On this page you will find:

• Background information about LCGB
• Key duties and person specification for a trustee
• Trustee role description

Background information about LCGB

LCGB was founded in 1994 as a membership organisation and more recently became a Charity with the following objects

LCGB provides networking and learning opportunities for its members and beyond, including running an annual conference and coordinating ongoing web learning (on our OWL platform). LCGB has representatives that advise and consult on all kinds of strategic matters related to infant feeding in the UK.

LCGB became a registered charity in 2020, Charitable no. 1187793. We are a membership organisation and currently have around 700 members (Jun 2024). Members include midwives, health visitors, dieticians, GPs, paediatricians, infant feeding leads, peer support coordinators, NHS and public health project leads, academic researchers, peer supporters and members from every voluntary breastfeeding sector, as well as independent lactation consultants.

What is a trustee?

Trustees are the people who serve on the governing body of a charity. They have ultimate legal responsibility for the charity’s management and administration. The Board of Trustees must set the strategic direction of the charity.

All trustees have very distinct responsibilities, which are to:

• Act in the best interests of beneficiaries
• Make sure assets are used exclusively to further the Objects of the charity
• Operate within the Constitution that sets out the purposes and rules
• Avoid conflicts of interest

Why consider being a trustee?

There are several good reasons for being a trustee. For example, you:

• Will have a lot of skills and experiences to bring to a charity’s board
• Will develop transferable skills, improve your CV, and broaden your experience
• Will meet a wide range of new people which could open doors to all sorts of other networks and opportunities
• Have the chance to shape, support and contribute your ideas and knowledge to a meaningful cause and organisation
  ‘Trustees play a vital role in a sector that contributes significantly to the character and wellbeing of the country’ from GirlDreamer | ‘STEP ON BOARD’ BECOMING A TRUSTEE'

LCGB trustees’ key duties:

All of LCGB’s work is underpinned by our focus on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. The Board is committed to officially undertaking an in depth review of its progress towards this with the support of external parties with relevant expertise.

• Read papers in advance and attend and contribute constructively to Board meetings
• Provide financial oversight through input into preparation of the annual budget and review of associated financial reports
• Review and develop policies and procedures and the charity’s risk register
• Serve as Board liaison for designated committees, management teams and working groups
• Represent LCGB at conferences, meetings, and designated committees
• Keep current with issues before the Board, the activities of the Board and volunteer teams, the Strategic Plan, and the policies and procedures of the CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation).

Person specification for LCGB trustee:

• A commitment to the organisation – (all trustees need to be or become a member of LCGB)
• A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to the role
• Strategic vision
• Good, independent judgement
• An ability to think creatively
• An ability to challenge constructively
• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties and responsibilities of trusteeship
• An enthusiasm to expand and update knowledge and skills about trusteeship
• An ability to work effectively as a member of a team
• A commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership

What LCGB will offer you in your role as trustee:

• We will help you to access training to build your confidence as a trustee. You will be paired with a mentor from within the current Board.
• All new trustees will be provided with a Trustee Induction Pack which includes links to Essential Trustee training, which all trustees are expected to undertake.
• We are very keen that trustees are provided with opportunities to develop their interests and skills to enhance their role and will support new Board members to find and access training to do this.
• In addition, if you are an IBCLC you can earn two (2) L-CERPs from IBLCE for each full year of volunteer service (within the five-year recertification cycle) on the board of a non-governmental organisation that promotes and/or supports breastfeeding.

Time Consideration:

• The Board meets six times a year. Board meetings held virtually are two hours long. For the past two years all meetings have been held virtually. Before the Covid pandemic, Board meetings were held in Kentish Town in London, and we hope to get back to holding some of our meetings in-person soon. We also typically have a trustees’ social meeting during the days we are away for our annual conference. The Conference is also traditionally when we hold our AGM, which all Trustees are expected to attend.
• In addition to Board meetings, other contact – usually electronic or by telephone – is necessary.
• Trustees’ expenses e.g. travel to Board meetings can be claimed in line with our Expenses Policy. No Trustee should be out of office for carrying out such an important role.
• As a small, volunteer run charity, many of our trustees undertake operational activities alongside their trustee duties, however, this is not a requirement of being an LCGB trustee.

Trustees are elected for an initial 3 year term, renewable for a further 2 terms (6 years) by reappointment by the Board or re-election by the members.

Time commitment:

• The time commitment for a trustee can vary depending on the specific role. A realistic amount of time for reading board papers, attending meetings and contributing to collective decision making is approximately two hours a week.
• Those who wish to have an involvement in the operational side of the organisation are more than welcome to do so, subject to their own availability.

In addition to the above information please read the following before proceeding to the application. 
All Trustees are required to sign a declaration of eligibility in advance of taking up a role as trustee. You can read this declaration here.

Data Protection

The personal information you provide will be used to process your application and will be held securely for a year after the recruitment process is complete, and then deleted. If your application is successful, the information will be used in the administration of your appointment. It will be kept securely and only used for relevant purposes.

Thank you
Thank you for your interest in LCGB. Please do get in touch if you have any questions about our work or applying to be a Trustee. We would love to hear from you!
info@lcgb.org