Dear Partner,

If you’re looking for new ways to engage with local charities, encouraging your employees to become trustees can bring benefits for them and for the wider business. Volunteering as a trustee is a great way for people to use their professional skills in a new environment while also developing new skills by working on diverse boards, all while supporting a good cause.

In this newsletter we will tell you more about what it's like to be a trustee, why they're so important, and share some local opportunities that might be of interest to you and your teams.

Please do share this newsletter with your employees!

Best regards

Jo
jo@voluntarysupport.org.uk   
mobile: 07485 349310

Across the country, charities and community groups, both small and large, are supported by an army of passionate volunteer trustees. Trustees make sure an organisation delivers the services and support it was set up to deliver and that it has the money and resources to do so. A charity cannot run without a team of trustees to oversee its work.

Trustee boards are a masterclass in teamwork. Each person brings their unique skills and experience to the table, for the benefit of the organisation as a whole. For many people, being a trustee is a rewarding and flexible way to volunteer and use their skills and experience for the benefit of their community.

But, as Solette Sheppardson, CEO of Voluntary Support North Surrey explains, charities need people with a wide range of skills and experiences:

“Some people are put off by the idea of volunteering for a trustee role. There is a perception that people need ‘professional’ experience, often at a senior level in an organisation. That is simply not the case.

“Evidence shows that having a diverse board brings fresh and useful perspectives and, while professional skills are important, people’s life experiences and ability to see the bigger picture are essential trustee qualities. Many charities are looking for trustees with lived experience of the type of services that they offer.”

Lewis' story: "Being a trustee offers me the opportunity for professional development and to gain further experience."

Voluntary Support North Surrey newest trustee is Lewis Russell:

“I’m a business manager at the McDonald Peacock Centre, Woking. I wanted to gain a better understanding of my community and be part of that community and felt that volunteering could help me understand who lives and works in the local area and what the need is.

“Being a trustee offers me the opportunity for professional development and to gain further experience. It also provides me with the ability to make a real difference to individuals and society as a whole. As a Business Manager I can provide the board with extensive business knowledge and practices to ensure that goals are achieved. Working with an organisation like VSNS means I can have a positive impact on local services, business and local residents. Volunteering in this way is how I can help those that live and work around my local area to feel proud of their communities and encourage them to put more back into it.”

What is a trustee?

Trustees have control over, and legal responsibility for, a charity’s management and administration. They play a very important role, almost always unpaid, in a sector that contributes significantly to our local communities and their wellbeing.

How much time do I need to give?

This can vary. Typically, most trustee boards meet every 6-8 weeks for a couple of hours, at a time that suits everyone. There is often work you may need to carry out in between meetings, again at times that suit you.

Some roles, such as those of a Chair or Treasurer, may need more of your time.

What experience do I need?

Some roles, and some organisations, may ask for specific experience - such as HR, marketing, finance or legal - as they will have identified a specific gap. Many organisations will welcome people with a broad range of experience. What's most important is that you can see the bigger picture, and are able to contribute to group discussions. Organisations particularly value people with some lived-experience of their cause.

Here are just some of the good causes looking for trustees at the moment:

Trustee roles:

Home-Start Runnymede and Woking: supports local families who have at least one child under 5 to offer informal, friendly and confidential practical and emotional support. 

Spelthorne Mental Health Association: long-established independent local charity which runs a day centre for Spelthorne people recovering from mental illness.

TALK Surrey: small local charity that offers long-term communication and social support for people with aphasia and their families.

Treasurer roles - if you have a financial background, would you consider one of these?

Surrey Drug and Alcohol Care: 24/7 helpline, 365 days a year, for anyone concerned about the problems that drugs, alcohol or mental wellbeing cause. We support those with problems, or their parents, siblings or friends. 

The Penrose Club for Adults with Special Needs: provides social activities for people over the age of 16 with special needs/learning difficulties.

Chair roles - if you're looking for a leadership position or experience, would you consider one of these?

Mustard Seed Autism Trust: offers a professional & practical service to families living with autism.

Sight for Surrey: offers a lifetime of support to people who are blind or partially sighted, Deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing.

If you'd like to get regular updates on volunteering opportunities in your area, please sign up to our volunteer newsletters here.