Global’s Make Some Noise (GMSN) is the in-house grant-making charity of Global, the media and entertainment group. Global is the largest commercial radio group in the UK, owning Heart, Capital, Classic FM, Smooth, LBC, Radio X, Capital Xtra and Gold, as well as Global Player, which is home not only to the radio brands, but also a range of podcasts and playlists. Global is also the leading UK outdoor media company, with 253,000 poster and digital screen sites.

GMSN harnesses the assets of the media group to support small charities across the UK. It believes in building sustainability in small charities through a unique three-part promise – it raises money to fund vital services and equipment; it raises awareness on some of the biggest issues affecting society; and it raises the bar through providing training in marketing, digital and media as well as other added value. Since its launch in 2014, the charity has proudly raised over £26m for more than 400 UK charities. It is a UK-wide grant-maker with four key areas of focus: shelter and safety; physical and mental health; loneliness; life skills. It harnesses the assets of Global to raise funds, awareness and skills for small charities supporting the people who need it most in their communities.

Last year, GMSN funded crucial work at 59 charities across the country, granting over £2.5m, where the charities received a two-year large grant and an additional £5,000 unrestricted grant to support recipients facing increasing bills and increasing demand due to the cost of living. A further 20 charities benefitted from access to small grants from a pot of £96k to achieve a transformational organisation development aim. This financial support will change more than 24,000 lives in the UK, with thousands more family members indirectly benefitting. GMSN also supported charities with key on-air and promotional moments, to champion their causes and further the awareness of the impact they are making.

Reaching its ten-year anniversary in 2024, GMSN is at a pivotal moment looking at opportunities to significantly grow and amplify its impact through a new strategy, so this is an exciting time to join a well-established Board.

Please note: Global’s Make Some Noise is the trading name. The formal charity name is Global Charities.

The Board of Trustees works together in giving strategic direction to the charity, setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets. They safeguard the good name and values of the charity, acting as ambassadors where necessary. They are also responsible for:

• Making sure that Global’s Make Some Noise complies with its governing document, charity and company law any other relevant legislation or regulations
• Ensuring that that the charity pursues its objects as defined in its governing document and is administered effectively and efficiently
• Ratifying grants as recommended by the Grants Panel Chair and verified by the Director
• Providing guidance on new initiatives and issues in which they may have special expertise
• Making sure that risk management and control systems are in place, with clear delegated responsibilities to staff for managing and mitigating risk, and to monitor these on an ongoing basis  

The Chair of the Finance Committee ensures that the charity fully meets its financial control, stewardship and governance obligations. This includes the scrutiny by the Finance Committee of annual budgets, ensuring that the charity’s accounts comply with all the requirements of FRS 102 –Charities SORP. They also oversee the annual audit and the relationship with the external auditors, the maintenance of an appropriate reserves policy and the regular review of the charity’s risk register, ensuring that the charity operates within the financial guidelines set out in current legislation.

Global’s Make Some Noise is now looking for someone with financial expertise, and ideally some exposure to charity finance or SMEs, to chair the Finance Committee as it enters its 10th anniversary year.

Applicants will be qualified accountants, with senior level experience reporting to a board. Given the size of the charity (c. £3m of annual income), an understanding of setting financial strategy for small- or medium-sized organisations would be welcome. Previous engagement with charity finance is also beneficial, but not required.

On a personal level, the successful candidate will be committed to the aims of Global’s Make Some Noise and an ambition to increase the charitable impacts and make the biggest difference possible to the lives of its beneficiaries. Given the close working relationship between the charity and the commercial Global business, it is likely that they will also have an interest in the media industry.

Global’s Make Some Noise is proud to have a wonderfully diverse Board of Trustees and is therefore open to receiving applications from a wide range of candidates.

Joanne Kenrick, Chair

Michael Connole, Outgoing Finance Committee Chair

Jonathan Norbury

Ulrika Högberg

Sally Cairns
Sally Ardis
Marcia Asare
Shalni Sood
Jennie Stubbs

You can find out more about the Board here.

This role is unremunerated, but reasonable, pre-agreed travel expenses will be reimbursed. Four Board meetings occur per year and these usually take place in person, in London. Timings are flexible but often take place around 4pm-6pm. There is also a half-day strategy day in February. The Finance Committee also meets four times per year, a week before the Board, normally for an hour. The appointment is for a three-year term, which can be renewed twice at the discretion of the Board.