Voluntary Trustees Wanted The role of Student Trustee offers an exciting opportunity to volunteer with one of North Yorkshire’s largest charities. Are you passionate about the ethos and vision of your Students’ Union? Able to commit time? Willing to learn about how organisations are run? And keen to gain experience in areas that will enhance your CV, like strategic planning and finance? If the answer is yes then the role of Student Trustee could be for you. This pack contains an overview of the role, as well as a look at how YUSU’s governance is structured and how the role of Student Trustee fits in. If you want any further information or an informal conversation please contact either the Chief Executive or the President at 01904 323724 or ceo@yusu.org or president@yusu.org
About YUSU The University of York Students’ Union (YUSU) is the representative body for the 18,000 students at the University of York. Just 50 years old and growing fast, YUSU provides a wide range of charitable and trading services and activities designed to improve students’ lives. With rapid growth over the last five years in our turnover, our employee population, our student participation, our student satisfaction ratings and our estate, we are an organisation that embraces change, and has an ambitious agenda; to be amongst the best students’ unions in the country. Our organisation incorporates a charity and a subsidiary trading arm. Together we offer the following services and activities:
Over 180 student societies - one of the widest ranges of student interest groups per capita of any students’ union in the UK, including award-winning student media. A growing volunteering programme linking students to volunteering opportunities across the world, building their skills, networks and experiences while supporting wider society. A fundraising programme helping students to raise and give (RAG) and providing important donations to local and national charities. In 2014/15, University of York students raised £70,000 f0r charity.
Sporting opportunities – Competing amongst 65 British University and Colleges (BUCs) teams, our league placing has improved for three successive years, pushing the York Sport Union firmly into the top 40 of British Universities. Alongside this YUSU offers a wider programme of intra-mural College sport, including annual College Varsity against Durham colleges and ‘Roses’, Europe’s largest annual inter-University sport competition ‘Roses’ which sees York playing over 170 sports against Lancaster each year in a high profile sports tournament attracting 8,000 spectators and participants in 2014/15. A student advocacy and well-being service providing advocacy for 370 students in the last academic year to resolve academic disputes, appeals and regulatory issues, alongside proactive well-being workshops, designed to help students deal with the ups and downs of student life. A student voice service recruiting, training and developing a network of volunteer representatives representing student academic interests and liberation interests across the University, the City and wider afield. Large scale events - on and off campus for up to 4,000 students including live music, funfairs, cultural celebrations, comedy, formal dinners, awards ceremonies and much more. Commercial services offering: three licensed venues providing food, drink and a safe, fun environment for students to socialise in. One of these venues is run in collaboration with the University; a coffee shop and delicatessen offering one of the most unique and best value for money spaces for students on campus; and a retail shop offering a range of convenience goods, branded merchandise and a new international postal service (with the postal service being operating in partnership with the University). A range of support functions including a professional finance team, a health and safety specialist and a dedicated HR manager.
Read more: Accounts - Our latest consolidated and audited accounts are available here Impact Report – Our latest impact report is available here
About the University of York The University of York is a Russell Group institution founded in 1963. It is one of just six post-war Universities to have appeared in the world top 100 institutions. With over 30 departments and research centres, the University has seen rapid growth accompanied by a £750m campus expansion in recent years. A new 20-year estate development strategy is set to continue the development of world-class facilities for the beautiful campus, set on the outskirts of York. With Koen Lamberts, The University’s sixth vice-chancellor taking up post in 2014, the strategic ambitions of the University have secured new emphasis and investment into key aspects of student experience to accompany worldclass learning and teaching. This has led to increased partnership working between YUSU and the University as well as providing support to our own independent strategic ambitions. For further details on the University see here
About our Governance As an independent charity YUSU has a Trustee Board in place to provide strategic oversight. The Board is the highest decision making body in the organisation, ultimately responsible for ensuring we remain financially healthy, perform well for students, and comply with the law in everything that we do.
YUSU Trustees Each year five Full Time Student Officers (FTOs) are elected by cross campus ballot. As well as their representative roles, these five sabbatical student officers hold positions as trustees for the duration of their time in office (a maximum of two years). The five sabbatical officer trustees are accompanied on our Trustee Board by three ‘ordinary student’ trustees who are current students and elected by cross campus ballot, and 3 external lay trustees recruited for their experience and expertise. The Trustee Board (11 people in total) is supported by the organisation’s full time Chief Executive and the Union’s 5 senior managers. The board is chaired by the Union President with an external trustee as Deputy Chair.
Meeting and sub-committees The Trustee Board meets at least four times a year, usually early evening. The meetings are held in York and normally last around three hours. The Trustee Board currently has two formally constituted subcommittees; HR & Audit Subcommittee and Finance Subcommittee. In addition, the Board constitutes working groups, task forces and occasional sub committees, as business requires. The Finance Subcommittee meets at least five times a year and the HR & Audit Subcommittee meets at least three times a year. The Board and Subcommittees can call additional ‘Extraordinary Meetings’ and/or development sessions as they require.
About the Student Trustee role The role of Student Trustee of the University of York Students’ Union offers an exciting opportunity to use your skills, knowledge and experience to make a positive difference to the lives of students at the University. Trustees share responsibility for governing the charity, and directing how it is managed and run. You will work with and support the external and officer trustees as a member of an 11-strong board committed to the successful future of YUSU. Main duties The main duties of Student Trustees include attending Board Meetings, and sub-committees, where relevant, and providing a student voice to advise, support and set direction on strategy, policies and procedures. Trustees are expected be committed to further the interests of students at the University of York and take an active interest in the Union. They should prepare for Trustee Meetings by reading reports and papers, considering information provided, and raising questions or making comments. Trustees will occasionally attend social or work events related to YUSU activity. It is important to note that the position is elected but Student Trustees do not have a representative mandate. Person specification We are looking for current University of York students that will be continuing their studies in the academic year 2016/17. You should be committed to the ethos and vision of your Students’ Union, able to commit time, willing to learn about how a charity is run, willing to speak your mind, and able to understand the legal duties and responsibilities of trusteeship.
Commitment Student trustees are elected for a maximum period of two years from date of appointment. Trustees will be required to sign a declaration to confirm they are eligible to act as a Trustee. They will also confirm any conflicts of interest. If you have any concerns about these then please speak to the CEO or President who can advise further. Attendance at meetings The Trustee Board will normally meet at least 4 times each academic year. There will also be the requirement to sit on sub-committees or occasional working groups which will be established as required and membership decided by the Trustee Board. You should anticipate a total of 9 days commitment per year. Trustees will occasionally be asked for feedback between meetings. Training and benefits of volunteering It is likely that you may be asked to attend an annual half day or evening training session on relevant issues. Volunteering as a Student Trustee will offer an opportunity to learn about how an organisation is run. You will gain experience in areas that will enhance your CV like strategic planning, performance monitoring, finance, and employment practice. Payment to trustees This is a voluntary role. Reasonable expenses will be covered. Election process Our Student Trustees are elected by a cross-campus ballot of the student membership – just like the FTOs and PTOs are. Nominations are open across Weeks 1-3 of Summer Term, with Voting taking place online from Monday (9am) to Thursday (4pm) of Week 4. YUSU is recruiting two student trustees. More information Find out more about the role at YUSU’s drop-in session for prospective trustees on Thursday 28th April (week 3) from 12.00-1.30pm in YourSpace. Read more about the responsibilities of a charity trustee here
About our Strategy YUSU launched its first ever 5 year strategic plan at the start of the 2015/16 academic year following a year of intensive membership and stakeholder research and development; taking into account over 1,000 contributions of both a qualitative and quantitative nature.
The current strategic development mini-site is available at strategy.yusu.org The plan sets out our vision; to put students at the heart of everything in York, and our three core values; We are inclusive We are brave We are for, with and by students These values and our strategy are being embedded into all aspects of our work including our recruitment, performance management, communications and planning. In addition, the plan has 4 key strategic themes; To represent the full diversity of our students To provide opportunities to our students that support their personal development To support students well-being To create a York community which enhances student life.