How we work

 

We are committed to ensuring that our governance remains strong, transparent, and accountable so that we can continue to serve the communities of Ynys Môn effectively.

In January 2022, the Trustee Board agreed to adopt a Membership governance structure to provide oversight of key governance matters, including electing and appointing Trustees, reviewing Annual Reports, and ensuring that the charity’s constitution remains fit for purpose.

Alongside this, the Trustee Board is responsible for strategic leadership, setting funding priorities, and safeguarding the long-term sustainability of the fund.

Currently, Membership of the charity is ex-officio, meaning that all serving Isle of Anglesey County Councillors inherit membership upon election.

As we continue to review and strengthen our governance, we recognise the importance of ensuring the charity operates with full independence in line with evolving best practices for charitable funders.

Governance structures must reflect the highest standards of transparency and impartiality, and we are committed to making sure that decision-making remains free from external influence and guided solely by the best interests of the communities we serve.

We will continue to review and evolve our governance model to ensure it remains aligned with best practice in the charitable sector.

Our priority is to ensure that our structure supports strong, independent decision-making that best serves the people of Ynys Môn and the future sustainability of the fund.

How are Trustees elected or appointed?

 

  • Six out of our 12 Trustees are Elected Trustees.

    Elected Trustees are elected by and from within the Membership of the charity.

    Every third Annual General Meeting, Members are invited to nominate themselves to serve on the Board. Members must evidence the skills, knowledge and experience they possess in line with a person specification.

    Once nominations are received, the Membership is invited to vote for the candidates they believe will best serve the interests of the charity and further our charitable objectives.

    All Members are required to follow our Election Policy for Elected Trustees.

    All of our Members are also Councillors. Members must act selflessly in furthering the interests of the charity, even if they are there because they are representative of another body. All Members and Trustees have a legal duty to safeguard our independence.

    It is on this basis, and in line with Charity Commission guidance, that the Membership elects solely on the basis of personal skills and experience, and not on the basis of party-political representation.

  • Six out of our 12 Trustees are independently Appointed Trustees.

    The Chair of our Board of Trustees must also be an independently Appointed Trustee.

    Before every third Annual General Meeting, an open recruitment process is held for Trustee vacancies on the Board. Trustees serve for a term of three years but can serve a consecutive term.

    Appointed Trustees are recruited on the skills, experience and qualities required by the charity at the given time. The Trustee Board regularly assess the needs of the charity and conducts an audit of any missing skills.

    A Board with a breadth of knowledge and experience is essential to making sure the charity meets is objectives.

    To safeguard the independence of the charity, Appointed Trustees must not have served as Councillors or worked for the Isle of Anglesey County Council in the previous five years.

  • 8 Members of the charity put forward their nominations to sit on the Board of Trustees.

    Between 21 - 30 June 2022, a virtual election was held for the Membership to decide which of these nominees would best serve on the Board.

    Successfully Elected Trustees and the election result were endorsed at the Annual General Meeting on 26 July, 2022. They are:

    • Non Dafydd

    • Trefor Lloyd Hughes

    • Gary Pritchard

    • Dafydd Roberts

    • Neville Evans

    • Jackie Lewis

    You can browse the election result in more detail here.

  • On 30 September 2022, six independent Appointed Trustees, including a Chair to the Board were approved by the Membership:

    • Dr Edward T Jones (Chair)

    • Trefor Owen

    • Elen Jones

    • Deborah Chafer

    • Dr Lowri Angharad Hughes

    • Ann Tooze