Peer Productions is a unique youth arts charity which uses Theatre to impact the lives of thousands of young people every year. Founded in 2006 by Artistic Director Nina Lemon, Peer Productions specialises in the education of young people by young people through Theatre. Every year it reaches 15,000 young people across the South East of England, enabling them to change the way they think and to make positive life choices. Its work is made with, by and for young people.

The Charity have developed a unique approach whereby young people are at the centre of every stage of the creative process. They use peer education and Theatre to empower three separate groups of beneficiaries: young peer educators, disadvantaged project participants and young audience members.

Peer Productions is entering an exciting period of growth and plan to double their cohort for the new Peer Employment Pathway programme for young adults with SEND (Special Educational Needs or Disability). It has also expanded into larger premises in Woking town centre.

The coming months and years will present lots of opportunities for Peer to expand its impact, income generation, and capital development.

Peer Productions is looking to appoint a new Marketing and Comms Trustee to join its Board as part of the Charity's exciting growth plan over the next two years. Peer’s vision is clear and compelling; the Board recognise, however, the need to bring in expert guidance and support to help devise and implement a compelling marketing and comms strategy across all platforms to increase their charitable reach and drive brand awareness.

Responsibilities

Peer’s Board of Trustees collectively provide leadership on the strategic direction, support of Peer’s executive leadership team as well as overall governance of the Charity (please see the Charity Commission’s Essential Trustee document attached and further information available at www.gov.uk).

Responsibilities of all Trustees

• Take a leadership role in promoting the organisation & representing Peer effectively to external stakeholders
• Support the Chair by providing leadership on delegated tasks
• Actively support the Charity’s events and actively promote the Charity
• Oversee Peer’s financial plans and budgets and monitor and evaluate progress
• Ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation
• Ensure that key risks are being identified, monitored, and controlled effectively
• Attend bi-monthly Board meetings, adequately prepared to contribute to discussions.

Specific Duties

In addition to the above statutory duties, each Trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the Board of Trustees reach sound decisions. This may involve leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, evaluation, or other issues in which the Trustee has special expertise.

Specific Duties of Marketing and Communications Trustee

• Assess current marketing and communications practices within the charity and make recommendations to the Board and staff which will aid in the growth and development of the charity
• Provide strategic oversight in the creation and implementation of Peer’s marketing and communications strategy in order to enhance content and drive engagement across all platforms
• Provide thought leadership on the role of digital in Peer’s marketing and communication activities
• Highlight the opportunities and the risks, in terms of Peer’s marketing and communications strategy in general, and in particular to build their brand and overall visibility, whilst driving forward our digital and social media profile.

The new Trustee will be an experienced marketing and communications professional with an excellent track record in the delivery of high quality and compelling multichannel communications campaigns. They will have:

• Experience acting as a brand champion at senior strategic level and engaging with key internal and external stakeholders to optimise and drive brand opportunities
• Demonstrable skills within digital leadership and support, with the ability to contribute social media knowledge and skills to enhance Peer’s wider strategy and broaden its reach
• Experience of managing and mitigating reputational risk
• Experience in the Theatre, education, media, or charity sector
• Strong interpersonal and relationship building abilities and be comfortable taking an ambassadorial role for the Charity.

Peer are ideally looking for someone with previous experience working with charities as a Trustee and therefore of charity governance, but this is not essential. Most importantly, applicants should be committed to Peer Productions' mission of transforming young people's lives through Theatre.

The full Board of Trustees can be viewed here. 

This role is unremunerated. Board meetings are held every two months, with a longer break over the summer, and take place on weekday evenings. These meetings will likely be held in a hybrid format, with the possibility of joining online or meeting in-person in either Woking or London. There is also an annual in-person away day. Further ad hoc time commitment including meetings with members of the leadership team. The appointment is for a three-year term, which can be renewed at the discretion of the Board.

Peer Productions welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, belief or disability. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.