The Friends of Watford Museum was set up in 1998 and their aims are:
-Being a vibrant, diverse community for people particularly interested in Watford’s history, and the associated themes covered by ...
Chair
Practical details
Volunteering • Long term role
Contact person
Cheryl Gardner
#118110
Scan me or visit www.govolherts.org.uk/o/Friends-of-MoW/opportunities/Chair/118110 to join
We are seeking a passionate, organised, and community-focused volunteer to lead our Friends Association as Chair. Focused on governance and strategic direction
The Chair is a critical volunteer leadership role focused on governance, strategic direction, and advocacy. As the leader of the Management Committee, the Chair ensures the group acts within its constitution and code of conduct, meets legal obligations, and effectively supports the Museum. Closing date 7 June 2026.
Key Responsibilities
- Leadership and Governance: Provide strategic direction, ensuring the Friends complies with legal, financial, and regulatory requirements and operates within its constitution.
- Meeting Management: Plan and facilitate productive, inclusive, and efficient committee meetings and the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
- Relationship Management: Act as the primary liaison between the Friends and the Museum.
- Ambassadorial Role: Represent the Friends group as a figurehead, promoting its work to the public and potential supporters.
- Team Development: Build a supportive and effective team, recruit new committee members as needed, ensuring new members are welcomed and everyone is encouraged to participate in decision-making. Decide and enact appropriate action if code of conduct breached.
- Strategic Planning: Lead the team in setting goals, fundraising, and identifying opportunities for development.
- Monitoring & Evaluation: Ensure that decisions made at meetings are implemented and that the group's objectives are being met.
Skills and Experience
- Leadership Skills: Ability to lead an inclusive team of volunteers, foster collaboration, and, where necessary, challenge constructively.
- Communication & Diplomacy: Strong, approachable communicator, capable of managing potentially conflicting viewpoints within a committee.
- Organisational Skills: Capable of planning meetings, setting agendas, and keeping the group focused.
- Knowledge of Governance: Understanding of compliance, and risk management.
- Passion for the Cause: A strong commitment to the objectives of the Friends.
- Financial Literacy: Ability to oversee (with the Treasurer) the financial affairs of the group.
- Networking Abilities: Ability to build relationships with stakeholders and partners.
Time Commitment
- Meetings: Attendance at regular committee meetings and the AGM.
- Activities: Active participation in, or supervision of, events, fundraising activities, and working groups.
- Inter-meeting work: Regular contact with the Secretary, Treasurer, and other officers of the committee and representatives of the Museum, planning effective committee meetings and the AGM.
- Approx. Commitment: Often requires 1–4 days per month, depending on the scale of the group.
Key Relationships
- Committee: Supporting fellow committee members.
- Secretary/Treasurer: Working closely with other officers to ensure proper administration.
Other Considerations
- Remuneration: Generally, the position is unremunerated (pro bono), although travel and other reasonable expenses may be covered.
Terms of Office
- Typically, the role is for a fixed term (3 years), often with the option for re-election to ensure continuity while encouraging fresh input.
Related to
About Friends of MoW
The Friends of Watford Museum was set up in 1998 and their aims are:
-Being a vibrant, diverse community for people particularly interested in Watford’s history, and the associated themes covered by the Museum’s collection, to socialise and feel part of a group and the Museum
-Advocates for the Museum within the community
-Fundraising for the Museum to assist with the acquisitions, events, paid work experience placements etc
-Hosting talks on topics related to the collections' areas of the Museum
The Friends of Watford Museum is run independently by a committee elected at an annual meeting. The cost of running the Friends is met by subscriptions and donations.