Leadership and Management

The Lantern Community is led by a Board of Trustees and a senior management team who work together to ensure the charity is well governed, responsibly managed and focused on supporting the people who live, work and learn here. This page explains our governance structure, management team, training approach, policies and key administrative details.

Our Approach

The Lantern Community is committed to building a community that responds with creativity, flexibility and openness to the changing needs of the people who live, work and learn here.

Our leadership and management structure supports this aim by ensuring the charity is well governed, responsibly managed and focused on delivering its charitable purpose.

A young man with glasses smiling in a kitchen or workshop environment, wearing a blue t-shirt and a white apron with kitchen supplies and cleaning cloths on the counter behind him.

Governance

The Lantern Community is governed by a Board of Trustees, who are also Directors of the charitable company. They are accountable to both the Charity Commission and Companies House and are responsible for the good governance of The Lantern Community.

The Trustees have ultimate responsibility for directing the affairs of the charity, ensuring it remains solvent, well-run and focused on delivering public benefit.

The Board meets at least quarterly to review management reports and consider key matters including:

  • Strategic direction

  • Governance

  • Finance

  • Estate matters

  • Long-term planning

  • Organisational development

A number of committees and working groups support the Board by helping specific areas of work receive regular attention and oversight.

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Appointment and Training of Trustees

The Lantern Community must have at least five Trustees at any time. No more than two Trustees may be coworkers. Trustees are proposed for appointment by the existing Board.

The Board aims to include Trustees with a range of skills, experience and backgrounds so that it can fulfil its responsibilities effectively.

All Trustees receive an induction pack, and specialist training is provided from time to time on topics such as charity governance.

The Lantern Community is managed and administered by a Chief Executive Officer, senior managers and staff with professional responsibilities across the community.

Together, the team brings experience across areas including:

  • Social care

  • Learning disability support

  • Training

  • Finance and administration

  • Arts and crafts

  • Estate management

  • Camphill culture and ethos

This combination of professional knowledge and community experience helps ensure the day-to-day running of The Lantern Community is safe, caring and well supported.

Management Team

Training and Professional Development

All senior support staff involved in residential care and support hold relevant Health and Social Care qualifications. Care staff and volunteers are supported to complete the Care Certificate.

The Lantern Community also provides regular training and refresher courses, including:

  • Health and Safety

  • Emergency First Aid

  • Food Hygiene

  • Moving and Handling

  • Safeguarding

Training needs are reviewed regularly through supervision sessions. Annual performance reviews also consider each person’s learning goals alongside the needs of the organisation.

Governance and Administrative Details

Policies and Procedures

The Lantern Community has policies in place to support safety, transparency and accountability. Useful policies include:

We welcome feedback about any aspect of The Lantern Community. Whether you would like to make a suggestion, raise a concern, share a complaint or offer a compliment, we want to hear from you.

You can speak to us directly, or a friend, family member or supporter can contact us on your behalf.

For concerns or complaints, please contact the main office:

Telephone: 01425 460201
Email: info@lanterncommunity.org.uk

You can also refer to our Complaints Policy for further information.

We take comments, concerns and suggestions seriously, and we always do our best to put things right.

Comments, Concerns and Compliments

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