Closing date: Sunday, 11 August, 2024
We have an exciting opportunity for two or three new members to join our Rights and Justice committee from September 2024. One of these roles will also act as co-chair of the committee.
We’re reviewing our strategy and priority areas for funding on the Rights and Justice programme, but at the moment, our programme makes grants to groups working to:
This role offers the chance to inform the decision making of one of the main UK funders on these issues, and is a great learning opportunity.
JRCT is a charitable Quaker foundation based in York, England, which makes grants to organisations and individuals working to produce positive social change through their charitable work. Our mission is to support people who address the root causes of conflict and injustice
The Rights and Justice committee currently has one member of JRCT’s board of trustees (Jenny Amery) and three “co-opted” committee members (Fidelis Chebe, Tanzil Chowdhury, and Kavian Kulasabanathan), supported by three staff (Lena Mohamed, Jilna Shah and Azeem Lateef). Further information on the history, structure and work of the Trust can be found on our website.
We’re a responsive grant-maker, and we want to support a variety of approaches that support systemic change from groups with ideas, expertise and passion across our broad programme areas.
We mainly work in the UK, with a small number of grants for wider pan-European work. For details on the work, see our grants policy for the programme.
The Trust has been working on the origins of our endowment, which has identified that the Rowntree company purchased cocoa and other goods produced by enslaved people and benefited from colonial indenture. This is an important context for our future work, and we will be considering the implications for our overall funding at the Trust in the year ahead, and taking action to strengthen our contribution to racial justice in our grant-making, investments, governance and team diversity.
In this context, we particularly welcome applications from Black and people of colour with relevant skills and expertise who might wish to join our committee.
The role of a co-opted member is to complement the trustees’ knowledge, with expertise in:
In addition, co-optees actively help shape our understanding of the context we make grants in and advise on which new applications to support and other issues that arise in our work. We are looking for someone with knowledge of the movement landscape, the current challenges and opportunities, and an awareness of organisations working in the field. For current work areas, please read our grants policy. To see the organisations we fund, have a look at our recent grant awards.
The main work of the committee is assessing grant applications. Co-opted members are fully involved in this process, which includes reading and commenting on proposals and contributing at the committee meetings and meeting with applicants.
Overall, the role requires a total commitment of around ten to fifteen days per year, including three to six days for committee meetings, two days for meeting with applicants, plus some additional time for reading and commenting on applications, meeting with grantees, as well as time to share knowledge and practice with each other.
The role of the co-chair is to work closely with other co-chairs and R&J programme staff to ensure the smooth running of the grant process, from application stage to grant management stage. The co-chair will typically support strategic plans within the programme, as well as logistical matters such as chairing meetings.
The committee usually meets three times a year, typically in February, May, and November. These meetings are scheduled in different parts of the country, and we aim to meet with grantees in those areas at the same time. Co-optees also participate in assessment meetings with applicants. The commitment for interview assessments is variable but typically might require one or two days during the year, usually in London or via zoom.
The appointment would be for three years in the first instance, with the possibility of renewal for a further period of three years.
The Trust pays a standard day rate of £475 (payable either directly or to an individual’s employer) for approximately 10-15 days’ work per year. All additional expenses are paid, including travel, accommodation and childcare, if required.
Co-optees are expected to have some knowledge of the voluntary sector but could themselves be working in, or have a background in, any sector. Past experience of grant-making is by no means essential and training and support will be provided by staff and existing committee members.We are particularly looking for co-optees with lived experience of the issues the committee is trying to address, and particularly welcome applicants from communities that have been marginalised in the UK, including people from racialised communities, people with disabilities, people from refugee backgrounds, working-class communities and people from LGBTQ+ communities. Co-optees should be in sympathy with the Quaker values of the Trust, which include a commitment to equality and the unique worth of every individual, to non-violence, and to honesty and integrity. JRCT welcomes applications from people of any faith or none. Please note
JRCT operates a conflict of interest policy in respect of all its programme areas. Therefore, applicants are requested to fully disclose professional associations with any former or current JRCT grantees.
If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact Jilna Shah (programme manager) on jilna.shah@jrct.org.uk to arrange a call or zoom conversation. To apply, please send us:
Please send this information by e-mail to: jilna.shah@jrct.org.uk
The closing date for receipt of applications is midnight Sunday, August 11, 2024. All applications will be acknowledged. If we are interested in appointing you, we will arrange a zoom call to discuss this further, provisionally on 19 /20 /21 August 2024. This is to be confirmed – please keep these dates free if possible.
Closing date: 5pm, Friday 6 September, 2024
We are seeking to appoint a co-opted member to join the Peace and Security Committee from January 2025, to provide specialist expertise and advice to support our Peace and Security grantmaking programme.
The Peace and Security programme makes grants to support work in four areas. These are:
The role of co-opted members is to complement the Committee’s expertise in the policy areas, by offering specialist knowledge and experience of one or more of the programme’s areas of focus.
The main work of the Committee is assessing grant applications. Co-opted members are fully involved in this process. This role requires a total commitment of around five days of meetings per year as outlined below, plus substantial additional time for reading and commenting on applications and reading agenda papers.
In addition, co-optees contribute to reflections on the context within which we make our grants and advise on which new applications to support and other issues that arise in our work.
The Committee meets three times per year, typically in February, June and October. Meetings are usually held in London or York. In addition to attending the committee meetings, co-optees are also expected to participate in assessment meetings with applicants. This commitment would typically involve one or two days per year.
The Trust pays a standard day rate of £475 (payable either directly to the individual or to the individual’s employer) for approximately 6 days’ work per year. All additional expenses are paid, including travel, accommodation and childcare if required.
We want to ensure financial concerns are not an obstacle to committee membership, so if you are interested in the role but have any financial concerns that would deter you, please contact David Magee (Programme Manager) at david.magee@jrct.org.uk to arrange a call or zoom conversation.
We are looking for someone with knowledge of the policy/practice landscape, current challenges and opportunities, and an awareness of organisations working in the field.
The Peace and Security Committee is seeking a co-optee who will be able to contribute effectively to the committee’s work. Given the current make-up of the committee, the Trust is particularly interested in attracting an individual who:
Download the job pack for full details of this role.
To apply, please send us:
Please send us this information by email to: david.magee@jrct.org.uk
The closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday 6th September 2024. All applications will be acknowledged. If we are interested in appointing you, we will arrange a meeting to discuss your application. Meetings will take place between 18-20th September.