JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB PURPOSE

Westminster Students’ Union is student led, and the Student Trustee role is a chance to input at the very highest level. A trustee is someone who helps to guide the organisation and support it to operate at its very best. Trustees play a vital role in ensuring that staff are accountable in their work, are consistently delivering positive outcomes, and that students' voices are at the heart of all decision making.

UWSU has a trustee board to ensure the organisation is being run in accordance with its charitable objectives, these are:

1. Making sure students are represented

2. Looking after their welfare

3. Giving them opportunities to develop their education

The trustees do this by ensuring that the Union is financially stable, is operating within relevant law, legislation and guidance, and that clear and measured strategy enables targets to be achieved.

Becoming a trustee is a great opportunity for you to see first-hand how an organisation and charity is run, learning a large range of skills whilst ensuring that student voice and representation is a key focus for Westminster. It will give you an overarching insight to understand and see how strategy is developed and led in a charity, learning a wide range of skills you can take into the workplace. You will be given training so that when you are making key decisions you are fully informed and understand the impact.

Newly appointed student trustees will join a board of current members and sabbatical officers.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Consider papers submitted to the board and make recommendations or comments
• Make key decisions on the strategy of the Union
• Ask questions about the operation and management of the Union to ensure the correct direction and performance
• Alongside other members of the Board, scrutinise and question the work of the elected sabbatical Officers and senior staff members
• Alongside other members of the Board, ensure that the Union is acting in line with its charitable objectives, is financially stable, and operating within relevant law, legalisation, and guidance
• Request papers to be brought to future meetings to satisfy your role as a guardian of the organisation
• Think strategically, be creative and bring a range of different perspectives to the Board
• Demonstrate your passionate belief in improving the performance and direction of UWSU in an ethical and sustainable manner
• Attend any proposed additional committee meetings that are driven by the business of the board
• Have a willingness to learn about the role and how you can best fulfil it on an ongoing basis and attending training events

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The most important thing is that you are a student at the University of Westminster, and you show a keen interested to ask questions and learn about UWSU.

Below are some additional attributes we will be looking out for in your application and interview. We are looking for 3 student trustees.

You must be available to attend board meetings at the following times: 

10am 8^th June – Induction Training until 5pm

10am 17^th June – away day (to observe)

2pm Tuesday 8th September

2pm Wednesday 26th November – followed by a social

2pm Thursday 18th March

10am Monday 14th June (away day) and end of year social

Below are situations that would prevent a student from taking up the position of Trustee:

• You have a major conflict of interest that cannot be managed by the Union to ensure the integrity of the Union is upheld.
• You will not be a registered University of Westminster student in the 2026/27 academic year.
• You have an unspent conviction for an offence involving either dishonesty or deception.
• You are currently declared bankrupt (or subject to bankruptcy restrictions or an interim order)
• You have an individual voluntary arrangement (IVA) to pay off debts with creditors that is active.
• You are disqualified from being a company director for whatever reason this may be.
• You subject to an order made under section 429(2) of the Insolvency Act 1986 regardless of the order.
• You have previously been removed as a trustee by us, the Scottish charity regulator, or the High Court due to misconduct or mismanagement.
• You been removed from management or control of any body under section 34(5)(e) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 (or earlier legislation)
• You are disqualified from being a trustee by an order of the Charity Commission under section 181A of the Charities Act 2011.

Please do not apply if you are graduating before July 2027.