive to achieve the maximum reach and impact to improve the lives of children and young people, and those who care for them, across the UK.

Finances 2022

The Trustees are pleased to report a strong performance for 2022 for both income and charitable spend. Total Income and Endowments increased by 39.4% to £1,971,388 (2021: £1,413,842). Total Expenditure was £2,120,841 (2021: £1,617,553), an increase of 31.11% from the previous year.

Net expenditure for the year was £149,453 (2021: expenditure £203,711) whilst net losses on investment assets were £101,483 (2021: gains £79,793). This resulted in an adverse net movement in funds of £250,936 (2021: adverse £123,918).

At the year-end the Trust held unrestricted funds of £1,906,360 (2021: £2,155,612) and restricted funds of £31,650 (2021: £33,334).

Income Expenditure Donations

Organisation chart

Chief Executive Officer

Freelance Clinical & Lived Experience Advisory Group

Executive Assistant

Head of Finance/ Operations

Head of Communications

Team of 4

Team of 6 plus volunteers

Head of Fundraising

Team of 7 plus volunteers

Programmes Director

Team of 6 plus volunteers

Chair & Board of Trustees

Role description

Role: Chief Executive Officer

Salary: £80,000 - £85,000 per annum

Location: Newbury

Accountable to: Chairman and Board of Trustees

Contract type: Permanent

Hours of work: Full-time (35 hours). Hybrid working arrangements available, but frequent attendance at Newbury office required.

Benefits: 30 days holiday, rising to 35 days after five years, plus bank holidays and the days between Christmas and New Year; contributory pension; flexible working policy; access to a mental health and wellbeing plan; learning and development opportunities.

About the role

As Chief Executive Officer, you will be responsible for a budget of at least £2m per annum to deliver the Trust’s vision and strategy, working effectively with our board of trustees, employees, freelance team and volunteers.

The Charlie Waller Trust is a nationally wellregarded mental health charity that has just celebrated its 25th anniversary.

It is a financially robust charity on an upward trajectory with ambitious plans to increase its reach and impact. It is looking for a passionate and ambitious new CEO who has the skill set and energy to take the Charity to its next stage of development. There has never been a more crucial time to address the issue of children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. The role provides an opportunity to make a real difference.

About you

Highly motivated, dynamic and experienced as a strategic leader, you will inspire our talented team and be committed to our values and ethos. We would very much like to hear from you if you have:

• Significant leadership experience in a charitable, not for profit, statutory or commercial setting.

• Ability to deliver on key targets and to recognise opportunities for development

• Experience of developing excellent relationships and partnerships in the mental health or a related sector.

• Excellent financial management skills.

• Proven ability to develop inclusive teams, fostering talent and maintaining a healthy team culture.

• An understanding of co-production to ensure those with lived experience of mental health issues are central to our work.

• Experience of governance and senior level accountability.

• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills.

Key responsibilities

• Set CWT’s strategic direction and prepare a business plan and annual budget for consideration by the trustee board.

• Build effective working relationships with the Chair, trustees and senior management team.

• Report to the trustees on a quarterly basis and attend trustee meetings in person.

• Lead a clear communication strategy on the work of Charlie Waller Trust.

• Be accountable for delivering key targets in the business plan.

• Be open to new opportunities to drive the Trust forward.

• Ensure long-term financial viability, value for money, and a safe cashflow position.

• Ensure the Trust fulfils its legal, statutory and regulatory responsibilities.

• Represent the Charlie Waller Trust externally, enhancing the organisation’s reputation and profile.

• Lead and manage teams effectively, creating a culture of openness, learning, and development that supports good mental health and wellbeing.

• Develop lasting, positive relationships with diverse partners and stakeholders at a national level.

• Extend the Trust’s reach and media presence to raise our profile with people who need our services as well as with existing and new supporters.

• Be accountable to the board for delivery against budget and effective organisational management.

• Monitor and evaluate key indicators of the Trust’s charitable impact.

• Be aware of risks, challenges and opportunities in the external environment which affect the Trust.

Person specification

The successful candidate is likely to have most of the following competencies and experience but not necessarily all. If you feel that you are a strong candidate, please do apply or get in touch for a further conversation. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.

• Significant leadership experience in a charitable, not for profit or healthcare setting.

• Demonstratable experience of being able to deliver both strategically and operationally.

• Knowledge of the mental health sector, the socio-economic factors that affect mental health and the evidence base for successful intervention and treatments.

• A working knowledge of the most common mental health problems.

• An understanding of co-production to ensure those with lived experience of mental health issues are central to our work.

• Excellent interpersonal, influencing and communication skills.

• Excellent relationship-building and networking skills and the ability to spot opportunities for collaboration, innovation and growth.

• Financial acumen and experience in managing budgets and overseeing financial performance.

• A track record of developing sustainable income growth strategies.

• The ability to respond in a sensitive, timely and agile manner to the changing political, cultural, economic, social, technological and environmental landscape and its impact on mental health, adapting the Trust’s programmes accordingly.

• The ability to direct, and get the most from, a workforce with diverse contractual arrangements, including consultants, freelancers and permanent employees.

• The ability to learn quickly and to develop rapid and comprehensive knowledge of the needs of our beneficiaries and our full range of programmes.

• Experience of working with a board of directors/trustees.

Benefits

We want people to thrive at the Trust. We believe you do your best work when you feel your best. We are proud of our culture - we offer a supportive, flexible and enjoyable place to work.

• Flexible working policy – we’re committed to helping you find a healthy work-life balance that respects your individual needs and commitments.

• Generous annual leave allowance - pro rata 30 days annual leave (increasing to 35 days after five years’ service), plus bank holidays, plus the period between Christmas and New Year, allowing for well-deserved breaks and time for personal wellbeing.

• Access to our mental health and wellbeing plan – helping staff to stay mentally well and to support them through periods of poor mental health. This includes support for the

cost of six talking therapy sessions per year where these are not available via the NHS, recognising the importance of accessible mental health support for everyone.

• Opportunities to experience our charitable activities and impact at first hand by attending training and events on mental health and wellbeing topics and through involvement in relevant projects, ensuring a variety of learning opportunities and exposure to diverse perspectives.

• Contributory pension scheme.

• Social events and team days, encouraging team building, inclusivity and a positive work culture.

• Free parking.

• Bike to work scheme, promoting sustainable and healthy commuting options.

How to apply

To apply for the role you can either upload your CV together with a supporting statement (of no more than 1000 words) onto the Prospectus website via the link, or you can apply by post to:

Executive Search

Prospectus (Head Office)

20-22 Stukeley Street

Holborn, London

WC2B 5LR

Please ensure that you have included a telephone number, as well as any dates when you will not be available or might have difficulty with the recruitment timetable.

If you wish to apply using an alternative format please contact Prospectus on 020 7691 1920 or email executive.admin@prospect-us.co.uk Applications via the Prospectus website should be made at: https://prospect-us.co.uk/jobs/185566-chief-executive-officer/

At Prospectus we believe passionately that a truly inclusive workplace leads to increased social impact. We are committed to supporting our clients build more inclusive teams. To understand how we are performing, we ask that you kindly complete the brief equal opportunities questionnaire when you submit your application via our website. Please be assured that your responses are kept confidential, separate from your candidate record, are not part of any application you make, and that the consultants never see individual responses to the questionnaire.

Recruitment timetable

Deadline for applications:

Sunday 8th October

Interviews with Prospectus (online):

w/c 16th October

Interviews with Charlier Waller Trust (in person):

w/c 23rd October

Queries

If you wish to have an informal discussion about the opportunity, please contact our retained advisor Harjit Bola at Prospectus on 020 7691 1920, or email: harjit.bola@prospect-us.co.uk

with a copy of your CV.