Four of the new appointments joined in August to fulfil immediate vacancies and the final two will commence at the Charity’s next AGM in January 2022. The appointments follow an externally facilitated board and governance review late in 2020 which identified a number of skills gaps and a need to both refresh and diversify the board to bring a broader perspective. The new appointments arrive at a pivotal time for the charity with the launch of a new three-year strategy along with a refreshed purpose, mission, vision and values and a plan for recovery from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
The new Trustees, Dr Amandip Bahia, Cheryl Turner, Peter Wright, Stephen Varma, Yusuf Nurbhai and Sheena Amin, bringing a breadth of expertise from the commercial, education and public sectors and will join six other Trustees led by Chair, Andrew Beal who oversee the charity’s work, delivered by CEO Arvinda Gohil. Supported by Cadence Partners, a wide-ranging recruitment process involving members of Central YMCA’s Board, led to the new appointments.
In addition to the new Trustee appointments, Central YMCA has launched a Trustee Apprenticeship Programme which draws on the Charity’s roots, having been founded by an apprentice in 1844, its longstanding passion for developing people and experience in delivering over 4,000 apprenticeships each year across the UK. The first Apprentice Trustee appointed is Gani Lawal and Central YMCA aims to appoint a further Apprentice Trustee in 2021, with the programme particularly supporting those who might face barriers to Trusteeship. The Trustee Apprenticeship Programme will give individuals an opportunity to gain 12 months of governance experience, support and mentoring without the risk or legal responsibility carried by a formal Trustee.
