Magic Breakfast's core belief is that every child deserves a nutritious breakfast to fuel their potential and brighten their future. Sadly, despite over 20 years of providing breakfasts in schools and campaigning for change, the level of hunger in classrooms is rising. One in four children are at risk of starting their day too hungry to learn. Breakfast can literally change lives, directly impacting children's educational attainment and future prospects.

The charity works in schools with high levels of disadvantage, helping head teachers target the children most in need without making those children stand out or feel embarrassed. Magic Breakfast believes that breakfast provision should always be stigma free and open to all. The organisation collaborates with Primary, Secondary, ASL / Special Educational Needs Schools and Pupil Referral Units, with a total roll of over 200,000 children and young people.

For many years, the charity has worked to address hunger as a barrier to education, reaching hundreds of thousands of vulnerable children and young people across Scotland and England. It is an exciting time to be joining the organisation as it sets ambitious plans to drive greater impact, and in particular to grow programmes across Scotland.

A survey conducted in March 2023 found that 78% of respondents agree that breakfast should be a priority for the new First Minister in his first six months. The Breakfast Can’t Wait campaign sought to ensure that the Scottish government’s promise to roll out free school breakfasts to all primary and special schools in Scotland is delivered. Magic Breakfast is looking to recruit a Trustee who can further its advocacy efforts, influence and inform policy making, and build important networks to disseminate key research and galvanise support.

Joining Magic Breakfast means becoming part of a diverse and dedicated team, driven by the common goal of creating positive change in the lives of children and their communities. The charity highly values innovation, collaboration, and the power of collective action, and is excited to welcome new perspectives that will enrich its work.

As Trustees, individuals play a vital role in guiding the strategic direction of the organisation, ensuring that Magic Breakfast continues to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those it serves. The expertise, passion, and commitment of Trustees are instrumental in shaping the charity's strategy and plans.

The main responsibilities of Trustees includes:

• Strategy: to provide strategic leadership for the organisation by taking part in formulating and regularly reviewing its strategic aims, setting overall policy, and evaluating performance.
• Scrutiny: to ensure that the activities, policy and practices of the organisation are in keeping with its objects and aims, and to ensure that the organisation complies with the legal and financial requirements of a charitable organisation and its own governing documents and strives to achieve best practice.
• Support: to support the Chief Executive and executive team in delivering the vision and mission of the organisation.

The main duties of Trustees include:

• Providing strategic leadership
  - Consider the organisation as a whole and its beneficiaries, whether as a member of the board or any of its committees, sub-committees, groups etc
  - Reflect the organisation's vision and principles, strategy and major policies at all times
  - Reflect the organisation’s values
  - Contribute specific skills, interests and contacts and support the organisation in fundraising activities
• Ensuring that policies and practices are in keeping with aims
  - Follow the UK Governance Code and contribute to ensuring the effectiveness of Magic Breakfast’s governance
  - Ensure the financial stability of Magic Breakfast and ensure the proper use of resources.
• Ensuring best practice
  - Appoint the CEO and monitor their performance
  - Ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation, and its financial health
  - Safeguard the good name and values of Magic Breakfast
  - Be an active member of the Board in exercising its responsibilities and functions
  - Maintain constructive relationships with senior managerial staff
  - Take part in training and development sessions provided for the benefit of the Board
  - Fulfil such other duties and assignments as may be required from time to time by the Board
  - Use specific skills, knowledge or experience to help the Board members reach sound decisions. This may involve scrutinising board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, or providing advice and guidance on new initiatives

Magic Breakfast is looking to appoint one new Trustee, and is seeking an individual who meets one of the following backgrounds. That being said, interest from those who bring expertise related to those categories and who seek to add overall value to the organisation, would also be welcome.

Candidates will bring expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Scottish Policy Expertise: candidates will bring relevant experience and deep understanding of the Scottish policy environment, in relation to Magic Breakfast’s aims. Individuals may have experience working in government or in think tanks, or overseeing government/public affairs in the private or third sector.
• Commercial / Business Expertise: individuals will bring strategic commercial expertise, gained as a senior-level business leader in Scotland. They will possess private sector insights to growth, strategy, and operations. Additionally, connectivity and leverage to the Scottish business community would also be of value.

In addition, Trustees are expected to have:

• a commitment to Magic Breakfast’s vision and mission
• willingness to devote the time and effort needed to fulfil the role
• integrity
• strategic vision
• good, independent judgement
• an ability to think creatively
• a willingness to speak their mind
• an understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship
• an ability to work effectively as a member of a team and to take decisions for the good of Magic Breakfast

A clear alignment with Magic Breakfast's values and mission will be an important differentiator between applicants. The successful candidates will be enthusiastic and energetic, bring integrity, be willing to commit time to the role, and be passionate about addressing hunger as a barrier to education.

The charity is open to those for whom this would be their first non-executive role, as long as they understand the difference between executive and non-executive engagement, as well have an appreciation of governance and risk.

Aniela Shuckburgh, Chair
Phil Davies, Chair of the Governance Nominations and Risk Committee
Alison Inglis-Jones
Varsha Venugopal
Emma West, Chair of the People and Culture Committee
Michael Honan
Andrienne d’Arenberg
Richard Lackmann, Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee
Julie Harkness

Learn more about the Board here. 

This role is unpaid. Board members can claim travel and other expenses incurred by them in attending Board meetings, committee meetings, AGMs or any meeting in connection with the business of the organisation. Term length is three years and an individual can be appointed for up to three terms (nine years).

Board meetings are held four times a year and no longer than three hours in duration, during the evenings. One meeting each year is allotted to strategic planning and takes place over a full away day. All four meetings take place in person (in various cities across the UK) with an option to join virtually as required. Papers are distributed one week in advance of meetings and should be read prior to the meeting. Trustees will be asked to join at least one committee. Each meets quarterly with meetings of up to two hours.

Location

Whilst in-person attendance at Board meetings would be preferred, there is always an option to join virtually. All other meetings can be attended virtually via Zoom/Teams. Reasonable expenses relating to travel on Magic Breakfast business will be reimbursed. For this role, candidates will be based in Scotland.

Magic Breakfast is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all Trustees to share this commitment. All Trustees and staff are required to undertake a standard criminal record (DBS/PVG) check.

As set out in its EDI mission statement, Magic Breakfast is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Everyone at Magic Breakfast has the responsibility to be open and to create and sustain an inclusive environment. This includes and applies to its Trustees, staff, volunteers, partners, and suppliers. In building and leveraging a diverse and inclusive Board of Trustees, Magic Breakfast ensures that its staff, the partners and volunteers it works with and children and young people it serves are able to actively engage with and access the charity and its services without barrier.