Comics Youth Vacancy – Comics Youth CIC Advisory Board Members

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Comic Youth CIC are seeking to appoint four new Advisory Board Members to ensure we have the capacity and skills to oversee the next phase of our work and have a real say in our current and future operations. In return for your time, knowledge and expertise, you’ll have the chance to work alongside our Leadership team and Young Person’s Development Board

The roles are unpaid voluntary positions. Reasonable expenses are paid.

Advisory Board members are expected to attend four meetings per year, but also to participate in the life of the organisation between board meetings, advising the staff team and acting in an ambassadorial role for Comics Youth CIC.

Positions are advertised for a period of 3 years (term may be renewed).

About Comics Youth CIC

Comics Youth CIC was set up in 2015 as the first organisation of its kind in the UK to provide holistic comics-based literacy and wellbeing projects for disadvantaged children and young people aged 8-25 and is based in the Liverpool City Region. The organisation is unique as it is run by young people under 30 with the same distance travelled and lived experiences as our targeted children and young people including histories of mental ill-health, abuse, chronic illness, complex trauma and disabilities. Our mission is to provide a voice for marginalised young people including care leavers, looked after children, LGBTQIA YP, SEND YP, young carers, and young people experiencing mental ill-health by providing them the tools to express themselves, improve their literacy, speak truth to power and have their voices heard through publishing zines and comics about salient community issues.

We deliver 13 inclusive comic book creation and reading sessions per week and our projects include: 1) Comics 180, which encourages children and young people aged 8-18 with disabilities and learning disabilities to develop their literacy and art skills through comics-focused workshops and create a new generation of superheroes for young people with disabilities. 2) Building Stories, a Big Lottery Reaching Communities funded project which supports disadvantaged children and young people aged 8-25 who are reluctant readers/writers to engage in comic book creation and reading sessions in a range of inclusive settings such as community centres, libraries, day centres and hospitals to break down participation barriers. Young people. are also supported to attain AQA qualifications in intro to comics, intermediate comics and advanced comics. 3) Graphic Medicine, based in Alder Hey Children’s hospital, which supports YP aged 6-18 with life limiting and chronic illnesses through 1-to-1 comics creation sessions as a form of art therapy and respite from their pain. 4) Queer Youth, LGBTQIA support group wherein young people make and create LGBTQIA friendly zines.

About the roles

We are seeking to recruit a number of Advisory Board members and expect that different candidates will bring a range of skills and experience to Comics Youth CIC, from the attributes listed.

About you

We are looking for individuals who have a real passion for youth focused and youth-led developments and who know the Liverpool City Region well. Our ethos drives us and are at the core of our youth work, strategies and our relationships with one another. You’ll have a valuable part to play in how this happens in a way that fulfils our commitment to long lasting social impact. You’ll also play a key role in helping the organisation to expand.

General

• Commitment to the objectives of Comics Youth CIC
• Willingness to act as an ambassador for Comics Youth CIC
• Willingness to fulfil the duties and standards of conduct required of a Board member of an organisation that is currently seeking charitable status
• Understanding of equalities and diversity issues

Experience

• Experience of finance and fund accounting (Treasurer role)
• Experience of making significant asks (policy or financial) for a good cause or social enterprise.
• Experience in generating income for social causes (e.g from individuals, corporate fundraising/partnerships with business and/or civil society organisations, EU funding and/or sales of goods and services).
• Understanding of issues in the broad area of mental health whether from professional or personal experience
• Knowledge of policy frameworks affecting mental health in any of the nations of the UK.
• Policy influencing (analysis, formation and/or framing)
• Lobbying policymakers and/or business and/or representative groups.
• Expertise in settings related to mental health and preventing problems occurring, including community, research or commissioning settings.
• Media and communications or PR, including social media.
• Developing businesses models comparable to graphic design, illustration and publishing houses
• Lived experiences relevant to our targeted groups

Expertise and knowledge

• Youth work and educational practices
• HR
• Charity Sector/charity law and regulation
• Mental health issues or mental health campaigning

Skills

• Ability to understand and interrogate financial reports
• Strategic planning skills
• Risk management skills
• Analytical skills
• Management/project management
• Ability to operate as a part of a team

How to apply

Please submit a CV and covering letter by Friday the 7 of September, stating why you wish to be considered for the role, to Rhiannon Griffiths by e-mail on rhiannon@comicsyouth.co.uk.

Your covering letter should show how you meet each of the relevant requirements in the person specification. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with Rhiannon Griffiths via 07525369624.

Prospective board members who best meet our requirements will be invited to speak to our existing Board Members on the 15 of September.