Reflections on being a Trustee

After 6 years, I recently stood down from being a Trustee of a great charity, Penny Brohn UK. The Trustee role and charity governance is under a huge amount of scrutiny at the moment and hardly a day goes by without some challenge (e.g. about whether Trustees should stay volunteers) or some direction (e.g. questions Trustees should ask about fundraising). I did not stop being a Trustee for any negative reason or because of the pressures of the role. It seemed like the right time to stop after many years and due to other time commitments. Would I be a Trustee again? Yes. Would I recommend being a Trustee? Absolutely.

Any ending is a time for reflection, so here is what I gained from being a Trustee:

Emotional connection – I have talked before that as a funder you are slightly detached and miss out on the shared energy of working for a common cause. Having a more engaged role with just one charity meant I could really connect with the cause, our clients and supporters.

Perspective – just as travelling reminds you that ‘the way we do things’ is not the only way things have to be done, so being a Trustee allowed me to experience and be part of an organisation that is managed differently. I could take that learning to other charities I met and vice versa.

Reality check – in my day job I read and assess lots of plans and funding strategies. Reviewing these and forming an opinion is one thing, being responsible for the income flow quite another. I felt the risk, the worry about cashflow, the disappointment when a bid is turned down. This helped me to remember the importance, as a funder, of things like prompt payments, constructive feedback, the need for diverse income streams and the difficulty of planning in uncertainty.

New experiences – as a Trustee I have been involved in decisions and experiences I would not normally get to do. I have walked on hot coals, asked major donors for support, met Prince Charles, had to decide about cutting down lovely old trees, learn about pension auto-enrolment and the details of loan agreements.

Being valued – the charitable sector has a long history of supporting volunteers. The prime motivation of volunteers is to give something back or make a difference. As a volunteer Trustee I was no different – it is a good feeling when you give your time and expertise to something that matters and are recognised for doing so.

Being a Trustee is an important role. You are responsible for making progress towards a vital aim and caretaker of staff, volunteers, buildings and hopes. It is great to do this as part of a team and it really is incredibly rewarding. I recommend it to you all.

Emma Beeston Consultancy advises funders and philanthropists on giving strategies and processes; researching and scoping options; selecting causes and charities; assessments and impact monitoring. www.emmabeeston.co.uk ; emma@emmabeeston.co.uk; @emmabeeston01