Student Trustee Profile

Loughborough Students’ Union is seeking to elect via a cross campus ballot, 5 Student Trustees to join its Trustee Board for the 2024/25 academic year.

LSU is committed to ensuring that diversity, equity, and inclusion is a part of everything we do – from delivering our student opportunities to facilitating our democratic processes. We are making concerted efforts to ensure that our governance structures adequately reflect the diversity of our student body and as such, we would welcome nominations from students who are currently under-represented within our governance structures.

By nominating yourself as a candidate for one of the five student trustee positions on the LSU Board of Trustees it is the first step to what could be a very rewarding opportunity and could be of benefit to the Union and your future career.

Before you take that first step - It is important that you are aware of the duties and responsibilities of being a trustee and you should take a moment to read the Union’s Articles of Association and NCVO guidance on the legal duties of trustees .

Candidates will be invited to submit their nominations online via the Union website from Monday 20 May until 12 noon on Sunday 26 May. Your nomination should include a short statement (max 250 words) on how you meet the person specification and how your experience will benefit the trustee board.

Campaigning Period (4pm, Sunday 26 May – 5pm, Wednesday 29 May) – This is your opportunity to inform potential voters of your suitability for the role and how they can cast their vote. During the campaign period the Union will share your nomination statement via its online platforms and will promote the election to encourage voter engagement.

Voting Period (9am, Monday 27 May – 5pm, Wednesday 27 May) – The ballot will open online at lsu.co.uk/elections and via the app.

If successfully elected, you will receive full training for the role on 3 September (full day) and will have the opportunity to meet our current Trustees at a meeting of the Board on 18 June (5pm-7pm), before commencing your term of office.

Role Description

The Trustee Board is responsible for overseeing the management and administration of LSU. The Trustees do not as a whole or individually represent the student body, this remains the responsibility of the Executive Committee within their elected roles.

Composition of the Trustee Board

5 External non-student Trustees – appointed for a term of 3 years.

• Appointed Trustees bring a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and specialisms.

5 Executive Committee – Elected Officers for a term of 1 year.

5 Student Trustees – Elected for a term of 1 year.

The duties of a Union Trustee are as follows:

• Ensuring that the organisation pursues its stated objects (purposes), as defined in its governing document, by developing and agreeing a long-term strategy.
• Ensuring that the organisation complies with our Articles of Association, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
• Ensuring that the organisation defines its goals and evaluates performance against agreed targets.
• Overseeing the development and effectiveness of the policies and procedures in place.
• Ensuring that the organisation applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its charitable objects.
• Reading and scrutinising annual budgets and scrutinising them before and at board meetings to ensure the effective financial management of the organisation and assessment of whether the organisation can meet its present and future needs.
• Considering the financial implications of the organisation’s strategic plans.
• Consider, scrutinise and approve the annual report and accounts; and ensure that any recommendations are implemented.
• Protecting and managing the property of the charity and ensuring the proper investment of the charity’s funds.
• In addition to the above statutory duties, each trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience to help the board of trustees reach sound decisions. This may involve scrutinising board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, or other issues in which the trustee has special expertise.

Terms of appointment

The term of office is 1 year from date of appointment with Companies House, (01 August 24) and you must remain a student for the duration of 24/25 academic year.

The role is unremunerated, although reasonable travel expenses will be paid.

Student Trustees are prohibited from working in any paid position for the Union.

The time commitment is anticipated to be around:

• Board meetings and other trustee subcommittee meetings – c2 hours per month.
• Compulsory Annual Training Day - 03 September 2024, Union Building 
  • The legal responsibilities of being a Trustee.
  • Conduct at meetings.
  • EDI Training including, anti-oppressive practice and reducing microaggressions, with the intention of making interpersonal interactions safer for people of all backgrounds.

Timetable of upcoming board meetings

All successful candidates will be invited to attend and meet the team.

Board Meeting – Loughborough University Campus - 18th June 2024

Person specification

We value the positive impact that difference can have and are committed to having a trustee board that is made up of diverse skills, experiences, and abilities.

We welcome nominations from students and researchers enrolled within a Loughborough University accredited course and who have an interest in the primary specialisms of the Trustee Board.

• HR
• Equality/Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
• Finance
• Health & Safety

We appreciate that putting yourself forward for an elected position can be a daunting prospect. Therefore, if you are considering running, and would like to arrange an informal chat to find out more about the position and the process, please email elections@lsu.co.uk.