Post of Trustee and Grants Officer
The OHCT is looking for a new Trustee to fill this voluntary position. He or she receives and checks grant applications, which are submitted online, collates them along with an overview and recommendation provided by our Area Representatives who visit the applicant churches, and circulates them by email for our grants-awarding Council meetings. After those meetings, the Grants Officer notifies the outcome to the applicants and authorises payment through our bank once the work is done and expenditure has been incurred. The Grants Officer also passes a summary of new grants to our Web Editor.
Though prospective applicants are directed to contact their local Area Representatives (who then provide assistance through their considerable experience), there are always some preliminary enquiries made directly to the Grants Officer. The work, which is done from home using email and the internet, requires methodical record keeping as the Trust is currently giving some ?350k in grants annually. Our systems are well-supported by expert consultants, but it will be apparent that basic IT literacy is essential. As a Trustee, the Grants Officer is well-placed to inform the Trust’s grants policy. We have well-tried and ready protocols and email templates, but they could of course be altered in the light of experience.
Whilst there is an ongoing background of email traffic, the 2- to 3-week periods collating the applications in the lead-up to Council meetings are busy, and so the post is suited to an individual who is retired or in part-time employment. There are three Trustee meetings and three Council meetings each year (roughly half these in person and half online by Zoom to reduce travel). The meetings typically run on a weekday from 10:30 for about two hours. Grant applications are normally considered in February, June and October, but that could be varied to suit the schedule of the Grants Officer.
Might you be able to help us in this way, or can you suggest a suitable acquaintance? For further information, contact the Chair, Stephen Goss ([email protected]).