The Military Wives Choirs is a community of over 1800 women in 71 choirs across the UK and overseas. We come together to celebrate a love of singing and a communal understanding that comes from our members’ shared experiences of the Armed Forces. We welcome all women who are connected to the military community – including wives, partners, widows, serving, reservist, veterans, mothers’, daughters, sisters; our network supports each other and forms life-changing friendships that lead to new and uplifting experiences through singing. Through the experience of running choirs and be part of a choir committee we also build self confidence and skills that can help entry or re-entry into employment for those women who want to move in this direction.
Military life across the services has its challenges. Some families move regularly to a new posting, while for others deployments mean long periods of separation. With choirs across the UK and overseas, many of our members join a new choir when they are posted, enabling them to become part of a familiar community built upon the joy of singing.
Singing in a choir has been proven to increase wellbeing and improve mental and physical health and reduce social isolation. With no auditions and no pressure to perform, the Military Wives Choirs gives its members the opportunity to spend time with women that truly understand the challenges associated with military life.
Each of our choirs meets weekly and has a busy calendar of community events and performances. This activity is enhanced by exciting national-scale activity, including concert tours, albums, media appearances and larger projects. All of the charity’s activity is supported and managed by the small central staff team. The charity works closely with its Artistic Director, currently Joanna Tomlinson, and a number of Ambassadors from the industry, including mezzo-soprano Laura Wright and reknowned vocal coach Mark de Lisser.
Essential Role-Specific Criteria
Provides ongoing expertise on charity governance and ensures risk management principles are adhered too. This role is responsible for oversight, review and development of all policies pertaining to the charity. The governance and risk Trustee is the Chair of the Governance Committee. Specific expertise in the following areas is required:
- Strong understanding of the current charity landscape, and ability to monitor changes within the third sector.
- Understanding of Charity Commission requirements
- Ability to measure and demonstrate compliance in policies and practice
- Sound knowledge of risk management
- Experience in advising on compliance/regulatory matter
Download full details here.
Please submit your CV along with a covering letter (maximum 2 sides A4) to Caroline Paxton, Chair of the Board of Trustees. Your application should be sent via our coordinator Kate Carmichael at kcarmichael@militarywiveschoirs.org.
Your letter should cover the following:
- The Trustee role/specialism you are applying for
- How you meet the essential critera
- Why us?
If you’d like to find out more before applying, please contact Wendy Human, Chief Executive at whuman@militarywiveschoirs.org
The deadline for applications is 24 October 25. Interviews will take place online w/c 3 November 25.
