If you didn’t get selected as a volunteer for the London 2012 Olympics and your New Year’s resolution is to volunteer your time and work with a charity then don’t worry - there are many and varied opportunities out there.
There are 200,000 UK charitable organisations, from large big brands to small organisations employing just a few people and on average, one in five will have a trustee vacancy. And, with youth unemployment at a record high, trusteeship could be a very useful opportunity for young jobseekers to learn valuable skills, gain new experiences, make good contacts and at the same time give something back to society.
Ian Joseph, a Director at Trustees Unlimited, www.trustees-unlimited.co.uk, a joint venture trustee recruitment company between NCVO, Bates Wells and Braithwaite and Russam GMS believes there has never been a better time for young people to get onto charity boards.
Ian Joseph comments, “Charities would benefit from the skills, energy, ideas and creativity that young people could bring to their boards. However, it is not just the charities that would benefit; with 22% of young people currently unemployed, becoming a trustee could open doors to new contacts, enable them to gain valuable work experience and pick up skills that could be transferred into any future role. Being a trustee is an enriching experience both for the trustee and the organisation they serve, and most importantly, for the organisation's beneficiaries or cause.”
However, Ian also stressed the responsibilities and liabilities involved too – most importantly, that a trustee is ultimately responsible for everything a charity does and can be held legally accountable for the decisions they make.
Ian Joseph adds, “We hope that 2012 will be the year that many people of all ages make the decision to become a trustee. However, we urge people to understand the risks and liabilities involved in trusteeship first and to undertake due diligence and research into an organisation before they accept a role.”
Here are a few of Ian’s top five checks for trustees to find the right position:
- Make sure you do your homework and find a charity you feel passionate about
- Be clear about the responsibilities you will be taking on and make sure the charity is incorporated
- Check that the strategic direction of the charity matches its legal objects?
- Know the time commitments – every charity will expect different things. You might be asked to sit on a subcommittee which is extra meetings. Make sure you can give it the time it requires, including reading board papers in advance of meetings!
- Understand who the beneficiaries are – this is where the organisation’s loyalty lies.
For more information on becoming a trustee and to find out about trustee vacancies go to:
Trustees Unlimited www.trustees-unlimited.co.uk
Trustee Bank http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/trusteebank
