Job purpose

Our Board of Trustees has ultimate responsibility for directing the affairs of the Men’s Health Forum, and ensuring that it is solvent, well-run, and delivering the charitable outcomes for the benefit of the public for which it has been set up, namely:

to promote men’s health, in particular, but without limitation, by carrying out research into men’s health and by providing information on men’s health to health professionals and the general public

The charity covers England, Scotland and Wales.

Our mission

To improve the health of men and boys

Our ambition

All men and boys - particularly those in the most disadvantaged areas and communities - will have the information, services and treatments they need to live healthier, longer and more fulfilling lives.

Our 5 priorities

1. Step-change the importance of men’s health: the men of today and the men of tomorrow
2. Step-change our network
3. Focus on men and boys from the most disadvantaged areas, groups and communities
4. Continue to lead provision of health information for men
5. Refresh our funding plan

Person specification:

We’re looking to strengthen our Board’s experience in the areas of:

• Active clinical practice
• Academic and policy research
• Charity management
• Personal experience of men's health issues
• Mental health
• Boys’ health and health education
• Public health and health inequalities
• Publishing

And, as an equal priority, we are looking to make our board more diverse.

In terms of competencies and personal characteristics, our biggest priorities are:

• Strong empathy with our mission of improving the health of men and boys
• Good communication skills
• Ability to work well with other people
• Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort.

Principal duties and responsibilities

The Charity Commission advises that Trustees are required to:

• Ensure that the charity complies with charity law, and with the requirements of the Charity Commission as regulator; in particular ensure that the charity prepares reports on what it has achieved and Annual Returns and accounts as required by law.
• Ensure that the charity does not breach any of the requirements or rules set out in its governing document and that it remains true to the charitable purpose and objects set out there.
• Comply with the requirements of other legislation and other regulators (if any) which govern the activities of the charity.
• Act with integrity, and avoid any personal conflicts of interest or misuse of charity funds or assets.
• Ensure that the charity is and will remain solvent.
• Use charitable funds and assets reasonably, and only in furtherance of the charity’s objects.
• Avoid undertaking activities that might place the charity’s endowment, funds, assets or reputation at undue risk.
• Take special care when investing the funds of the charity, or borrowing funds for the charity to use.
• Use reasonable care and skill in their work as trustees, using their personal skills and experience as needed to ensure that the charity is well-run and efficient.
• Consider getting external professional advice on all matters where there may be material risk to the charity, or where the trustees may be in breach of their duties.
   

In practice, the technical work of the charity is done by staff and paid advisors.  The main work of the trustees is to scrutinise that work and ensure that the charity has the right priorities, is well-run and making the biggest difference possible.

Responsible to

Trustee Board

Location

Meetings are normally held online via Zoom.

Time commitment:

Between five and ten board meetings per year.

Remuneration:

By law Trustees cannot be paid, although expenses for travel may be claimed.

Deadline for applications:

Since Trustees have limited terms of office, we are always interested in recruiting new trustees to replace those due to retire. Please send a CV and cover letter or email to our Chief Executive, Martin Tod, via this online form.

Apply