Trustees' Week 2024 - The role of lived experience in Trusteeship

In recent months, there have been a lot of changes that are impacting the VCSE sector. Charities, many of which were already facing high demand for services, are now facing the additional challenge of adapting to future demands. This is especially evident in volunteering and engagement, and changes in the world of volunteering have been documented even before recent changes in the UK, as captured in NCVO's 2023 Time Well Spent Survey.

Trustees, who are also acting on a voluntary basis, have an essential role in this journey, guiding an organisation and influencing decisions for long-term impact. This of course extends to volunteers assisting with the day-to-day running of a charity, enabling it to fulfil its mission. Trustees really are the driving force behind an organisation, championing the pivotal role that volunteers play in an organisation's success.

With this in mind, recruiting trustees who not only have relevant skills but lived experience - especially that relates to the work of your organisation - can prove invaluable in achieving both immediate and longer term goals. There is a layer of understanding, experience and connection that can be brought to the table, and this can have a huge impact. It also extends a level of understanding to those who are using services, as well as volunteers, who we know will often take up a volunteering role because of their past experiences, or because the values of the organisation align with their own individual values.

At Gateshead Volunteer Centre, we work with people who have a vast variety of life experiences, and sometimes there will be barriers to individuals volunteering when they want to do so. We work closely with individuals to establish their interests and passions, to then broker an ideal volunteer opportunity. This service also extends to supporting people into trustee roles. Often, the people we work with will have a valuable and unique skillset, along with lived experience in particular areas, however they just need a confidence boost to see how valuable they would be to an organisation. We have been successful in supporting many people into trustee roles who are now delivering a brilliant service and benefitting personally from the opportunity.

Having an element of lived experience as a trustee will really empower a person to see where a service is excelling, but also identify areas to develop and improve. It also allows them to build a unique connection with those across the organisation. The benefits in terms of the personal growth of the trustee - not to mention the other trustees on the board - cannot be discounted either.

We would also like to highlight that, while lived experience is so valuable in all areas of volunteering, including trusteeships, it is important to recognise any additional support that an individual may need. Careful consideration must be given to whether a person is ready and the impact it may have on them, as well as considering the emotive element and the effect this may have on decision making. This is why having a diverse and supportive board is absolutely essential to the success of the organisation.

What we would like to say to anyone reading this who may be on the fence, or who thinks they'd like to be a trustee but doesn't feel they have the skills or confidence for it, is come and talk to us! There is so much support and guidance available out there to help you succeed, and you are no doubt much more valuable than you realise!

Why not take this trustee quiz to test your knowledge?

You can also reach out to the Community Foundation via their Trustee Match programme.

Finally, you can also contact the team at Gateshead Volunteer Centre at volunteering@connectedvoice.org.uk if you feel you require additional support, or if you feel you are experiencing barriers preventing you from finding your ideal role.

Your trustee journey could start today, and we are here to help you along the way!