Bind CIO Trustee

BIND UK is a collection of projects and people that reduce food waste by bringing people together to create change. We design and deliver projects across sectors that push boundaries and achieve results. We believe change is created not by a handful of people doing sustainability perfectly, but by everyone doing a little something. Find out more about our values and purpose here -  .

Our work is split between Magic Hat, Eat Smart and food waste partnerships.

Magic Hat is Newcastle City Centre’s first and only coffee shop, kitchen and events venue dedicated to impacting the UK’s wider food waste problem - positively. Our chefs design menus on‑the‑day, every day, made from food that’s far too good to be wasted. Fresh ideas for ingredients at their best. Magic Hat also operates a volunteer programme, a PAYF shop, an events programme and a hireable meeting space/kitchen.

Magic Hat's profits go to supporting Bind's other projects in food waste prevention. After 5 years of trading in Newcastle City Centre, our lease was terminated for the building to get redeveloped. We are currently seeking out a new premises for Magic Hat and designing for how we can continue to challenge in its next iteration.

Eat Smart is a successful primary school educational programme born in the NE of England designed to inspire children and schools to reduce food waste and build sustainable food systems. We deliver engaging resources and learning experiences that empower schools and pupils to have more ownership of their kitchens/dinner halls, improve student wellbeing, and have increased environmental awareness.

Since 2018 Eat Smart has enabled 70 schools in North East England to rescue their food waste by over 25%, equivalent to saving 6,000 meals worth £13,000 per school, per year, and our expansion to other areas of the UK has already begun. With an ever‑growing data set and credibility for school food waste prevention, we have increasing potential to affect school food policy and deliver food waste prevention interventions on a national level.

Bind is expanding its work to ensure food waste prevention, not just redistribution, is at the heart of our mission. Bind works in partnership with businesses, local authorities and community groups to help them reduce their food waste, and reduce their food bills by using surplus food in their kitchens. We are well recognised in the North East and lead various partnerships of public, private and voluntary sector organisations, tasked with reducing food waste at a strategic level.

• Strategic Growth and Development
• Financial control and/or fundraising
• Policy: education, food and/or sustainability
• Communications, marketing & PR
• Impact, performance and accountability

Your total time commitment will be between 2-6 hours per month, including board meetings every 6‑8 weeks and ongoing problem solving – via email/Whats App. Meetings are a mix of online and in‑person. You will be expected to attend a minimum of 50% of board meetings and prepare adequately for meetings.

• Commitment to Bind’s aims, objectives and core values
• Passion for creating behavioural change around the issue of food waste
• Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of being a Trustee
• Be familiarised with Bind’s constitution
• Strategic and forward looking vision in relation to our aims and objectives.

• You will be collectively responsible for the effective governance and oversight of the charity, ensuring it is well‑run, financially sound and delivering its charitable purposes.
• You’ll act in the charity’s best interests, advancing its charitable objects and acting with reasonable care and skill.
• You’ll ensure compliance with the charity’s governing document, charity law and regulation.
• You’ll provide strategic direction, agreeing the charity’s mission, values and long‑term priorities.
• You’ll oversee finances, ensuring appropriate financial controls are in place, resources are used responsibly, and assets safeguarded.
• You’ll manage risk, including reputational, financial and operational risk.
• You’ll ensure…