Dear Applicant,
I’m delighted that you are interested in joining the Homeless World Cup Foundation’s Board of Trustees.
Since 2003, the Homeless World Cup has touched the lives of 1 million people who are homeless or socially excluded around the world. This has been done by working in partnership in 74 countries and the successful running of the annual Homeless World Cup tournament.
Our mission is to use football to support and inspire people who are homeless to change their own lives, and to change perceptions and attitudes towards people who are experiencing homelessness.
We are looking for up to three Trustees to join our Board. We are seeking candidates with a passion for tackling homelessness; with a belief in the power of sport for development; with a clear understanding and experience of good governance. We would very much welcome applicants who reflect the diversity of Scotland’s people.
We hope that successful candidates will be appointed in December and receive a full induction programme, before joining the Board in January 2018.
As a Board we aim to constructively challenge each other’s views before reaching a consensus, whilst enjoying a good working relationship. Our Chief Executive, Ryan Mackie, leads an effective, and friendly small staff team and ensures that in our roles as Trustees we have the information required to carry out our responsibilities.
Listed below you will find further information on the work of the Homeless World Cup Foundation, the timetable, selection process and how to apply.
Thank you once again for taking the time to consider applying. Please note that the deadline for applications is 12 noon on Monday 27th November with interviews taking place on Thursday 7th December.
Yours faithfully
Mel Young Chair
The Homeless World Cup Foundation, 1 Broughton Market, Edinburgh EH3 6NU A Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee |Registered in Scotland Number SC 293141 | Scottish Charity Number SC 037091
The Homeless World Cup Foundation
The Homeless World Cup began in 2003 and has grown into a truly global annual event. It has been hosted in numerous cities including Paris, Melbourne, Milan, Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro as well as the City of Edinburgh, where the Homeless World Cup Foundation HQ is located.
The Homeless World Cup Foundation (HWCF) works in partnership with organisations using street football as a force for good in 74 countries. HWCF touches the lives of over 100,000 people who are homeless every year.
How football helps people who are homeless Homelessness forces people into isolation which affects their ability to communicate and work with others. When a person who is homeless gets involved in football, they build relationships and become teammates who learn to trust. They have a responsibility to attend training sessions and games, to be on time and be prepared to participate. They feel that they are part of something larger than themselves. The sense of empowerment that comes from participating in street football helps people who are homeless to see that they can change their own lives for the better.
Street football can also help improve other aspects of life for a person who is homeless, such as physical health and self-esteem and reconnecting with family and friends. Experience has shown this is an effective way of engaging people who are homeless who have not responded to other support.
The Homeless World Cup tournament The Homeless World Cup is the highlight of the year for our national partners and provides an aspirational goal for all players. The experience is transformational with players representing their country in front of a supportive audience (80,000+ over the tournament) when previously many were alienated from society. Players are given the opportunity to travel and meet people who have faced similar challenges. The tournament is competitive, but its special structure and emphasis on fair play mean that everyone plays until the last day. There are several levels of competition and trophies to win, providing a sense of achievement for teams of all skill levels.
Impact 77% of players state that their lives changed significantly (education, employment, rehabilitation) because of their involvement with our street football programmes. An amazing 94% of players say that the Homeless World Cup has had a positive impact on their lives. The feeling of belonging, the challenge of working in a team, regaining a health-oriented attitude towards life, self-esteem, experience of representing their country, and last but not least the experience of fun, is a powerful combination to change a person’s life.
Perceptions HWCF and the tournament also challenge societal attitudes towards people who are homeless. Research by La Trobe University and surveys of spectators at tournaments have shown it significantly impacts attitudes towards people who are homeless for the better among members of the audience i.e. 83% of spectators at the 2016 tournament in Glasgow agreed or strongly agreed that they had a more positive attitude towards people who are homeless and 90% of spectators said they were proud that Scotland had hosted the event.
The Homeless World Cup Foundation, 1 Broughton Market, Edinburgh EH3 6NU A Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee |Registered in Scotland Number SC 293141 | Scottish Charity Number SC 037091
Those watching the tournament know every player has a story of overcoming tremendous challenges. The spectators cheer on players who are homeless who previously they might have walked past in the street, and the tournament allows players, spectators and those watching around the world (over 3m) to join the footballing celebration.
The tournament also shines a spotlight on the issue of homelessness around the world as well as in the host city. HWCF works with international media from over 100 countries and tells the stories of players who have used football to overcome adversity to maximise our impact.
Supporters HWCF has had support from His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, and has several high profile ambassadors including actor Colin Farrell. The Dutch King opened the event in 2015, and United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, wrote a letter to be read at the 2016 opening ceremony. Previous events have been attended by Eric Cantona and F1 Champion, Lewis Hamilton.
Legacy Each host city determines their own legacy goals with support in achieving these from HWCF. In Melbourne, the high profile of the tournament combined with lobbying of government resulted in funding to roll out street football programmes across Australia. In Rio a training facility was built and in Glasgow last year, 150 people who were homeless were trained to be volunteers during the event, with a range of free development opportunities in the year afterwards including creative writing classes, football coaching and gym membership.
Beyond the tournament HWCF supports our national partners year-round with advice and guidance on developing programmes to better support people who are homeless, and also runs a referee training programme to provide a progression pathway to former homeless players. The Foundation promotes the work of our partners and ensures the issue of homelessness remains prominent. However, there is still much to be done in addressing the massive global problem of homelessness - the UN estimate there are over 100 million people are homeless.
The Homeless World Cup Foundation, 1 Broughton Market, Edinburgh EH3 6NU A Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee |Registered in Scotland Number SC 293141 | Scottish Charity Number SC 037091
Recruitment timetable
Please see below for the main dates for this recruitment process which we hope will help you plan your diary. We aim to notify candidates who are being called forward for interview, on Wednesday 29th November, initially by phone, followed up with confirmation by email.
Closing date for applications Monday 27th November 2017
Agree shortlisted candidates Tuesday 28th November 2017
Interviews Thursday 7th December 2017
Selection process
The selection process for new Trustees will be based on the skills, knowledge and experience demonstrated in application and interview, and we will look for examples of candidate’s interest in and passion for our mission:
To use football to support and inspire people who are homeless to change their own lives, and to change perceptions and attitudes towards people who are experiencing homelessness.
Candidates will have a passion for tackling homelessness and a belief in the power of sport for development; with a clear understanding and experience of good governance. We would very much welcome applicants who reflect the diversity of Scotland’s people.
How to apply
To apply for the role of Trustee please complete our application form.
Your completed form should be emailed to Ryan Mackie, Chief Executive, at [email protected] or sent by post to: The Homeless World Cup Foundation, 1 Broughton Market, Edinburgh EH3 6NU.
If you would like to discuss the roles in further detail please contact Ryan Mackie, Chief Executive, on 0131 290 2241.
The Homeless World Cup Foundation, 1 Broughton Market, Edinburgh EH3 6NU A Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee |Registered in Scotland Number SC 293141 | Scottish Charity Number SC 037091