Welcome from our current Chair
Thank you for your interest in joining KHULA’s mission to transform young lives in rural South Africa.
From the day I first set foot in Rorke’s Drift, the breath-taking scenery and local warmth touched me so deeply that I knew I wanted to be connected to it for the rest of my life. I bought a property next to Fugitive’s Drift, David and Nicky Rattray’s Lodge in the rural hinterland of KwaZulu-Natal. It was here they combined David’s famous tours of the Anglo-Zulu battlefields with a lodge located among rural communities. It is also where they dreamed of a better future shared by their children and those of the community. The Rattrays had already invested in local education initiatives, consistent with their values and beliefs in empowering young people. When David was tragically killed, Nicky remarkably recommitted herself and her family to the area. We established charities in the UK and in South Africa that aimed to better resource local schools. With our first Director Ben Henderson on site, we made a significant impact on many schools in the area, largely through infrastructure at the beginning and then shifting towards support for teaching and teachers.
In the past five years, since Debbie Heustice joined as our CEO in South Africa, our work has developed significantly, and our approach deepened. Our Linked Schools Model has expanded so that we now serve three communities with programmes that deliver educational outcomes from pre-school through to graduation. We establish and run pre-
schools next to state primary schools and then work with the schools and educators to ensure more children obtain their high school certificates and associated greater employment prospects. The fact that children from our pre-schools go on to outperform their peers throughout their school career is something that fills me with immense pride. More importantly, families and the education authorities are experiencing this impact and they want more.
There is so much demand in Rorke’s Drift and beyond. There are many partnerships and strategic opportunities to explore, all aimed at changing the lives of the children and their communities for the better. As board members, we are committed to supporting this, and to ensuring that we continue to build KHULA Education so it can deliver a better future to the communities in rural KwaZulu-Natal.
We hope too, that what we achieve in this part of Zululand, can act as a blueprint for elsewhere in South Africa and beyond and there is so much potential that our next Chair can support and make happen through outstanding governance leadership.
Robin Woodhead, Chair, David Rattray Foundation UK (KHULA Education)
Background
Founded in 2007, KHULA Education is an award-winning South African NGO working in partnership with rural schools and underserved communities in deep rural KwaZulu-Natal to ensure children and young people can access a quality education and economic opportunity.
Our Mission
KHULA is committed to improving the quality of education in rural KwaZulu-Natal, mobilising education as a pathway
to community empowerment and alleviating poverty in one of the most marginalised areas of South Africa.
To achieve our mission, KHULA’s key objectives are to:
• Advance the education of children and youth in South Africa, promote sustainable development, relief from poverty and improvement in the living conditions for socially disadvantaged communities.
• Strengthen the existing, locally provided government education system.
• Prepare young people for the transition to further education and decent employment, in turn uplifting the wider community.
Over the past 17 years, KHULA Education has transformed rural schools in KwaZuluNatal that were previously failing into schools that compete at the national level in South Africa; guided hundreds of young people to access tertiary education opportunities (often the first in their families to attend university); and helped hundreds more on the path to employment.
KHULA Education is a place-based organisation, supporting schools situated in South Africa’s uMzinyathi District, one of the poorest areas of the country,
The KHULA strategy rests on four core programmes which provide the necessary clarity of focus to meet its objectives:
1. Early Childhood Development at the four KHULA preschools.
2. Supplementary Teaching at underresourced government-run schools.
3. Educator Development at 42 schools in the district.
4. Life Skills, Job Readiness and Transition to Work modules for school students and graduates.
where the average household survives on just R14,600 (£620) a year. These communities are also extremely rural with unemployment levels at 80%more than double the national average. In this context of extreme rurality, poor infrastructure and lack of government investment, KHULA’s impact is all the more impressive. KHULA’s model works well, despite the most challenging of environments.
KHULA’s work in South Africa is led by our CEO who runs a team of 65 full time staff.
Two Charities, One Mission
The organisational construct supporting KHULA Education is quite unique and enables a particularly special support to the work on the ground. Formally, KHULA is supported by the David Rattray Foundation (DRF), of which two separate charities (in the UK and South Africa) were registered in 2007.
These two charities are officially distinct from one another, but have a singular mission and energy, to support the excellent work begun by the Rattray family and continued today through KHULA Education in South Africa to change the lives of rural children and their communities for the better.
Both the UK and South Africa charities have individual Boards, each comprised of a Chair and Trustees. Both Boards are committed to working closely together to support this collective mission, and to ensuring the continued growth of KHULA
Education so it can deliver a better future to the communities in rural KwaZulu-Natal. The hope is that what is achieved in this part of Zululand, can act as a blueprint for elsewhere in South Africa and beyond.
The UK charity has traditionally focused on resourcing the work of KHULA Education, building relationships with donors across the world and acting as a conduit for fundraising for the charity’s operations in South Africa. The South African charity has focused on guiding and supporting the work of KHULA Education to deliver its mandate in South Africa. Over the past three years, the expertise of trustees across both charities have been harnessed in four joint sub-committees that focus and engage trustees across both boards in the following areas: Finance; Strategy; Fundraising; and Education and Outcomes.
The joint
sub-committees
have facilitated a more aligned approach resulting in better outcomes for KHULA on the ground.”
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement
One of KHULA’s core organising principles is that we are community-led in all that we do. This is reflected in our team, who live and work amongst the communities we serve, with the majority hailing from the local area or the wider province of KwaZulu-Natal. We are proud to have several former beneficiaries on our team and strive to prioritise local youth for new opportunities.
We know that diversity fosters creativity and innovation and we are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. We welcome applicants to this role irrespective of gender, disability, ethnic or social origin, nationality, religion, belief, or sexual orientation.
Further information can be found on our website. https://www.khula-education.org/
Role Description
Position
Chair (Designate), David Rattray
Foundation United Kingdom (DRF UK)
Term of office
3 years, renewable twice to a maximum of 9 years.
Remuneration
This is an unremunerated position.
Time Commitment
Approximately 2-3 days per month on average. The UK Board meets 3 times per annum in London. The UK charity board meetings are synchronised with the South African charity board meetings, with the Chairs of each attending both the board meetings in the UK and South Africa (virtually or face to face).
The Chair will meet regularly with the Chair of the David Rattray Foundation South Africa (DRF SA) and Board Trustees. In addition, the Chair will engage frequently with the CEO in South Africa as well as the Director of Fundraising and Communications in the United Kingdom.
The UK Chair is expected to actively support the charity’s profile, strategy and fundraising activities.
Purpose
The board, led by the Chair, is the highest governance body for the DRF UK, serving as stewards of mission, resources, and is ultimately responsible for strategy, operations, finance and compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
Key Responsibilities
The Chair leads the board of trustees in the United Kingdom and works closely with the Chair of the charity in South Africa as well as the charity’s leadership team to achieve agreed strategic objectives.
Working with the UK and South African charity, the Chair is responsible for driving key areas, including:
Synergy and Relationship Building between the United Kingdom and South African charity
• To ensure there is a clear vision, mission and strategy for the organisation and its long-term success.
• To assist in achieving the organisation’s mission.
• To liaise with and maintain a positive and constructive relationship with the charity in South Africa as well as with the CEO and staff of KHULA Education.
Leadership of Governance
• To lead the UK charity board comprising up to twelve trustees governing the DRF UK’s charitable mission in support of the charity’s direct operations in South Africa.
• To ensure high standards of governance to guide and support the delivery of the charity’s mission in line with charity law and the guidelines set out by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
• To shape a high performing, collegiate board culture, including regular appraisals and reviews of individual trustee and wider board performance.
• To build and lead a board with the range of knowledge, skills and experience necessary to provide the required strategic oversight and support to the charity.
• To ensure the charity is accountable and transparent in its activities.
• To liaise with the Chairs of each of the sub committees of the board, setting annual goals and working across the two entities to ensure these are achieved.
• To plan and execute a cadence of board meetings and activities in line with the charity’s requirements.
Strategy Development
• In collaboration with the Chief Executive and Strategy SubCommittee, ensure that the charity develops an ambitious strategy for programmes and impact in South Africa, approved by the boards in both the United Kingdom and South Africa.
Guidance and Support to the KHULA Education Leadership Team
• Together with the Chair of the DRF SA, appoint the CEO and the Director: Communications, Partnerships and Philanthropy, regularly review their performance and remuneration.
• Together with the Chair of the DRF SA, provide line management and support of the CEO and the Director of Fundraising and Communications in delivering their roles.
Financial Oversight
• Ensure, with the board treasurer and Finance Sub-Committee, sound financial oversight including review and approval of annual budget and accounts.
• Responsible for risk, compliance, due process and efficiency of systems for the charity in the United Kingdom.
Advocacy and Fundraising
• Use personal and professional networks to support the charity’s income generation efforts.
• Provide advice and support in relation to influencing and advocacy efforts as appropriate.
Person Specification
• A senior leader who is credible with key stakeholders.
• A demonstrable interest in education and a good understanding of KHULA Education’s mission and values.
• Highly aspirational on behalf of the charity.
• A highly developed strategic mindset, combined with a collaborative and inclusive leadership style.
• Ability to identify the big issues relevant to the charity’s work, long-term sustainability, and reputation.
• Previous governance experience, ideally within the charity sector, including as Chair of a board or a sub-committee.
• Well networked and willing to leverage connections when appropriate.
• An engaging communicator who is able to advocate and influence effectively on behalf of the charity and its mission
• A personal connection to South Africa is a significant advantage.
How to Apply
To apply to become Chair (Designate) at David Rattray Foundation United Kingdom (DRF UK), please upload the following documents to our website:
• Your CV, drawing out relevant experience for the role.
• A supporting statement of up to 1,000 words that addresses the criteria set out in the person specification as well as your interest in the organisation’s work.
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
Please also notify us if you require a postal application.
Applications via the Prospectus website should be made at: https://prospect-us.co.uk/jobs/189207
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
Closing date: September 23, 2024
Preliminary interviews: October 1-7, 2024
Final interviews and meetings: October, November, 2024
Queries
If you wish to have an informal discussion about the opportunity, please contact our retained partners Borge Andreassen or Sam Badenoch at Prospectus on 020 7691 1920, or email:
Borge.andreassen@prospect-us.co.uk Sam.badenoch@prospect-us.co.uk
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