Celebrating, Inspiring and Supporting trustees

I have been a Trustee of Cowley Child Contact Centre (“the Centre”) for over 15 years and am currently serving as the charity’s secretary in addition to being an active team leader at the contact sessions the Centre operates. The Centre provides a safe space for children of divorced or separated families to see non-resident parents, siblings and other families in a supported contact centre and is one of only two contact centres serving much of Oxfordshire.

I started volunteering with the Centre in 2008 and have basically never left, taking on more responsibility including in relation to my trustee role as time has gone on. One of the things for me that is really important about the Centre is that it is a small operation that is genuinely there to serve the communities its volunteers and trustees live and work in.

I think it varies depending on the type of charity you are a trustee of, but being a qualified solicitor certainly helps with dealing with the paperwork needed to keep the Centre accredited with our national association and reviewing the policies needed in order to operate! I think all trustees need good attention to detail and a willingness to upskill or improve your knowledge of areas you are not familiar with. Good time management and multi-tasking skills are also useful as like many younger trustees I am juggling a full time job as well as other commitments outside of work.

The financial position of many child contact centres is precarious and during my time as a trustee I have seen us at the point where we thought we would have to close due to our financial position, compared to now where we are relatively well resourced. Raising funds for ongoing operating costs is always a challenge, particularly as many grant giving charities will only provide funds for new or specific projects rather than ongoing costs such as paying the rent on the premises you operate from. We are very fortunate that the local family law community have been keen to support us and keep us open and this has made a big difference, allowing us to focus on more important things, including how we can best help the families using our services. Many people I have spoken to over the years are surprised to find that this type of service is not fully funded by central government funds but the reality is that when money is available it is never guaranteed and the available pot of money gets ever smaller. This is particularly frustrating when the demand from families for the resource we offer and that of other similar centres is growing, not reducing.

Family life in general has become more complicated in recent years and this has been exacerbated by Covid-19. The families that come to us often need more help than we can provide or cannot afford the legal representation that they really need, which previously may have been covered by legal aid. As a trustee I am committed to keeping the services of the Centre free so that we are able to help as many families as possible but realistically there may come a time when this is not feasible.

I also have to accept that practically I am limited in what I can achieve through being a trustee and volunteer at the Centre and sometimes that is hard when you are working with young children and families who deserve more than is available for them.

Many things and I feel I keep on learning in the role. I firmly believe that the experience of being a trustee has helped me in my professional role advising clients in the education and charity sectors as I have my own practical experience to draw on regarding issues that can arise, allowing me to put myself in the position of a fellow trustee more easily. On a personal level it has also been a fulfilling role to be involved with and I enjoy both being a hands on volunteer as well as an active participant in making the bigger decisions needed at board level.

Research the charity or charities you might be interested in becoming a trustee of and choose one that you have a genuine interest in and where you think your skillset will add something to the existing trustee board. Also consider picking a role that will challenge you; I have learnt a lot over the years from working alongside various other talented trustees at the Centre.

Rubicon Dance is a community dance organisation and registered charity based in Adamsdown, Cardiff. Their vision is an inclusive, vibrant, and diverse Wales in which anyone, anywhere, can experience the joys and benefits of dancing to their full potential and aspirations. Rubicon are proud to be one of the four oldest and most respected community dance organisations in the UK. Through our community dance, education and career work, they bring dance opportunities to all – whatever their age, ability, background and circumstance. Their work supports a range of people, including children, adults, school programmes, hospital patients, stroke survivors, those living with disabilities and older people.

I studied dance at Rubicon 30 years ago so the charity has always held a special place in my heart. I was placed on the board of Rubicon Dance six years ago via Blake Morgan LLP’s corporate partnership with Arts & Business Cymru. I was looking for a board placement so when the opportunity came up at Rubicon I was delighted as it gave me an opportunity to give back to the organisaton that introduced me to dance kick started my career in many ways.

A common theme across the charity sector is that they are often low on funds and resource so time alone is extremely invaluable to them. Coming from a corporate organisation, you will undoubtably have transferrable skills and experience to impart just from working within a clear structure and by following organisational policies and procedures. For me, one of the most useful things I have utilised is my network and have made key introductions to Rubicon that they otherwise would not have had.

Fundraising is a big challenge for the charity sector so understanding what can be applied for and when is essential. It’s also important to build relationships with key funders to get a good understanding what they are looking for so you don’t miss out on any opportunities. Having a clear marketing and fundraising strategy is also extremely important to ensure regular focus is applied to securing funds.

What I also found challenging is there is often so much to do but due to limited funds and resources change can often take a lot longer. Trustees mainly work on a voluntary basis and outside of their normal working hours which needs to be manage carefully. I feel very lucky to work for an organisation that allows employees to dedicate time each year to trustee roles and support our local communities.

I have gained exposure to situations and projects I wouldn’t normally have done as part of my day-to-day role. It’s been challenging to find solutions to complex issues with extremely limited funds and resources but something I have learned a lot from. My experience on the board has developed my skill set enormously and has supported my career progression.

Becoming a trustee is extremely rewarding but is a decision that also needs careful consideration. Charities need consistency and commitment but if you can offer both those things, the Partnership will be undoubtably be beneficial for both parties.

I am a Trustee and the Co-Chair of g39, a contemporary artist-run gallery and studio space in central Cardiff dedicated to the promotion of contemporary visual arts and artists in Wales. I joined the board in 2018 through Arts & Business Cymru which Blake Morgan is a member of. g39 became a registered charity shortly after I joined the board in January 2019, so I experienced the registration process and the transition from company to charity.

I have always had a passion for visual arts and a particular interest in contemporary art and was thrilled to have been paired with g39 by Arts & Business.  The charity’s objects are to advance and promote contemporary visual arts for the benefit of the public by providing exhibition space for Welsh and other contemporary visual artists, and by providing training and resources to artists and the public. The gallery runs a full programme of exhibitions throughout the year, has an excellent resource library and is currently cataloguing the history of contemporary art in Wales. It has been involved in the Venice Biennale on a number of occasions and the rollcall of past artists in residence and exhibitors is hugely impressive.

Being a Trustee requires an open and questioning mind. You are not expected to know everything, but you will have been invited to join the Board for a reason, usually a specific sector knowledge or skill set. Whilst I cannot answer all legal questions which arise, I can usually find somebody who does know the answer and quickly.

I was asked to step into the role of Chair earlier this year when our former Chair took up another Chair position elsewhere. Given that it coincided with my appointment as Governor of the Cathedral School, I was reluctant to accept as did not want to stretch myself too thinly. We decided to undergo a recruitment process for a Co-Chair so I could share the role and we have recently appointed Claire Feeley who has an incredible CV of curatorial roles for arts organisations which is just what we needed. I am excited for what the future holds with her at my side.

g39 has been through many changes since I have been involved including an almost complete overhaul of the board membership and the departure of one of the founders, both of which were challenging. The pandemic also presented a huge challenge and meant a complete re-think of how the charity’s objects could be met during lockdown.

Whilst the role is interesting and very rewarding, it understandably comes with responsibility. I am constantly badgering my fellow Trustees about governance, bombarding them with the firm’s excellent Charity Law updates and questioning the decisions being made.

The role gives me direct experience of the management of a charity and has opened up a world I formerly knew very little about. I now know more about Arts Council Wales’ decision making and contemporary arts funding pots than I ever thought I would.

I would recommend the role of Trustee to anybody but take care to ensure that you are a good fit, that you are passionate about the charity’s objects and that you have the time to devote to it. It can be difficult to juggle at times but as long as you are open about your other commitments, the charity should be understanding. As with most things, you will get out of it what you put in.

Theatr Iolo is an award-winning theatre company, which has been at the forefront of theatre for children and young people for over 30 years. Babies, children, teenagers, parents, pupils and teachers have enjoyed performances, workshops and productions from the company performed in all kinds of spaces across Wales, the UK and internationally. We create quality experiences that are stimulating, surprising and special for children of all ages and backgrounds, to help them make sense of the world around them and to find their place in it. We create and produce the best work for children and young people on a national, UK wide and international level, working with the best artists and writers, to ignite creativity and imagination in both English and Welsh languages.

When I was approached to join the board of Directors at Theatr Iolo, I was attracted by the company’s vision and values. I wanted to do something purposeful with the chance to contribute and play a small part in the delivery by Theatr Iolo of their aim to “help children make sense of the world around them, find their place within it through the arts, encourage them to learn, explore and open up about themselves.”

Having a strong passion for the Arts, I felt drawn to this company and thought it would be a good fit.

A diverse range of skills are required along with a diverse Board who are able to offer different perspectives and contribute to the charity from their own experience. Examples of these skills include financial expertise, legal knowledge, governance, experience and knowledge in people management and principles of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). A charity trustee will also need good team working and negotiation skills for the smooth and effective running of the Board. An awareness of the sector in which that charity operates and of the services it provides is important. Passion for the charity’s purpose and for what it represents along with any personal experience of the cause are beneficial to not only the charitable trustee but also the charity involved.

Getting to grips with the intricate financial side to running a charitable organisation, reviewing KPIs, accounts and budgets whilst being mindful of the overall governance role played by a Non-Executive Director/Charitable Trustee. The financial climate we find ourselves in places additional pressures on the Arts due to reduction in central funding, the cost of living crisis and also operational costs connected with putting on performances. The challenge is to navigate financial hurdles in order to assist Theatr Iolo in continuing to achieve its aim to deliver children’s theatre to families in Wales, the UK and beyond! Private donors can play a significant role in contributing financially to the great work Theatr Iolo does.

Throughout my career as a commercial real estate lawyer, whether I am advising a client on acquiring or disposing of land and property as part of their business strategy in the private, public or third sectors, or through my mentoring of junior lawyers in our team to help them grow their careers at Blake Morgan LLP, I have always approached a challenge by thinking practically and innovatively and always tried to add value where possible. I try to apply this same approach to my role as a charitable trustee.

I have gained a true insight into the running of a business, in particular, a charitable organisation. It has broadened my horizons and given me a more compounded sense of commercial awareness over the last three years during my tenure as a Trustee / Non-Executive Director. This helps me become a better lawyer in my “day job” understanding and experiencing issues my clients may be facing in their businesses. I have also been able to gain an invaluable understanding of a different sector. Through this experience, I have been able to appreciate the value of the Arts as well as the drive and passion required for those working in this sector. I am continuing to expand my business network with fellow board members as well as gaining new commercial skills and board experience.

I was honoured to be nominated by the Executive Director of Theatre Iolo for the “Advisor of the Year” category in the 2024 Arts & Business Cymru Awards.

Do it! You will be able to contribute in a meaningful way using your commercial skills for the benefit of the organisation whilst also benefiting from the opportunity to grow and learn new skills outside of your immediate remit. You will have the opportunity to use your transferable skills to help the organisation flourish and propel to greater success.

I’m a trustee for our local church in Cosham and I form part of our leadership team. Alongside our regular church services where we worship as a church family, we are also involved in our local community through ongoing events, meetings and clubs for all generations. We also partner with other charities and churches around the world. Through this work we support, pray for, and provide financial giving alongside trips to visit these missions as well. Along with my family, I have been a member and served within our church for a number of years and then became a leader and trustee a few years ago.

Before becoming a trustee, I wasn’t sure that I had a specific skill that I thought I could make a difference with. But in my time as a trustee, I’ve been able to help and serve in ways I didn’t really initially expect. I think that being willing to serve and encourage others, supporting one another are really important.

I think the one word I’d look for here is time. I love the work that I’m able to do in our church, it’s incredibly rewarding and a real privilege to be able to serve and help others. For me, the importance of getting the right balance of family time, work and volunteering is probably the hardest. That may just be down to my seemingly inability to say no though!!

From my time as a trustee, it’s really opened my eyes to so many new experiences. Being a trustee to me is really just a name or title, it’s being able to take part and make a difference for the charity that is the most important thing for me. It’s a privilege to be able to be part of a team that can help steer the charity to being better placed to be able to do what it does best and be able to help in new areas of need as well.

The stereotypical trustee meeting might sound dull or boring, but I have enjoyed working with the other trustees who are of all ages and backgrounds and all come into their roles with lots of ideas. I think this has also benefited me in my working life too as I’ve been able to experience many different situations and how to deal with these, which just wouldn’t happen at work. I’d like to think that it has helped me become more compassionate, understanding and flexible in my working life too.

If you have a passion for a particular charity or area of work, don’t be scared to give it a try and get involved.