FRIENDS OF WESTONBIRT ARBORETUM

RECRUITMENT PACK

2016

1. The organisation

History

As the National Arboretum, Westonbirt is one of the UK’s finest tree collections and one of the world’s most important arboreta. It is also one of the most popular attractions in Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds, attracting over 300,000 visits each year.

The arboretum was planed from the 1850s onwards by Robert Holford, whose family owned the large estate centred on Westonbirt House. Using a family fortune, based on the supply of water to London, Holford financed and oversaw a huge planting programme, which hinged on the work of some of the Victorian age’s leading botanists. He had the arboretum landscaped in the “picturesque” style made popular by the eminent garden creator William Gilpin.

Robert’s son Sir George Holford took over the arboretum project and much of the collection as it exists today is due to his vigour in pursuing the project. In 1956, the arboretum was bequeathed to the Forestry Commission who have continued to improve and expand on the work of the family.

The arboretum and Downs landscape is designated a Grade I Registered Park and Garden by English Heritage.

The Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum

In 1985, a small group of enthusiasts, who saw the need to work with the Forestry Commission to preserve, enhance and enlarge this unique landscape, met for the first time. This group became the Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum (FOWA).

Today we employ eight staff and serve around 28,000 members, many hundreds of whom volunteer at the Arboretum – all helping to maintain the 600 acre site, with its 16,000 individual trees and shrubs. We work closely in partnership with the Forestry Commission to ensure the continued success of the National Aboretum at Westonbirt and to safeguard it as a resource for the future. FOWA does this by engaging, informing and increasing our membership, and also by giving financial and practical support to the management and development of the arboretum.

More information about the National Arboretum and FOWA can be found at www.fowa.org.uk including our governing document, details of trustees, our work and the arboretum itself. See also the Forestry Commission site at www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt.

2. Vacancy details

FUNDRAISING OFFICER

Salary: £20,021 to £24,472 depending on experience

Location: Westonbirt, nr Tetbury, Gloucestershire

Full time: 35 hours per week, permanent, generous pension and 20 days’ holiday plus Bank Holidays

Closing date: 12 noon Friday 20th May

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and creative fundraiser to join the team at Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum. If you are looking for your next step, this is a key role within the charity which will enable you to hone your skills as you develop the revenue fundraising plan, with a focus on developing income from Trusts and grant-making organisations as well as from individual donors and supporters.

You should have a minimum of two years’ experience in a fundraising or similar role, with a proven track record of generating income against targets. An excellent communicator, you will be skilled at developing the case for support both verbally and in writing, tailoring your message depending on the audience. You will work well as part of a small team and be able to juggle competing priorities to meet challenges and deadlines. Your interpersonal skills will be excellent, as you will work alongside colleagues, volunteers and trustees to deliver exceptional results, as well as developing and maintaining effective relationships with potential funders, supporters, volunteers and members.

The Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum is a registered charity supporting the Forestry Commission, which manages the National Arboretum, Westonbirt. The charity has a strong membership base of around 28,000 and a successful recent track record in capital fundraising. You will be joining an experienced and committed team at an exciting stage in the organisation’s development. Working in the beautiful surroundings of the National Arboretum at Westonbirt, this is an ideal opportunity for a successful fundraiser looking to further develop their skills and deliver results that will make a difference to the charity and the Arboretum.

3. Job description

The Fundraising Officer role will include:

researching, preparing and writing applications to grant-making bodies; identifying opportunities to maximise the fundraising capacity of FOWA and working with

colleagues to develop plans to capitalise on these opportunities; implementing a programme of fundraising communications using a variety of media

(including newsletters, members’ magazine, email, website and social media); implementing a programme of community fundraising activities to raise awareness of

FOWA both on and off site and to generate income; undertaking administrative duties and utilising the fundraising CRM to ensure efficient

reporting systems are in place; monitoring fundraising expenditure and reporting on income against the budget.

You will work closely with the Chief Executive who will be looking to support, develop and guide a new member of the team as they further existing skills and learn new fundraising techniques. You will be responsible for working closely with and supporting a Fundraising Assistant, though direct line management of this role is provided by the Chief Executive.

The job is offered on a permanent contract, subject to a successful 6 month probation period. Working in the beautiful surroundings of Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, this job is the ideal opportunity for somebody looking to broaden their fundraising experience and deliver results that will make a huge difference to this small charity.

Key tasks

1. Research charitable trusts and foundations to find those whose grant criteria match our funding needs;

2. Draft and submit carefully tailored applications for funding;

3. Develop and maintain good relationships with funders (including grant-making bodies, companies, community groups and individuals);

4. Assist in the organisation of events for potential supporters, including members’ events and other fundraising events;

5. Ensure regular communication with supporters, volunteers and members using a variety of tools (including newsletters, member magazine, social media and website);

6. Work with the Chief Executive to maintain and develop the website as a fundraising tool;

7. Initiate and manage community fundraising activities, guided by the Chief Executive, to generate income for FOWA;

8. Assist in the day to day management of fundraising, taking notes of meetings where appropriate, preparing reports and providing regular feedback on income secured against targets;

9. Assist in the development of the donor stewardship/management programme, including gift management, Gift Aid claims and donor recognition/reward;

10. Efficient use and management of the fundraising CRM system;

11. Undertake fundraising administrative support tasks as required, including maintaining accurate records, researching potential funding sources, word processing, data inputting and general administrative duties.

Other duties

1. Provide cover for absent colleagues where appropriate;2. Carry out other reasonable tasks as directed by FOWA or FC management;3. Carry out all tasks with reasonable consideration for the health and safety of colleagues sand visitors;4. Carry our all tasks in a courteous manner and effectively;

5. At all times uphold the values of FOWA and behave in such as way so as not to bring the organisation into disrepute.

Person Specification

Criteria Essential Desirable How Assessed

Education, Training, Work Experience, Qualifications

Educated to degree level or equivalent. Competency and experience of Microsoft Office and other software applications.Familiarity with databases/CRM systems

Fundraising qualification/membership of fundraising bodyKnowledge of ThankQ

AF / Interview

Attainments, Competencies

Excellent verbal and written communication skills leading to income generationDemonstrable experience of developing engaging and convincing cases for support

Delegation and supervision experience.

AF / Interview

Previous Experience Minimum 2 years’ experience in a fundraising or similar roleProven track record of generating income against targetsExperience in at least 2 areas of fundraising (trusts & grants, events, direct donor marketing, high net worth individuals, individual/regular giving, campaign fundraising, community fundraising)

Previous experience of working in a membership organisationPrevious experience of designing fundraising communicationsReporting on expenditure and income against budget

AF / Interview

Planning, Organising Ability to assess priorities, organise and plan time.Ability to manage multiple projects at the same time, delivering to agreed timescales and deadlines

Ability to support others to manage and plan their workload

AF / Interview

Problem Solving Confidence in identifying problems requiring referral to colleagues, management.Able to assess facts, possible solutions and effects of those solutions.

Flexible and practical approach, adapting to changing needs with a positive, can-do attitude

Interview

Special Aptitudes Reliability and ownership.Commitment and professionalism.Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines

Budgetary control.Effective and confident networker, experienced in building collaborative partnerships both internally

Interview

Ability to ‘think outside the box’, be creative.Ability to communicate, lead and enact new ideas.Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

and externally

Innate Ability Aptitude for learning.Motivated self-starterConfident in making timely decisions.Eye for detail.

Ability to assimilate new information quickly and use this information in your work

Interview

Impact on Others,Representation, Customer Care

Professional appearance, speech and manner.Courteous to staff, volunteers, members, clients, visitors helping represent FOWA and Westonbirt Arboretum professionally at all times.

Understanding and patience. Interview

Team Working, Interpersonal Skills

Excellent communicator able to express clearly and concisely (written and oral) and give accurate, up to date factual information.As part of small dedicated team, must be able to build and maintain good relationships, and delegate.

Be tolerant, helpful, and supportive of colleagues, volunteers, members, visitors.

Interview

4. How to apply

The closing date for application is 12 noon on Friday 20th May 2016.

Applications should be sent to Mrs J Dalton, Charity Manager. Email: charity@fowa.org.uk. Post: Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum, The Great Oak Hall, Westonbirt The National Arboretum, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8QS.

If you wish to apply for this vacancy, please complete an application form. When applying, please enclose:

A completed application form; A full CV including educational and professional qualifications, full employment

history showing the positions held, responsibilities, relevant achievements, budget and staff responsibilities. Please include details of your latest remuneration and benefits;

A completed Equalities Monitoring Form.

All applications and communication will be treated as confidential.