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RYA South Regional Chair Role

We are recruiting for the next Chair of the South Regional Team at an important and exciting time for the region's development.

Having recently completed a review of the RYA Regional Teams and having revised their structure and Terms of Reference, our Regional Teams are now better placed to support engagement, provide support and deliver specific projects that enable the delivery of our strategy Together on Water.

In addition the process for recruiting and inducting volunteers has been improved to make it easier and more rewarding to volunteer for the RYA. Whilst we have made some good steps forwards, we now need to implement these changes, so this is an important role for the ongoing success of the region.

Commitment required

2-3 days per month for a term of 2 years with the option to extend by 2 years with the approval of the Board.

Purpose of the Regional Team

To support the overall RYA Strategy Together on Water in the South region. More specifically the purpose of the Regional Team is:

  • To support and enable engagement with and between internal stakeholders in the region The internal stakeholder groups include: RYA affiliated organisations, recognised training centres (“centres”) and other internal stakeholders as agreed with the Board.
  • To be a point of contact for RYA affiliates and members within the region
  • To ensure the RYA is connected to and understands the needs of the region
  • To create and deliver a regional implementation plan
  • To support the region through the delivery of specific projects

Dimensions

170 RYA Affiliated Organisations in Region
252 Recognised Training Centres in Region
15,500 RYA members
74,000 members of Affiliated Clubs

Further information

The South Regional Team is a non-policy-forming committee of the English Regional Forum covering the following areas – Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, West Berkshire, Chichester Harbour, Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands.

The Regional Team will comprise a Regional Management Group, a Regional Engagement Group and a Regional Volunteer Team. The number of members of the Regional Team varies, but the Regional Management Group is limited to 7 persons to include a Regional Development Officer. The Chair will work closely with this RYA staff member to achieve the purposes of the Regional Team, with the Chair leading the volunteers within the Regional Team.

The Chair will usually chair all regular meeting of the Regional Team and represent the region at the English Regional Forum as well as on other bodies as needed.

The English Regional Forum enables interaction between the RYA regions, the RYA Chair, Chief Executive and senior development and performance staff. It positions the English regions alongside those of the other Home Countries, RYA Cymru Wales, RYA Northern Ireland and RYA Scotland, and provides the regions with the opportunity to support and learn from each other.

Responsibilities & Commitments

  • Provide leadership to the volunteers on the Regional Team
  • Represent the Region in discussions at both a regional and at a national level where appropriate.
  • Develop and maintain knowledge of boating issues and delivery arrangements within the region
  • Develop strong relationships with internal and external partners and stakeholders
  • Encourage effective communication between/ to /and from members and clubs to the RYA nationally and regionally
  • Together with the Regional Team develop a regional strategy and delivery plans for the team and for the committee to deliver and enhance locally the RYA strategy
  • Ensure that the regional team roles are maintained and regularly refreshed

Skills and qualities

The Regional Chair will need to be:

  • An experienced sailor or boater, either across a range of activities or specialising in one, but with the ability to understand the needs of a wider range or participants and organisations.
  • Able to think strategically and be able to understand and distinguish between local, regional and national perspectives
  • Confident to represent the Region at regional and national levels
  • Able to lead and motivate volunteers and to chair meetings effectively
  • Organised, diplomatic and have good communication skills
  • IT literate including the use of Microsoft 365

We will provide Regional Chairs with:

  1. An opportunity to play a key role in supporting the development and resilience of sailing and boating in the region and to represent the views of affiliates, centres and members
  2. Connections to the relevant clubs, centres or members
  3. RYA branded clothing for attendance at meetings
  4. A MS 365 account and a RYA email address
  5. The reimbursement of expenses

For further information please read the RYA South Regional Team Terms of Reference

The Application and Appointment Process 

For an informal conversation about the role please email gareth.brookes@rya.org.uk 

To apply please send your CV and a short statement about why you are interested in the role to gareth.brookes@rya.org.uk by 5pm Thursday 19 October. 

We will hold Individual meetings with shortlisted applicants to discuss the role until 23 October. 

We intend to appoint the new Chair in November 2023.