*Closing date 22nd April*

Want to make a difference? BBC CiN is recruiting for the role of Northern Ireland Chair and Voluntary Advisory Committee members, helping to shape the grants portfolio and planning at a local level.

Overview
National and Regional Advisory Committees advise the Trustees of BBC Children in Need on grant awards in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and five regions in England. The Committees consist of a Chair, Vice-Chair and up to 12 Committee Members.
This recruitment is for the role of Northern Ireland Chair and Advisory Committee members.
The roles require members to have knowledge of and /or be based in Northern Ireland.

About BBC Children in Need
BBC Children in Need believe every child and young person deserves the opportunity to thrive and be the best they can be. This is an exciting time to join us as we deliver our five-year ambition and strategy for children and young people. We are local to people in all corners of the UK, supporting small and large organisations. Thanks to the support of the public, we currently fund around 1,500 local charities and projects across the UK working with children and young people facing disadvantage.
The BBC Children in Need Appeal started in 1927 on BBC radio when it raised £1,143.  Since 1980 it has been an annual live television and radio appeal.  In the 1980s the charity was established as a grant-making trust to distribute funds raised by the annual appeal throughout the UK.
Since then, BBC Children in Need working in partnership with the BBC has raised and distributed over £800 million to projects working with disadvantaged children and young people across the UK.
BBC Children in Need has a team of around 150 staff, approximately half of whom are based from the Central Office in Salford. Other staff teams are based within the BBC Nations (Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland) and across four regions in England (North; Central; South and West; London and South East).

The Committee Member Role
Each Advisory Committee member is part of a small team, who collectively bring a range of skills, knowledge, lived and practice experience including, but not exclusively: working with children and young people; the voluntary and community sector; disability; social services; emotional health and well-being; equality of opportunity; children’s rights.
Advisory Committees advise the UK-wide Impact Committee and Trustees of BBC Children in Need and help shape the grants portfolio at a local level. Committee members are highly valued, help to maintain the integrity of the Charity and help to achieve a balanced portfolio of grants, based on our strategic priorities, policies, guidelines and criteria.
An Advisory Committee Member must be able to work as part of a team, communicate effectively and evaluate the merits of grant applications in an objective manner with local staff at regular grants allocation meetings.
As we fund a broad base of organisations and projects, Advisory Committees Members must consider individual applications within the context of building a broad and balanced portfolio, with diverse representation; and progress recommendations to the UK-wide Impact Committee, who make the final decisions on applications.
In addition to the regular Grant Allocation meetings, two strategic Planning & Portfolio meetings will be held each year for Advisory Committee members to collectively review the National or Regional grant portfolio, including geographic and thematic focus areas.

Time Commitment – Committee Members
At present, Committee Members are expected to attend at least two Grant Allocation meetings and a minimum of one of the Planning and Portfolio meetings per year.
The total time commitment for this will be around 3 – 4 days per year. This includes time spent reading and absorbing the overview summary of all applications in readiness for participating in the discussion and decision-making process as part of the Grant Allocation meeting and the Planning and Portfolio meetings.
It is expected that the Grant Allocation meetings will be a mix of online or face-to-face and take around two hours. Where held face-to-face, this will usually be at a BBC location within the Nation / Region, and travel, overnight and other related expenses will be recompensed.
Planning and Portfolio meetings will ideally be held face-to-face usually at a BBC location in the Nation / Region, and travel, overnight and any other related expenses will be covered. Provision for the meeting to be held online will be made, if required.
Committee members are also expected to take part in a minimum of one additional meeting during the year to undertake relevant training and development activities.
Appointments are of a voluntary nature and would be for a 3- year term, starting in May 2024.

The Role of the Committee Chair 
The Chair is responsible for leading bi-annual Planning and Portfolio meetings.
The role of chairing the regular Grant Allocation meetings is jointly shared with the Vice-Chair.  There is a maximum of 6 Grant Allocation meetings in one year.
Both the Chair and Vice-Chair will be expected to demonstrate unbiased, clear and supportive leadership; an ability to manage a diverse range of personalities and experiences, and lead the Committee through difficult decision-making by placing the balance of emphasis on information and objectivity.
The Chair and Vice-Chair must maintain an overview and ensure a robust and positive decision-making process.

Time Commitment – Committee Chair
In light of their leadership role, the Chair of the Advisory Committee and Vice-Chair, in their absence, will be expected to lead the bi-annual Planning and Portfolio meetings and share the responsibility for chairing the grant allocation meetings across the year [maximum 6].

Additional time is needed to plan and liaise with the National Head / Impact Manager in preparation for meetings.

At a UK level, we host an annual meeting for Advisory Committee Chairs & Vice-Chairs led by the Chair of the BBC Children in Need Trustees. These are a great opportunity to meet with colleagues across the organisation and attendance is strongly encouraged.

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
We welcome applications from anyone regardless of their age, disability, ethnicity, heritage, sexuality, gender and socio-economic background.
Appointments are subject to satisfactory references and an ID check. In addition to this Committee members are required to sign up to Terms of Reference and a Code of Conduct, BBC Children in Need Personal Disclosure Form, a Fit and Proper Persons Declaration and an annual Declaration of Interest.
Committee members are expected to strictly observe confidentiality on matters relating to grant applications

How to apply
Please email Fionnuala Walsh AND Barbara Wallace for an application pack – fionnuala.walsh@bbc.co.uk and barbara.wallace01@bbc.co.uk. Please return the application pack by 10am Monday 22nd of April.

If you are apply to become a Committee member, use the subject line: Private and Confidential – NI Advisory Committee Application Pack.

If you are apply to become a Committee Chair, use the subject line: Private and Confidential – NI Advisory Chair Application Pack.

Salary: Voluntary
Commitment: 3-4 days per year for Committee members and 4-6 days per year for Chair role.
Deadline: 10am on Monday 22nd April 2024
Provisional date for interviews: Monday 13th May 2024.  Flexibility on the interview date and interview format can be provided.