Trustee Applications

We bring together all ages, sexualities, genders, ethnicities and abilities in a creative celebration of equality & diversity with an annual week long arts festival, year-round community events, youth engagement programme and art-focused mental health project. We work with international stars from RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon to alt-cabaret duo Bourgeois and Maurice, and our patrons include Human Rights activist Peter Tatchell, Lesbian poet Jackie Kay, trans Artistic Director Kate O’Donnell and Lesbian hero artist Horse McDonald.

Created in response to a piece of homophobic graffiti seen in Hebden Bridge in the summer of 2015, our first ever project brought our community together in defiance & solidarity. We have been celebrating LGBTQIA+ life & promoting tolerance, understanding & friendship through access & participation in community created art & culture ever since.  With support from Calderdale Council, Arts Council England and a range of other funders and partners, we are now working with over 2,000 5-18yr olds, 50+ community volunteers, 50+ artists, 12+ schools & reaching 3,700+ audiences each year.  

We work to:

• promote equality & diversity to make our community a happier & healthier place
• eliminate discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity
• break down social barriers, reduce social isolation,  encourage conversation & share learning
• use advocacy, empathy & fun as the key tools to our success
• increase opportunities for everyone to access & participate in live events
• create & deliver the highest possible quality artistic activities, to inspire & connect people

Happy Valley Pride consistently punches above its weight, but we no longer have capacity to sustain its growth as an organisation mainly reliant on volunteer hours. We are now in a position where we are transitioning to a sustainable model, with staff as well as volunteers, and need new passion and energy to take us to the next level.

Together with current trustees the successful applicants will help to build our ambitious strategy for Happy Valley Pride: to consolidate and grow steadily, increase our organisational capability and ensure our services are consistent, efficient, agile and collaborative as well as challenging and influential. We are therefore looking for passionate and committed individuals, ideally with interest and experience in:

• • fundraising, ideally in the public sector or charities;
  • financial management;
  • equality, diversity, access and inclusion;
  • marketing, PR and public engagement;
  • education/schools;
  • safeguarding.

Sharing our values is essential. Having experience in one or more of these areas is desirable but not essential – most important is that you will have passion and commitment*.

We would love to hear from anybody who feels that this is the right opportunity for them, particularly from members of our community who are currently underrepresented on our board: including people with lived experience of disability, people of colour/global majority, trans people, people under the age of 30.

What’s the commitment?

There are 4 trustee meetings per year. There is an expectation that trustees will contribute their pride and energy throughout the year and the commitment will take up a minimum of approximately 4 hours per month (flexible). Trustee terms are 3 years, reviewed annually, with the option to be voted back for a further 2 terms after the first.

Why become a Trustee of a charity?

It’s great to be involved in your community and it’s also great for your CV. We are a really friendly team, festivals are busy but super fun, and you will have the opportunity to have a direct influence on our upcoming 2023 festival and beyond.

Will I get paid?

No, this is a volunteer position. There is no renumeration but reasonable expenses will be covered.

Will I need to complete a DBS check?

Yes.

The new trustees will bring real enthusiasm and engagement to the role and relish the opportunity to join a growing and passionate Board. Ideally, applicants will have live/work and have strong links with Todmorden, Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd and the surrounding areas. You should also have a good understanding of what the role of a Trustee entails and its importance to the governance of the organisation.*

*NOTE: training and support can be provided for the right individuals to join the Board.

APPLY

For additional application support or questions, contact Chair Jenny Wilson via jenny@happyvalleypride.com