Could you make it all add up for Atkinson?
THE Atkinson Development Trust in Southport is looking to recruit a new treasurer.
The charity is run by a small group of volunteers who have a shared love for The Atkinson and Sefton.
The trust was established in 2015 to work in partnership with The Atkinson as part of a fundraising programme to support its development.
The Grade II listed building in Lord Street is the councilowned arts centre which serves the borough of Sefton.
Staff often work on projects with different groups, including some of the most vulnerable and under-served people in the community, to make a positive impact on their lives.
But projects are often costly so the role of the trust is to attempt to raise money from individuals, businesses and funding bodies.
The trust’s objectives are to advance and promote the education of the public by encouraging them to participate in and contribute to arts, cultural and heritage activities services.
Jo Kay, chair of The Atkinson Development Trust said: “We all believe in the transformative power of art. And we believe that communities thrive best when they have civic pride and a sense of place.
“From loose change to large gifts, we collaborate with The Atkinson to make people’s donations work really hard. We use the money in different ways.
“Sometimes we provide a small amount of money as leverage to bid for a much bigger amount from a funder.
“Sometimes we contribute directly to fund specific projects, or we might help purchase a new acquisition if it unlocks an exciting opportunity for a larger project.”
The trust meets once a month for two hours, usually at 5-7pm, at The Atkinson or Southport Town Hall, where members get involved in discussions and contribute ideas about upcoming projects and tasks.
As well as attending meetings regularly, trustees are willing to take on some individual responsibility outside the board meetings to advance ideas which the board have agreed to.
In additional to the existing team, The Atkinson Development Trust is looking to recruit a treasurer – which is a volun- tary and unpaid role – to oversee the financial affairs of the organisation.
The role will involve ensuring the financial elements of the trust are legal and constitutional, ensuring that records are kept, and leading on the production and adoption of annual budgets and financial reports.
All trustees must have a strong commitment to the organisation and its aims, be willing to devote time to the project, work well as part of a team and be open-minded.
Jo added: “The ideal candidate will have relevant expertise in finance for small charities, and be someone who is looking for a new challenge and believes in what we’re doing.”
Anyone wishing to apply for the role, should write to The Atkinson Development Trust, outlining their suitability and interest in the role, accompanied by a brief CV.
As the role involves having financial responsibility, the organisation would also require a suitable referee with permission to contact them for a reference.
The deadline for applications is 1pm on Monday, July 2 and applications or inquiries can be sent to atkinsontrustees @sefton.gov.uk.