Generosity Need Not Affect Your Wallet

In a world where charities are in constant competition, we find ourselves bombarded with media appeals, persuading us to give money to worthy causes.  A new survey has revealed that people feel that this is the way they can have the greatest impact – but is this always the case?  What people are much less aware of is the more practical ways they can help – such as trusteeship.  Behind the scenes of all charities, voluntary organisations and community groups there are teams of trustees, who are responsible for making the organisations effective, providing overall direction and maintaining good control of funds.

The recently-launched Get on Board campaign aims to tell people about the exciting and rewarding nature of trusteeship, while bringing in a new generation of trustees to manage the country’s charities and their funds which total £39 billion.  Part of the reason why trusteeship remains a mystery to most people is the common misconceptions surrounding the type of person that would be ‘suitable’ for trusteeship.  As voluntary and community groups serve a wide range of different people it’s important that trustees reflect the diversity of their communities with objectivity and commitment among the essential qualities that organisations look for.  It is also important to have good interpersonal skills and a practical approach to working with people. Anyone over the age of 18 can become a trustee and while some organisations do require specific skills, new trustees should receive a thorough induction, so no one has to be an expert.

The survey also reveals that three-quarters of people are frustrated in their jobs - surprisingly, many do not crave an easier life, but want more appreciation (69 %), influence (33%), challenges (32%) and to do something worthwhile (25%).  As a trustee, you will have the chance to influence the direction of your organisation, and the opportunity for personal development, through training and experience.  It can be a great way to meet new people and improve your career prospects and needn’t take up too much of your time as the average organisation holds six meetings a year, often in the evenings.

Liz Bagshaw has been a trustee for Voluntary and Community Action South Bedfordshire, a local organisation committed to strengthening the effectiveness of the voluntary and community sector in South Bedfordshire, for the last 12 years. Liz describes her experience of being a trustee:

"It’s been challenging but also a lot of fun.
When I started I knew very little about charity law,
financial statements or employment principles but
I have enjoyed learning about all these areas and
many more over the last decade. I find it a stimulating
environment and very satisfying to feel I am making a
contribution to the local community. In addition, the
knowledge and experience I gained as a trustee
was a key factor in my promotion to my last job.”

The Get on Board campaign is being run in England by The Governance Hub together with the Charity Commission and Volunteering England. The South Bedfordshire Volunteer Centre is matching local people with trustee vacancies in the area. Lucy Crayk, Volunteering Officer said,

"It is really important for charities in South Bedfordshire to have
trustees who bring new perspectives and skills to the board table
- from local or specialist knowledge to business skills like finance, fundraising, marketing, law and human resources."

To find out more about becoming a trustee or to register to become one, contact the Volunteer Centre on 01525 850559 or email volunteer@action-southbeds.org.uk.
For more information on the campaign visit www.getonboard.org.uk or text ‘trustee’ to 07766 404 142.

Ends

Notes to editors

1. British Market Research Bureau, Who’s the Boss? and Tomorrow’s World, telephone omnibus surveys, November 2006 (sample of 2006 adults) and August 2006 (sample of 2024 adults).

2. There are 804,629 trustees in England and Wales who are responsible for charity budgets totalling £39.4 billion – source: The Charity Commission.

3. The Governance Hub exists to improve governance within the voluntary and community sector in England by:

• increasing the supply of trustees
• enhancing trustee learning and development
• strengthening and extending support services for trustees.
  
  NCVO is the accountable body for the Governance Hub. Find out more at www.governancehub.org.uk or call 0800 652 4886.

4. The Charity Commission is the independent regulator for charitable activity in England and Wales. There are 190,000 charities in England and Wales and 804,629 trustees. The total annual income of registered charities in England and Wales is £39 billion. Find out more at www.charitycommission.gov.uk

5. Volunteering England is the integrated national volunteer development organisation for England. It works across the voluntary, public and private sectors to raise the profile of volunteering as a powerful force for change and to secure and support an England-wide network of quality Volunteer Centres, promoting and enabling local volunteering and community involvement. Find out more at www.volunteeringengland.org

6. Voluntary and Community Action South Bedfordshire
Voluntary and Community Action is committed to strengthening the effectiveness of the voluntary and community sector in South Bedfordshire by developing, enabling, promoting and supporting voluntary and community action. It seeks to achieve this through advocacy; capacity building activities; enhancing the provision of volunteering opportunities; the exchange of information; the provision of training; advice and consultancy; and by working in partnership with others.

Contact:           Georgina Sorrell, Volunteering Adviser
Address:          Bossard House
                       West Street
                       Leighton Buzzard
                       Bedfordshire LU7 1DA
Telephone:       01525 850559                                       
Email:              volunteer@action-southbeds.org.uk