evening standard MONDAY 26 october 2015
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Getting on board for a good cause While you may have to wait until your fifties to reach the corporate boardroom, charities offer young people the chance to gain high-level experience. Ahead of Trustees’ Week, three young board members talk to Niki Chesworth
Difficult job: charity Kids Company, founded by Camilla Batmanghelidjh, collapsed earlier this year
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shley Russell was only 19 when he first became a trustee of the Scout Association, which has specific spaces for young people on its board. Now 20, he says: “I had previously been an elected youth member and thought I’d do a good job, so I looked into it. It was really the chance to have an impact on a national scale that cemented my interest — a chance to make decisions that benefit every single one of our members. “Scouting really changed my life and allowed me to really be myself, so who wouldn’t want to be a part of driving that forward?” While charity boards usually look for a specific skills set from trustees — a financial background, legal expertise, marketing skills or management experience — when it comes to young trustees, they often look for a different range of attributes. “They were looking for someone who could be the voice of the end-user — I was still a youth member of the Scout Association myself — and could work well within the team of trustees, be organised enough to be prepared for meetings and articulate enough to make points coherently and succinctly,” he says. “Equally important were the values I hold around making sure scouting is open to any young people to join and is delivering a fun and meaningful programme of activities to all that do.” While trustees are volunteers, giving their time and expertise to a cause they care passionately about, they also gain much from the experience. “It’s certainly ‘wowed’ a few recruiters to have such a responsible position on my CV,” says Russell, who is a student. “Personally, I have grown immeasurably. Not only do I feel more confident, but I’ve learned how best to weigh up the facts to inform my views and how best to present them. I’ve met some fantastic people who have shaped me as a person and I’ve learned about forming a strategy, the importance of planning and the importance of stakeholders. “I’ve also been part of us delivering projects that I’m extremely proud of. Our ‘Better Prepared’ campaign will make scouting present and active in 200 of the most deprived wards in the UK and the ‘Million Hands’ campaign will see 500,000 scouts changing lives
CHARITY TRUSTEESHIP a responsible role While trustees give their time and expertise to help a cause, the role involves more than simply volunteering to help a good cause — it is a responsible, board-level position which comes with legal and regulatory requirements. Trustees can be potentially liable, too, if they act in breach of their in their local communities. I honestly don’t think there are many 20-yearolds who can really feel the pride I do in making such a difference in the lives of others.” Ben Chance, 31, from Battersea, first became a trustee at One World Media, which supports vibrant and independent media that empowers citizens, promotes justice and contributes to international development, when he was 27 and says: “I was aware that not every charity would want my input with such little experience. I focused on what I thought I could bring to the table: my professional financial skills, an outsiders’ perspective and a youthful, energetic approach. “Getting On Board, a charity which helps people find and apply for suitable opportunities on boards of charities, were hugely helpful in giving me the support I needed to believe that my skills and enthusiasm would be of use.” Chance, who works for wealth managers Vestra Private Office, says One World Media was looking for someone who could help in Perfect opportunity: trustee Ben Chance
legal duties. Visit gov.uk and read the Charity Commission’s “The essential trustee: what you need to know, what you need to do” to get a clearer understanding of the key duties, when trustees can be liable and the roles of charity officers. Also, read the National Council for Voluntary Organisations’ good areas of finance and audit and that suited his background in financial services. He typically spends an average of two hours a week on trustee work and also attends quarterly board meetings, a half-day strategy summarising and other events run throughout the year. “With my corporate background, I can provide the financial rigour required within a small organisation that does not have a full-time finance director. My job in wealth management also means I am lucky enough to meet a wide array of inspiring and successful people and when appropriate, I try to connect my role as a trustee to my professional network. “Aside from the personal reward, on a professional level I have gained confidence from interacting, presenting, negotiating and debating with the board and in learning about the media, development and charity sectors.” Felicity Knights, a junior doctor, was only 22 when she first became a trustee. She says: “If you want to change
trustee guide at ncvo.org.uk, and the Charities Aid Foundation’s young trustee guide, available at cafonline.org. Trustees are not expected to be experts in every area, even with the collective skills and experience of the board overall. But they are expected to use reasonable care and the world, you have to change the structures that govern it. Trustees have a unique opportunity to make a real difference to the direction or overall strategy of the charity. “I was initially hesitant to apply, feeling that I might be too young, or not have anything to offer, but rapidly found that I had something tangible to offer both charities of which I have been a trustee: Medsin-UK, the UK student global health network, and Afrinspire: an international development charity implementing sustainable, community-led programmes across East Africa.” Knights already knew Medsin well — she had attended national voting assemblies, coordinated a local group and hosted a national conference alongside her now-husband, Daniel Knights, who became a trustee at the same time. She says that other young people wanting to become trustees need to be “passionate about the vision and values of the charity”. “I think charity boards thrive when there is a real diversity of skills,” she says. “For example, as the youngest trustee on Afrinspire’s board, I still have a lot to learn, but I believe I bring more than just ideas of how to engage with other young people. I offer skills
involved professionals where needed. As the recent demise of Kids Company, founded by the colourful Camila Batmanghelidjh, has shown, even with highly experienced trustees — in this case chaired by television executive Alan Yentob — things can go wrong, and trustees can be held accountable. shared by many of my generation in social net working and media — techniques which are becoming increasingly influential. “Facing the difficulties and responsibilities of trusteeship have taught me a lot about myself and how I deal with complex situations,” she says. “I’m confident the skills I’ve gained through trusteeship will be highly applicable throughout my career.”
THE NEXT STEP
Trustees’ Week, which runs from November 2-8, showcases the great work that trustees do and highlights opportunities for people to get involved. Find out more by following @TrusteesWeek on Twitter, or visit ing trusteesweek.blogspot.com. To find a trustee role, visit Getting on Board (gettingonboard.org). You can also use the Charity Commission online register to find charities in your area or in the area of work you are interested in (gov.uk/government/ organisations/charity-commission), or contact a charity directly. Other trustee recruitment services include thebiggive.org.uk, which has a list of trustee vacancies, and reachskills.org.uk, which has placed more than 1,000 trustees so far.