Volunteer Centre News Update – week beginning 7 November 2022

Trustee Focus

Jim Mitchell, like many trustees, started as a traditional volunteer, supporting local peer support organisation SAFE. He now acts as an advisor, supporting the organisation with its strategic goals, and ensuring that they continue to be able to

“I really loved the organisation,” explains Jim. “I needed a meaningful activity in my life after a period of change. I had volunteered with them and was approached to help on a more strategic level, probably due to my good admin skills!”

Something that concerned Jim at the start was the extra commitment that might be needed as a trustee, over and above the more service-level volunteering that he had been doing. “Although it is a serious commitment, that shouldn’t put people off,” he says. “I was able to work on things I enjoyed and play to my strengths. Trusteeship offers a level of flexibility and opportunity which is rare in a formal, employed role.”

Jim’s time as a trustee saw him attending regular meetings, as well as networking and representing the organisation at meetings and events. He spent quite a lot of time looking for funding opportunities, and proofreading funding bids. “Don’t underestimate the importance of having someone else read through your work before submission!” he says, and we concur!

There is much to enjoy about being a trustee. For Jim is was the opportunity to develop skills. “I’ve definitely improved my CV,” he says, “and at the same time have had a positive impact on the people we work with.”

But, as with all volunteering roles, there are challenges. “You have to be quite self-directed,” explains Jim. “It will take some discipline but it’s so worth it. A trustee has to keep the organisation going so a lot can fall to you – you have to be ready to pick up the slack.”

Trustees can bring a wealth of experience and expertise. But it is a misconception that to be a trustee you need qualifications, past experience, or even to be retired. Trustees bring their own unique perspectives and lived experiences, and harnessing that, making sure everyone gets their chance to shine and keeping everything running, is a wonderful challenge, unlike most other jobs.

It is sometimes forgotten that trustees are volunteers. When you become a volunteer, you often think in terms of a few hours a week, every week, but there are more obligations as a trustee. Often you have more seniority than even the managers of the organisation, so you truly are representing it. You need to know your polices front to back, as well as what your organisational purpose is and how everything runs.

“SAFE is always looking to expand and this requires some business acumen,” says Jim as he explains why the organisation is looking for new trustees. “Ultimately we want to help more people through our work.” There are so many ways for trustees to bring their talents and skills to the role, from financial and operational, to volunteer supervision. Everyone can find 

Jim has some great tips for anyone considering becoming a trustee – or even for someone who hasn’t considered it; maybe this will give you some ideas. He says “have an informal chat first before you decide on anything. Decide if this is the right thing for you. You’ll get so much more from it if you know it is going to give you a new skill or perhaps you have a pet passion you’ve always wanted to try out. Only then should you agree to it.”

And Jim is right. Becoming a trustee can be a significant commitment, but if you go into it with the right understanding it can be incredibly rewarding. When organisations look for new trustees, they will usually be more than happy to have an informal chat, to invite you along to a meeting so that you can see how everything works, show you around the organisation and let you get a good feel for what they do and whether it connects with you, your interests, and what you can offer.

So do pick up that phone, even if you are interested in being a trustee for an organisation that doesn’t seem to be currently looking for new blood, because most organisations will be happy to hear from you. Speak to the CVS team, because we can put you in contact with organisations in need but we can also talk you through the roles and responsibilities of trusteeship and answer any burning questions that you might have – maybe even put to rest some concerns and reservations.

Jim is proud to have made a meaningful impact on people’s lives. “It really helps to pick an organisation whose values match your own. Remember your own passions, work to your very best ability, and surprise yourself!”

If you would like to know more about being a trustee, what it involves, how you can get involved, what training and support might be available – anything at all – then contact Mark by email at [email protected] or call our office on 01524 555900.