New Trustee Opportunities

We are looking for people who are interested in making a difference in Derbyshire to join our board of trustees.

Rural Action Derbyshire, Regional Winner of the Rural Business Awards 2021 is a registered charity with a long track-record of supporting people in rural areas.  Set up in 1924 they work to address a range of issues that affect people living away from major towns and cities. 

Beverley Parker, Chief Executive of RAD said, “Living in a rural area isn’t always the idyllic lifestyle that many envisage it will be.  Transport, the erosion of local services and the cost of living are added pressures that impact more on vulnerable people, or those on limited incomes.  Mental health, social isolation and poverty are all very real issues.  The impact of covid has been significant in rural areas and has highlighted how much further people have to travel to access covid related health services such as testing and vaccination centres.”

There are currently 3 trustee vacancies and we are interested to hear from anyone who has an interest in supporting rural communities in Derbyshire. Requirements are enthusiasm, relevant skills and experience, along with being able to spare the appropriate time.

Simon Taylor, Chair of Rural Action Derbyshire said: ‘Trustees play a vital role in the work of any charity, and at RAD we have been very fortunate to have some excellent trustees who have really supported the development and success of our work. We now have an opportunity to recruit additional trustees and we are keen to hear from anyone who would like to help us to support rural communities across Derbyshire.’

He went on to say: “We are looking for individuals who are open-minded, comfortable with change, who have proven they can work in a team and who are passionate about rural issues.”

The areas of experience that are of particular relevance in this instance are:

• Entrepreneurial business growth
• Digital sales and marketing
• Mental health and wellbeing
• Affordable food
• Rural economy

Trustees are required to attend board meetings take place 4 times a year. For the foreseeable future, meetings will be on Zoom and last for up to 3 hours with 2 hours of time required beforehand to read the papers.

Our work is diverse. We work with village halls, rural community groups, the farming community, runs suicide and rural domestic abuse awareness training and addresses rural poverty by running an oil buying scheme and supporting food banks and other food projects, especially aimed at helping children. There is also an extremely successful transport project, Wheels to Work, which helps people who would otherwise struggle to get to their place of work, training or education.

We are looking to adapt its work to introduce more income generation through social enterprise projects.

Simon Taylor, Chair of trustees at RAD would encourage anyone who thinks they might be interested to get in touch. “Whatever your background, please consider applying to support this brilliant organisation.”

Click here for more information