Board Member and Charity Trustee

Board Members and Charity Trustees

East Lothian Climate Action Network (ELCAN)

Location: East Lothian and online
Time commitment: Approximately one day per month, including an evening Board meeting every two months, occasionally in person
Remuneration: Voluntary, with reasonable expenses reimbursed
Term: Normally three years

Help shape community-led action on the climate and nature emergencies.

ELCAN is seeking up to five new Board members to support its work building just, thriving and resilient communities across East Lothian.

As a trustee, you will help guide the charity’s strategic direction, oversee its finances and governance, and support and constructively challenge the CEO. Working collaboratively with fellow trustees, you will help ensure ELCAN remains accountable to its members and the communities it serves.

Roles available: We are seeking up to five new Board members, including people who can contribute in one or more of the following areas: 

• Treasurer including financial governance 
• Human Resources and Organisational Development 
• Board Meeting Facilitation 
• Youth Representation 
• Renewable / Community-Owned Energy and Heat 
• Sustainable food growing including local food systems 
• Sustainable Transport, including Active Travel 
• Community Resilience and Climate Change Adaptation 

What you could bring

We welcome a range of skills, backgrounds and perspectives, particularly contributions in:

• Finance and financial governance, including a Treasurer.
• HR and organisational development.
• Board meeting facilitation.
• Youth representation and participation.
• Community-owned renewable energy and heat.
• Sustainable food growing and local food systems.
• Sustainable transport and active travel.
• Community resilience and climate adaptation.

Person specification 

We are not looking for one person who meets every criterion. We want to build a Board containing a balanced range of skills, experience, backgrounds and perspectives. 

Essential for all Board members 

Applicants should demonstrate: 

• commitment to ELCAN’s charitable purposes, Mission Statement and values; 
• interest in community-led climate action and a just transition; 
• willingness to take on the responsibilities of a charity trustee; 
• ability to contribute constructively to collective decisions; 
• good listening, communication and relationship-building skills; 
• willingness to ask questions and offer respectful challenge; 
• ability to understand strategic information and consider different perspectives; 
• commitment to equality, inclusion and respectful working; 
• ability to make the required time commitment; and 
• willingness to learn and participate in induction and trustee development 

You do not need to be a climate expert or meet every criterion. A commitment to community-led climate action, good listening and communication skills, and a willingness to learn and contribute to collective decisions are important. Knowledge of East Lothian is also important.

Formal qualifications and previous trustee experience are not required for every role. ELCAN provides induction, training, ongoing support and reasonable adjustments to enable accessible participation.

How to apply

Send a brief CV and covering letter outlining your interest, what you would bring to the Board and any specialist areas of interest to elcanchair@eastlothianclimatehub.org.

Suitable applicants will have their applications reviewed by the full ELCAN Board to raise any questions, then invited to an informal conversation with one or both of ELCAN’s Co-Chairs. This will provide an opportunity to discuss the role, mutual expectations, the applicant’s experience and interests, and any questions they may have. 

Following a successful conversation, the Co-Chair(s) will return to the ELCAN Board with relevant answers and a recommendation for Board for review. The appointment will then be considered and potentially agreed by the Board in accordance with ELCAN’s constitution and governance arrangements. 

Applicants will be informed of the outcome as soon as reasonably practical. 

Further information about ELCAN and the East Lothian Climate Hub is available at: 

www.eastlothianclimatehub.org

This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.