Volunteer Company Secretary
Volunteer Company Secretary
Organisation: Minstead Trust
Location: Minstead, New Forest, plus hybrid
Commitment: Approx. 1 day per week (Variable around meeting cycles)
Role purpose:
As our Volunteer Company Secretary, you will be the “conscience of the charity,” ensuring that our Board of Trustees operates within its legal and regulatory framework. In a neuro-disability charity, clear communication and rigorous governance are vital to ensure our beneficiaries receive the highest standard of care and support. You will provide the bridge between the Board and the executive team, ensuring that decisions are documented, transparent, and compliant with UK Charity Commission and Companies House requirements.
This is a vital role at the heart of the charity’s operations.
You will:
- Manage our core administration, ensuring governance and compliance documents, records and processes are kept up to date; including managing filings with Companies House and the Charity Commission, and managing the conflicts of interest register.
- Support the Board and CEO with meeting management; helping to prepare agendas, minutes, board packs and maintain a robust rolling action log.
- Ensure good governance, keeping us aligned with legal and regulatory requirements; always advising best practice and updating the board on the Charity Governance Code.
- Support the Trustee onboarding process, helping us to stay structured and efficient.
- Be the organisational backbone, helping Minstead Trust to stay steady, safe and well run.
What are we looking for?
- Commitment to our Mission: an understanding of, or interest in, the challenges faced by those living with neuro-disabilities and a willingness to lead according to our values.
- Detail-Oriented: a “right first time” approach to legal documentation.
- Discretion: the ability to handle sensitive clinical or financial information with absolute confidentiality.
- Ability to think creatively and strategically and exercise good, independent judgment.
About you:
- You’re someone who loves order, clarity, and good organisation.
- You’re reliable, detail-focused, and calm under pressure.
- You have prior experience as a Company Secretary, Governance Officer, or Senior Administrator, ideally within the UK charity or public sector. (Essential)
- You have a high level of digital literacy (e.g., Board portals, MS Teams/Zoom, SharePoint).
- You have exceptional minute-taking skills and the ability to synthesize complex discussions into concise, professional records.
- You care deeply about people and want to use your skills to make a real difference.
- You’re an effective team player.
- You’re simply brilliant at keeping things running smoothly!
Meeting schedule overview:
What we offer:
- The opportunity to shape the governance of a high-impact charity.
- A dedicated “Governance” budget for professional memberships or training.
- Reasonable out-of-pocket expenses reimbursed.
This role is voluntary, but you will be supported by a professional team across Finance, People & Culture and Administration to ensure you are able to operate effectively.
If you have any questions or would like to register your interest for this volunteer role, please contact Ruth at: Volunteers@MinsteadTrust.org.uk
About us:
Our Vision at Minstead Trust is to live in a society where people with neuro-disabilities enjoy fulfilling lives of their own choosing.
Our Mission is to support them to fully develop their individual potential by providing opportunities, enhancing life skills, ensuring informed choice, and influencing society
We encourage all our volunteers to uphold our values and to embrace who we are:
- We appreciate each person. Everyone is different – we respect and celebrate this.
- We’re always learning. We all have something to offer and more to learn.
- We’re always improving. Striving to give our best and to have more impact.
- We push for change. We will challenge society to be fully inclusive.
- We find the joy in everyday life. We have the freedom to be ourselves and enjoy what we do.