Trustee / Board Member

Whilst Hampshire & IOW has had a tennis county association for over a century, since September 2023 the organisation has operated as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) known as Hampshire & IOW Tennis (HIOWT). With this exciting development in mind, HIOWT is now seeking to recruit new independent trustees to take the organisation into the next chapter of its development.

Under charity law, the Board of Trustees has collective responsibility for the governance of and directing how the organisation is managed and run. Trustees must ensure that the money provided by HIOWT’s funding partners is spent appropriately in realising HIOWT’s aims and objectives. Trustees must also ensure that HIOWT complies with charity law and other relevant legislation. In order to carry out the duties and responsibilities contained in this legislation, a Trustee needs to understand what the organisation aims to do and why, and be able to offer sufficient time to achieving them. Trustees are accountable to the membership of the organisation, and more generally to the Charity Commission.

HIOWT’s core purpose is: to promote community participation in healthy recreation, through the development, promotion and support of tennis and padel in Hampshire and Isle of Wight (HIOW). HIOWT also supports the LTA’s mission of ‘Tennis opened up’, providing local opportunities to grow tennis by making it relevant, accessible, welcoming and enjoyable.

HIOWT is funded by two key sources of income: an annual grant from the LTA; and sponsorship from local companies. The organisation’s annual income is around £200,000. and there are healthy reserves.

The members of HIOWT are LTA-registered venues within the geographical area of HIOW. HIOWT is also a member organisation of the LTA and is involved in the development and implementation of national policy. HIOWT works in the following key areas:

• good governance and management, adhering to the Sports Governance Code
• recognising and rewarding HIOW volunteers
• supporting HIOW venues and coaches and cascading best practice
• growing and sustaining the coaching workforce
• ensuring the highest standards of safeguarding and welfare in all HIOWT activities
• supporting disability development programmes
• promoting diversity and inclusion
• running projects to increase participation
• delivering junior & adult county training
• delivering a 10 & under performance programme
• running junior & adult county teams
• offering county competition, including leagues and tournaments
• securing partnership funding
• offering grants and loans to venues and coaches within HIOW

Trustee responsibilities

• approve and monitor the strategic direction of HIOWT
• ensure adherence by HIOWT to its charitable and strategic objectives
• recognise and safeguard HIOWT’s reputation and values
• act prudently and responsibly to protect HIOWT’s assets
• ensure that HIOWT’s governance is of the highest possible standard
• work in partnership with other Trustees, paid staff and other volunteers
• contribute to the broader promotion of HIOWT’s objects, aims and reputation by applying your skills, expertise, knowledge and contacts
• fiduciary duties, including duty of care, good faith, confidentiality, prudence and disclosure
• use independent judgement, acting legally and in good faith to promote and protect HIOWT’s interests, to the exclusion of any personal and/or third party interests

Trustee duties

• support and provide advice on HIOWT’s purpose, vision, goals and activities, via the determination of, and adherence to, an ongoing strategic plan
• ensure adherence to good governance, by regular review of all HIOWT policies and procedures
• oversee HIOWT’s financial plans and budgets and monitor and evaluate progress
• ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation
• ensure that key risks are identified, monitored and controlled effectively
• review and approve HIOWT’s financial statements
• support and challenge HIOWT’s paid staff in the exercise of their delegated authority and affairs
• keep abreast of changes in HIOWT’s operating environment
• contribute to regular reviews of HIOWT’s own governance
• attend Board meetings, adequately prepared to contribute to discussions
• occasional attendance in working groups and / or support of the administrative team
• represent HIOWT in relevant meetings or events

Skills

We are looking for people willing to bring energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the role, and who will broaden the diversity of thinking on our board.

We would welcome applicants with leadership experience, e.g. Trustee, senior management, but this is not essential. Equally, knowledge of the HIOW geographical area, or of sport (but not necessarily tennis), would be useful.

Applicants should be committed to opening up sport to hard-to-reach groups, to maintaining the highest standards of good governance, and should have an understanding of equity, safeguarding, and inclusion.

All Trustees must have the willingness and ability to devote the necessary time and effort to the work of HIOWT. It is important that Trustees work effectively together, and that they offer strong support to staff.

In a recent skills audit, two key areas have been identified that HIOWT would like to recruit Trustees for:

• legal
• marketing

That said, HIOWT is open to applications from all interested parties who feel that they have something to offer to our organisation.

Personal skills and qualities

• willingness and ability to understand and accept the responsibilities and liabilities of a Trustee and to act in the best interests of the organisation
• ability to think creatively and strategically, and to exercise good, independent judgement
• effective communication skills and willingness to participate actively in discussions
• a strong personal commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion
• enthusiasm for our vision and mission
• willingness to lead according to our values – teamwork, integrity, passion, excellence and inclusion
• commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership