World Book Day would like invite applications from the publishing and bookselling industries to fill two Trustee positions on the Board of the World Book Day charity. We are ideally looking for candidates with either Commercial Legal or Equality, Diversity and Inclusion experience or expertise.

World Book Day changes lives through a love of books and shared reading. Our mission is to promote reading for pleasure, offering every child and young person the opportunity to have a book of their own.

Reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success – more than their family circumstances, their parents’ educational background or their income. However, reading for pleasure is in decline and at its lowest level since 2005. World Book Day want to see more children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, with a life-long habit of reading for pleasure and the improved life chances this brings.

World Book Day welcomes candidates drawn from a range of backgrounds, experiences and characteristics. We would like to ensure that our Trustees are reflective of our society and the charity’s beneficiaries. We actively encourage applications from those currently underrepresented on our board;  male or non-binary, all ethnic groups other than ‘white British’.

Our Strategy 2023 – 2027 shows how World Book Day intends to encourage even more children, from all backgrounds, to benefit from the improved life chances that reading for pleasure brings.

Our Impact 2023 sets out the reach of our activity and the difference we make.

World Book Day Trustees serve an initial term of three years.

Click here to see our current trustees.

Person specifications

• Candidates will be from the publishing and bookselling industries (one candidate will be appointed from Publishing, the other from Bookselling).
• Candidates will be established senior leaders, ideally with existing Board level experience in either an Executive or Non-Executive capacity.
• Candidates will ideally be able to demonstrate experience or expertise in EITHER:

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

• Apply experience of working in the field of EDI to provide oversight and expertise to World Book Day.
• Support the wider Trustee group in developing their individual and collective understanding of this area.
• Alongside fellow Trustees, support the continued development of WBD’s equality, diversity and inclusion culture.
• As part of the Trustee body, ensure that the perspectives and lived experiences of all key stakeholders and audiences is harnessed appropriately to influence decision making.
• As part of the Trustee body, support senior members of the staff to develop as inclusive leaders and to ensure EDI is embedded in the delivering of our charitable objectives.
• Help ensure WBD is constantly reflecting, learning and improving on our policies, practices and risks involving EDI.
• Support our Board in becoming more aware and diverse in order to better reflect our beneficiaries.

AND/OR

Legal

• Apply your experience of working in the legal profession, ideally in commercial law, with experience of charities and from either the private or public sector.
• Support the wider Trustees to maintain an overview of the regulatory environment and WBD’s contractual obligations, and support strong governance.
• Help advise the Board on matters associated with the legal aspects of the organisation.
• Help advise on relevant data protection, fundraising and charity legislation as it impacts on decision making.

All Trustees of World Book Day must demonstrate

• A commitment to World Book Day’s mission to promote reading for pleasure, offering every child and young person the opportunity to have a book of their own.
• Strategic vision, knowledge and experience to complement World Book Day’s activities.
• A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort.
• Good, independent judgement.
• An ability to think creatively.
• A willingness to speak their mind.
• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship.
• An ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
• A commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.

World Book Day Trustees will use their specific skills, knowledge or experience to help the board of Trustees reach sound decisions. This may involve

• scrutinising board papers
• leading discussions
• providing advice and guidance on new initiatives or other issues in which the Trustee has special expertise.

The statutory duties of a World Book Day Trustee are as follows:

• Ensuring that the organisation pursues its stated objects (purposes), as defined in its Memorandum and Articles of Association, by developing and agreeing a long-term strategy.
• Ensuring that the organisation complies with its Memorandum and Articles of Association, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
• Ensuring that the organisation applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its charitable objects.
• Ensuring that the organisation defines its goals and evaluates performance against agreed targets.
• Safeguarding the good name and values of the organisation.
• Ensuring the effective and efficient administration of the organisation, including having appropriate policies and procedures in place.
• Ensuring the financial stability of the organisation.
• Protecting and managing the property of the charity and ensuring the proper investment of the charity’s funds.
• Following proper and formal arrangements for the appointment, supervision, support, appraisal and remuneration of the chief executive.

Eligibility

Prospective Trustees should read the Charity Commission’s declaration of eligibility and responsibility and ensure that they are qualified to act as a charity Trustee.

Application Process

Applications are now open and we ask prospective applicants to provide the following information in support of their application:

1. An up to date CV including contact details.
2. A supporting statement (a maximum of two sides of A4). The supporting statement should clearly outline your suitability against the essential criteria in the person specification with an explanation why the role is of interest and relevant to you.

All applications should be sent to: hi@worldbookday.com.

Timeline

Diversity

World Book Day is committed to creating an inclusive organisation. We celebrate diversity and applications are actively encouraged from individuals from diverse backgrounds.

We wish to encourage applications regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, age or religion or belief. All applications are considered on merit.

Please contact us in confidence at any point during the recruitment process to discuss accessibility or any steps that can be taken to overcome operational difficulties.