JRCT Northern Ireland Committee
Co-optees
The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT) wishes to appoint two new co-opted members to join its Northern Ireland Committee from November 2020, to provide specialist expertise and advice to support our grantmaking programme in Northern Ireland.
JRCT is an independent, endowed, charitable foundation based in York, England. The Trust is governed by a board of voluntary trustees, all of whom are members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). The Northern Ireland Committee comprises four members of JRCT’s board of trustees, together with three additional local co-opted members.
The Northern Ireland grants programme supports work in four areas. These are: 1) strengthening human rights and equality; 2) supporting inclusive, non-sectarian and participatory politics; 3) supporting processes of demilitarisation; 4) dealing with the past. A detailed grants policy can be viewed at www.jrct.org.uk/northern-ireland.
We are a responsive grant-maker, and we believe that the knowledge required to bring about justice sits with those who are already doing the work. The Trust does not take a position on the constitutional arrangements within the island of Ireland, but recognises the strong historical, cultural and practical links between Britain, Northern Ireland, and Ireland.
Further information on the history, structure and work of the Trust can be found on our website www.jrct.org.uk.
What is involved?
The role of co-opted members is to complement the Committee’s expertise on Northern Ireland, by offering specialist knowledge and experience of one or more of the programme’s areas of focus.
The main work of the Committee is assessing grant applications. Co-opted members are fully involved in this process. This role requires a total commitment of around five days of meetings per year as outlined below, plus some additional time for commenting on applications.
The Committee meets three times per year, typically in February, May and October. Two meetings a year are usually held in Belfast and one in London, but alternative arrangements involving remote meetings are in place for the duration of the period affected by Covid-19.
In addition to attending the committee meetings, co-optees are also expected and encouraged to participate in assessment meetings with applicants. This commitment is variable, but typically might involve one or two days during the year.
The appointment would be for three years in the first instance, with the possibility of renewal for a further period of three years. This is a voluntary role, but all reasonable expenses are paid - including travel, accommodation and childcare if required. We’ll also meet claims towards loss of earnings incurred as a result of working for the Trust. We want to ensure financial concerns aren’t an obstacle to committee membership so if you are interested in the role but have any financial concerns that would deter you, please don’t hesitate to speak to us.
Person specification
The Northern Ireland Committee is seeking two co-optees who will be able to contribute effectively to the full range of the Committee’s work. Given the current make-up of the Committee, the Trust is particularly interested in attracting individuals who have expertise in the following areas: experience of conflict transformation; experience of funding and/or grant-making; lived experience of a racialised identity; and/or understanding of community, academic, and establishment processes .
Co-optees are expected to have some understanding of the voluntary sector, but could themselves be working in, or have a background in, any sector. We aim to ensure the Committee is as diverse as possible, including men and women, younger people as well as older, and people from different black and minority ethnic communities. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified people.
Co-optees should be in sympathy with the Quaker values of the Trust, which include a commitment to equality and the worth of every individual, to nonviolence, and to honesty and integrity. JRCT would welcome applications from Quakers, but this is by no means a requirement.
Please note
JRCT operates a conflict of interest policy in respect of all its programme areas. Applicants for this role are requested to fully disclose professional associations with any former or current JRCT grantees. Ideally, the Trust seeks to appoint individuals who are not directly involved with organisations that are likely to seek funding from the Trust.
If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact Tim Jones, on tim.jones@jrct.org.uk.
To apply, please send us:
- Your contact details, including email address
- A statement, of not more than 250 words, describing what you would bring to the role
- A current CV
Please send us this information by email to: tim.jones@jrct.org.uk
The closing date for receipt of applications is 9am Monday 27 July 2020. All applications will be acknowledged. If we are interested in appointing you, we will arrange a video call meeting to discuss this further. Meetings will take place in September.