Best Beginnings is the national charity that works to support all parents and caregivers throughout pregnancy and until children are five years old, with an unwavering focus on reducing inequalities. It embraces co-creation, evidence, digital and film to inform and empower mothers, fathers, co-parents and caregivers of all backgrounds to look after their mental and physical health and to maximise their children's long-term physical, mental and emotional development and life chances. It is best known for its multi-award-winning Baby Buddy app, which is endorsed by the NHS and many Royal Colleges. Baby Buddy provides parents with accurate, accessible and personalised daily information through their pregnancy and the first years of their children's lives. Baby Buddy provides trusted, evidence-based written and film content and self-care tools to help parents build their knowledge and confidence during pregnancy, in the transition to parenthood, and throughout the early stages of parenting. 

Best Beginnings has a strong social purpose. It recognises the importance of being evidence-based, allowing it to identify areas and people with the highest needs, and tailor its care programme accordingly. As part of its commitment to reducing inequalities, Best Beginnings has created a platform designed with user accessibility in mind; it has no adverts, is accessible for non-English speakers through visual mediums, and its content is curated collaboratively with parents as well as professionals. As Best Beginnings delivers its services through a digital platform, it was relatively unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but instead was able to see clearer the health service inequalities within the UK.

As part of its collaboration efforts, Best Beginnings is continually forming connections within the UK’s healthcare sector. The NHS has developed new integrated care systems (ICSs) across England, Scotland and Wales to form partnerships between the organisations that meet health and care needs, coordinate services to improve population health, and reduce inequalities of services. Best Beginnings is proud to be amongst one of these partnerships, having a contract with an ICS in Surrey. It is confident that this partnership is only the beginning, and the charity will be able to expand its network with other ICSs across the country. Best Beginnings also has collaborations with research institutions as part of its data-driven commitment. These partnerships allow the charity to communicate up-to-date and relevant research findings on a number of topics related to child care, and provide a helpful resource for those who are not able to access doctors and hospitals due to COVID.

Trustee

As part of Best Beginnings's exciting growth plan, it is now looking to expand its Board of Trustees. The new Trustees will use their skills and expertise to help the Board make strategic decisions and expand its reach to help parents, co-parents and caregivers give their children the best beginning in life. The Trustees will have a strong alignment with the vision and mission of Best Beginnings and proactively help to work towards its success and growth.

In addition to the formal Board meetings, Trustees will be willing to undertake informal engagement with the charity, including providing advice on an ad hoc basis to the management team. Trustees will be expected to use their specific knowledge and experience to help the Board reach sound decisions, assist the senior leadership team with advice as required, and keep informed about, and support as appropriate, the activities of the organisation.

Treasurer

In this role, the Treasurer will be responsible for maintaining an overview of Best Beginnings's financial affairs. They will report on matters relating to the charity’s financial viability and risk management, including its adherence in these areas to good practice, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and legal requirements.

The Treasurer will advise the Board on how to carry out its financial responsibilities, while ensuring the financial viability of the charity and engaging with external auditors if required. The Treasurer will lead the Board’s carrying out of its duties to ensure due diligence, that proper accounting records are kept, and that financial resources are invested in line with governance best practice, Charity commission regulations, and any other legal requirements.

The Treasurer will also work closely with the executive team to ensure Best Beginnings continues to expand its reach while ensuring financial stability. The Treasurer, alongside other Trustees, will serve as a steward of the charity's resources and will be responsible for Best Beginnings's strategy, operations, adherence to law and regulation, and financial management.

Trustees

Best Beginnings is seeking four new Trustees who are aligned to its mission and have the relevant knowledge to specialise in one of the following areas to support the charity with its growth:

• Marketing: Best Beginnings has a clear and compelling vision, and it needs expert guidance in devising and implementing comprehensive marketing content, engagement and communications strategy across media platforms to increase its charitable reach and brand awareness. It is looking for a Trustee who will proactively support the charity's growth plans through effective marketing strategy and decision-making
• Fundraising: The charity also seeks a new Trustee with an extensive understanding of fundraising. This candidate will be able to evidence strategic fundraising experience and will advise the charity on strategies to generate business and build public interest in Best Beginnings's mission. With very little of its funds coming in from corporate donations, the ideal candidate will be able to assist in filling this gap by bringing in a strong network and helping to generate a more recurrent and reliable revenue stream
• Legal: The charity is looking for a Trustee with a background in law from a senior position. Ideally, this candidate will have experience in charity and company law, and will be able to provide advice to the Board on legal matters
• Healthcare: The charity is also looking for a Trustee to join its Board with a general healthcare background. The Board currently has two healthcare representatives, but seeks an additional member who has experience in healthcare strategy, and has experience in this sector operating at a senior level. This Trustee will bring strategic knowledge on how healthcare systems operate and will provide a network to assist the charity's outreach within the healthcare sector

Best Beginnings welcomes applications from candidates who are looking to take on their first non-executive role.

Applications from those who are from ethnic minority backgrounds and from men are encouraged, as Best Beginnings is keen to maintain a high level of diversity on its Board.

Treasurer

Best Beginnings seeks a new Treasurer to join its Board. The successful candidate will be a motivated and financially skilled individual who can help continue to build its impact and navigate the next stage in its development. The new Treasurer will be a qualified accountant, or possess a financial qualification of equal merit, with senior leadership experience in the finance function of an organisation.

Best Beginnings is open to considering applicants who do not have previous experience in charity finance. The ideal candidate for this role will however, have had previous Trustee experience.

Applications from those who are from ethnic minority backgrounds and from men are encouraged, as Best Beginnings is keen to maintain a high level of diversity on its Board.

This role is unremunerated. The time commitment for this role is eight Board meetings in total, consisting of four main Board meetings and four Committee meetings. Best Beginnings also hosts a Strategy Away Day for all of its Board members to congregate and discuss the charity's operational strategy in more detail. The role will also require ad hoc engagement where necessary.

The role operates as a loosely hybrid position, with one, possibly two, of the eight Board meetings being held in-person with the remaining meetings held virtually. In-person meetings will be held in the London office. As such, Best Beginnings is looking to appoint candidates who are UK-based. Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed.