There are common misconceptions surrounding the type of person that would be ‘suitable’ for a 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 will receive a thorough induction, so no one has to be an expert.

Georgina Sorrell, Volunteering Adviser at the Volunteer Centre says, ‘Realistically, volunteering as a trustee will require some time, understanding and a bit of effort so it’s important to be aware from the start about what the role involves. While there are responsibilities and duties, these should be seen as a positive aspect of being a trustee, as they reflect the importance of the role within the organisation.’

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.

There are currently around one million trustees in England and Wales. Why not make the first step by considering becoming a trustee for one of our local organisations, and make a real difference to your local community today.  The volunteer centre has a wide variety of trustee opportunities of which the following are just a small selection.

Leighton United Football Club was established 30 years ago by a group of local parents keen to encourage under-16s to get involved in the sport.  Today, the club is totally self-funding and is proud to be one of just over 100 clubs in the country have achieved the Football Association Community Club status.  The club assets are managed by trustees and the current chairman is keen to recruit a committee member to maintain the books, which would include the monthly analysis of accounts, and attendance at bi-monthly meetings.

Being parent can be tough. Many parents say that they sometimes long for someone who understands the pressures, to talk to, to confide in or just to share a coffee and a chat with. Home-Start provide trained volunteers to offer just this kind of support to local families.  If you have experience of the voluntary sector, or financial and/or business skills, you may want to consider becoming a member of this active committee. By volunteering as a trustee for Home-Start you too could make a difference for families in your local area.

Buzzer Buses provide door-to-door transport for elderly and disabled people in the Leighton Buzzard area to help them live an independent and active social life. A team of trustees oversee the running of the organisation and look at new ways to enhance the service.  They are keen to recruit members of the local community who have experience in business, public or voluntary sectors or with an interest in disability.

If you are already involved in a local voluntary organisation or community group you may want to consider becoming a trustee for Voluntary and Community Action South Bedfordshire.  As a local development agency, they provide a range of services to strengthen, support and develop local voluntary and community groups. They are keen to recruit trustees in order to increase the quality and diversity of their trustee board.   This role is an ideal opportunity to gain a broad knowledge of the sector whilst allowing you to specialise in areas that most interest you.

If you are interested in any of the featured opportunities, or would like to find out what other trustee roles are available, or please contact Georgina at Voluntary and Community Action on 01525 850559 or email volunteer@action-southbeds.org.uk   If you would like to explore other volunteering opportunities that are available in South Bedfordshire please contact Georgina for a Volunteering Directory or to arrange an informal interview.

Further information on 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.