Young trustees
Youth on board Young trustees can gain valuable experience and career inspiration while contributing fresh insight and new skills to the boardrooms of charities
Decide what you're passionate about and go from there
Case studies: the young trustees n
The law graduate
The medical student
Leon Ward, aged 21, is a trustee of
Felicity Jones, aged 23, is a final year
Plan UK. He graduated in Law from
medical student at King's College
Westminster University this summer.
London and a trustee of Medsin UK and Afrinspire.
I
n the year 2012-2013, 44% of adults volunteered formally at least once a year, and 29% did so at least once a month. The 2012 Olympics left a legacy of volunteers heralded for their vital contributions, as Lord Coe gave a special 'thank you' to the Game Makers. However, Charity Commission research shows that about a third of charities across England and Wales have at least one trusteevacancy. Trusteeship among young people is also very low, with just 0.5% of trustees across England and Wales aged 18-24. With approximately 800,000 trustees currently in position, there is still much to do to raise awareness of the value young people can bring to boards — among charities, and individuals themselves. Knowledge of social media and other technologies is often cited as a key contribution young people bring to boards, but their value is not limited to this area alone. They offer a fresh perspective, and
can often have different insights into the beneficiaries, donors and supporters of the charity. A diverse board including people from different backgrounds and of all ages is far more likely to successfully represent the community it works for. In turn, young trustees can gain confidence, experience and expertise — as well as potential advantages when competing for jobs. Trustees' responsibilities often fall above that of the individual's day-to-day employment, offering the individual a chance to play a key role in the strategic decisions and management of a charity. It's also a great way to meet new people with similar interests and a passion for the same cause.
appointments when recruiting, meaning the same appointments are made from the same groups of people year after year. With this in mind, it's perhaps no surprise that the average trustee is 57, white and male. In order to encourage more young people to become trustees, charities need to demonstrate the benefits of trusteeship to young people, and tell them what they can bring to the role. They must consider how they can nurture and support existing volunteers to 'step up' to trusteeship. The Charity Commission has produced a checklist which helps charities identify the questions and issues to consider when thinking about recruiting young people.
Charities can take several proactive steps to diversify their boards. First, they should ensure they are using wide-reaching recruitment methods. Charity Commission research shows that 53% of charities rely solely on their own networks, members and word-of-mouth
The sheer size of the charity sector can be overwhelming. The events that take place during Trustees' Week, (4-10 November 2013) are a great vehicle to encourage people from all walks of life to get involved and make a difference. Many positions are
advertised but it is also a good idea to write to a charity you're interested in and ask about opportunities. Decide what you're passionate about, and go from there. ICSA Members and others working as governance and compliance professionals, may find their employment background a real help when applying for trusteeship positions. Their experience of working with boards and senior management means they already have an understanding of many issues trustees face. Experience advising their organisation's boards on governance and compliance enables them to guide charities on the benefits of board diversity and the resources available to aid this. Hundreds of thousands of young people already give up their time to volunteer in their community, so we know they are willing and able to get involved. It's time to make them, and charities, aware of the benefits of having young people seated around the N I boardroom table. •
'I've been a trustee of Plan UK for three years, since I was 18. The recruitment process was straightforward, if not a little dull. Similar to all of Plan's trustees, I had to submit a CV and participate in a telephone interview. I was then "approved" by the board before my appointment. I think charities could revamp their recruitment methods for trustees and make them more interesting. There is, after all, only so much a panel can take from a CV and from an interview performance. 'Being a young trustee on the board of a prolific international organisation can be daunting. Plan UK is such a respected charity and I have to remember that when I speak at events, even in a different capacity, I am still an ambassador for it. I'm often questioned about my work with Plan at events unrelated to trusteeship. People forget that trustees don't tend to delve into the micro details of every issue at board meetings, and so we may not know the answer to very specific questions. I would advise young people thinking about trusteeship to be bold; it's OK not to know everything. Ask for help or training when you need it, and never underestimate the importance of networking — it landed me a sector-focused job at Civil Society Media. Choose a colleague to mentor you and seek appraisals from your chair. I also learned from a different trusteeship to not be afraid of stepping down when the time is right.
I became a trustee for Medsin UK, a national network of students tackling health inequity, in 2011. A year later I took on a second trusteeship for Afrinspire, a charity catalysing grassroots development across East Africa. It can be tricky balancing studying with trusteeship. However, I've improved my time-management, and learned transferrable skills by doing both concurrently, such as how to communicate with experts effectively. I've been really inspired by Medsin and Afrinspire, which has motivated me to study hard to gain skills to improve healthcare overseas. Sometimes I've been disappointed when projects at my charities have not worked out as I'd hoped. I've also really struggled when the organisations have not had the support I feel they deserve but facing difficulties can help define what drives you. For me as a Christian, these experiences strengthened my relationship with God. Learning more about myself in this way will help when I face challenges in the future, be it in my career or in other areas of life.