Metro Blind Sport, the London based charity, which creates fun, accessible sport and physical activity opportunities for blind and partially sighted people, has just appointed Tracie Tappenden as its new CEO.
Tracie was formerly CEO of VICTA, a charity that supports children and young adults with visual impairment and their families, before joining New College Worcester.
Tracie said: “I am very excited to join Metro as CEO. It is a charity that makes a positive difference, creating opportunities for people to get involved.
“Metro has a brilliant team of active volunteers who support our events. I want to build upon that to generate greater engagement in both participants and volunteers.
“I want to increase membership, particularly among young people. I will also be looking to expand what we offer to include social activities to complement the fantastic breadth of sports that we already have.”
Andrew Law, Chairman of Metro, said: “Tracie joins us at an exciting time as we celebrate our 50th year in 2023. Undoubtedly, there are more events and activities now available for blind and partially sighted people to get involved in, but barriers do still exist for people to get active.
“Tracie will be central to our work in creating opportunities and breaking down the barriers to sports and social participation.”
Tracie has been involved in the sight loss sector for more than thirty years – initially for support for her child who was born blind. She added: “I’ve experienced the sight loss sector from both sides – as a parent of a visually impaired child and from working in the sector.
“I am passionate about supporting people to reach their full potential. One of my roles at VICTA was to work with young adults, mentoring them and providing training, which enabled them to grow in so many ways. To see them becoming confident young adults, able to take on the world of work, socialising and family life was the best reward.”
Tracie takes over the reins of the charity from Martin Symcox. She said: “Martin has done a great job of increasing the activities available to blind and partially sighted people to take part in sports. He will be a tough act to follow.”
Married for 35 years, Tracie has four grown up children, three grandchildren and enjoys making ceramics in her spare time.
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For 49 years, London based charity, Metro Blind Sport have been creating fun, accessible sport and physical activity opportunities for blind and partially sighted individuals of all ages and abilities. Our vision is that blind and partially sighted people in London are able to lead more actively fulfilled lifestyles.
Chief Executive Officer – full time, circa £45,000pa
We are recruiting a suitably experienced CEO to guide the charity through its next stage of development as well as leading on the organisation of the charity’s 50th anniversary in 2023.
The successful candidate will ensure that Metro Blind Sport is fit for purpose and will drive forward our strategy. You will ensure Metro Blind Sport remains one of the most respected and successful VI sport and physical activity charities in the UK.
This opportunity requires excellent leadership experience combined with understanding and knowledge of delivering sport and physical activity projects, as well as evidence of successful fundraising. The Chief Executive Officer will have the confidence to be innovative and will be a self-starter by nature and will demonstrate well-developed management experience and determination. Strong communication skills and relationship skills will be critical as the role will require the successful candidate to work visibly with members and a wide range of stakeholders.
In particular we are looking for someone who can demonstrate:
Strategic awareness and the ability to lead an organisation in conjunction with the Trustees and promotion of the organisation’s work to beneficiaries and partners.
Significant senior management experience, preferably in the voluntary sector with experience of writing and delivering business plans and strategies.
A track record of completing applications and securing funding from charitable trusts and foundations, managing service level agreements and contracts with grant providers.
A strong and experienced leader in equality, diversity, social inclusion and service user empowerment.
Experience of working with and recruiting volunteers.
This role offers a unique opportunity to shape grassroots community sport and physical activity, leading it towards improved future developments.
Although home based, the role will require regular travel across London.
To apply
The full role description is below or you can download the role description here: CEO Role description
If this sounds like the opportunity for you, please complete and return:
Please send these documents to: applications@pocklington-trust.org.uk
If you have any questions about the role, please send these by email to the same email address and we will reply as soon as possible.
The closing date for application: Friday 4 March 17.00 hrs
We require all applicants to have the appropriate right to work in the UK.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Role: Chief Executive Officer
Reporting to: Chair of Trustees, Metro Blind Sport
Salary: Competitive
We are committed to making workplace adjustments where needed and offer flexible working wherever it fits with organisational needs.
Direct Reports: Sports Development Officer, and any future recruits as agreed by the Board of Trustees.
Indirect Reports: Web Manager
Location: Home-based with regular travel throughout Greater London
To develop the sports, leisure and membership strategy in conjunction with the Board of Trustees.
To implement, deliver and review Metro’s strategy as agreed by the Board of Trustees.
To deliver operational management through inspirational leadership.
Key Areas of Responsibility:
Strategic:
Develop, drive and lead the effective communication of key ambitions, themes, developments and initiatives to ensure Metro progresses its strategic goals.
Offer inspirational and creative leadership to maintain Metro’s long-standing good reputation in providing and promoting sports and leisure activities and pathways for people with sight loss
Ensure that appropriate resources and operational systems are available to turn strategy into reality
Prepare the annual budget with the team and Board to deliver the strategy
External relationships:
Establish new and strengthen existing external relationships (including National Governing Bodies for different sports) that create, influence and develop sporting opportunities for people with sight loss.
Maintain and develop strong relationships with people affected by sight loss, their organisations and the benefits of working in partnership.
Act as an ambassador for Metro by demonstrating high levels of credibility, authority, integrity and diplomacy.
Management:
Provide exceptional leadership which motivates and inspires staff and volunteers within Metro
Ensure Metro has in place effective policies and procedures to manage human resources, finance, information, communication, and other resources and that these meet relevant legislative requirements and agreed quality standards.
Maintain oversight of the quality and safety (including risk management) of all activities carried out by Metro.
Plan and monitor resources, events and staff provided by partners, ensuring Metro achieves an efficient and effective team and operational culture.
Communication:
Seek the views of members’ and analyse feedback in ways that will aid planning and contribute to Metro’s strategic development.
Ensure information is always available in accessible formats
Ensure Metro’s website and use of social media maintains Metro’s professional and positive image, and keeps pace with digital developments.
Finance:
Take overall responsibility for financial management and viability, producing the annual budget for Board approval and monitor and explain financial performance.
Maintain robust financial controls, risk management systems and sound administrative processes.
Develop and grow Metro’s income/resources appropriate to the achievement and sustainability of strategic goals.
Ensure open communication with the Board on financial and organisational performance against agreed strategic goals.
Governance:
Work with the Chair of the Board to ensure high standards of governance and that the Board fulfils constitutional and legislative requirements.
Provide appropriate and accurate management information and other guidance to the Board of Trustees which ensures they have a clear and accurate understanding of the health and performance of Metro and are able to take informed decisions.
Support the Chair in ensuring the continued engagement and development of all Trustees.
Person Specification
Experience:
Experience of strategic and inspirational leadership with a high degree of personal integrity.
Experience of strategic and/or business planning and implementation.
Experience of identifying and building partnerships with external stakeholders.
Experience of budget and financial management.
Experience of organising and promoting events, including management of volunteers, health and safety and (ideally) liaison with the media.
Demonstrable experience of people management and development.
Direct experience of the issues and challenges relating to visual impairment (desirable).
Skills, Knowledge and Attitude:
Educated to degree level or hold a relevant alternative qualification
Entrepreneurial, innovative and confident to lead business growth.
Knowledge of sports development
Ability to communicate at all levels including presentation skills and making information accessible
Able to use social media for the purpose of business development
Financial literacy
Able to work collaboratively with a wide range of people and organisations.
Able to drive and influence change while taking people with you.
Able to negotiate and secure varied sporting opportunities, both recreational and competitive, for people with sight loss
Demonstrate a sound understanding of the issues faced by people with sight loss and possible steps to overcome these
Commitment to the values of the social model of disability, the concept and principles of independent living and inclusion.
Commitment to valuing and promoting diversity.
Personal credibility to act as an ambassador for the organisation
Enhanced DBS check (to be initiated by the Thomas Pocklington Trust).
disability confident employer logo
This role will be seconded from Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT). TPT is a charity established to provide services for visually impaired people: our mission is to improve the lives of people living with sight loss.
TPT is registered with the Disability Confident Scheme as a Disability Confident Committed employer. Therefore, we believe in treating all employees fairly and we are committed to recruiting equally. TPT’s charitable objective and the aim is to support visually impaired individuals back into work. For this reason, we are actively seeking applications from all backgrounds including disabled/visually impaired individuals and people who have lived experience of sight loss. We also guarantee all disabled applicants that reach the minimum appointment criteria an interview. We are happy to accept applications from all suitably qualified persons who have the appropriate skills and talent regardless of their age, gender, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or marital status.
To apply
The full role description is below or you can download the role description here: CEO Role description
If this sounds like the opportunity for you, please complete and return:
Please send these documents to: applications@pocklington-trust.org.uk
If you have any questions about the role, please send these by email to the same email address and we will reply as soon as possible.
The closing date for application: Friday 4 March 17.00 hrs
We require all applicants to have the appropriate right to work in the UK.
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House of Lords National Plan for Sport and Recreation Committee
Last week Martin Symcox, Metro Blind Sport CEO, was invited to give evidence at the House of Lords National Sport and Recreation Committee. Martin was in a breakout room with Lord Addington, Baroness Morris and Baroness Brady.
The Committee was appointed to consider the effectiveness of current sport and recreation policies and initiatives and the case for a national plan for sport and recreation.
Before the Meeting, Martin contacted a few of our members to get their views. A huge thank you to all who provided their feedback.
Armed with the positive evidence on what sport can help achieve. Martin highlighted the key issues facing young, visually impaired people regarding sport and physical activity directly to the house of Lords.
Improve societies awareness and understanding that sight loss isn’t a barrier to participation in, engagement with or enjoyment of sport or physical activity.
Increase the skills and knowledge of local sports organisations, providers and facilities about sight loss to make participation in sport and physical activity more accessible and inclusive.
Increase the confidence of blind and partially sighted people to take part in sport or get active.
Rainbow Mbuangi, a young man from St. Vincent’s school, joined Martin and shared how his confidence grew considerably since fully partaking in a range of sports he couldn’t previously! Now Rainbow is a Merseyside Blind and Visually Impaired Football Club player and part of the England Blind Football squad.
It was a rewarding experience for both Martin and Rainbow as they engaged the Lord’s Committee in the issues faced, and it is pleasing to know that they are keen to find solutions.
What happens next?
The committee has been receiving written and oral evidence since December and continue to do so. Historically, evidence committee’s produce a report for the Government based on their findings. We will update you when we know more.
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