From an anonymous trustee
I got involved with a local forum because of lots of changes in my area that I wanted to be kept informed of. I wanted to see what was happening and what other people thought so that I could consider things and form my own opinions.
That was great for about 18 months then I was asked to put myself forward to be a trustee at the AGM.
The group had started to grow and we had obtained a small bit of money for a part time worker who would organise meetings and make sure members were informed of developments nationally and locally. Incorporation and registering as a charity made sense so I asked about the role of a trustee and was told nothing would really change for me – I would become a cheque signatory but everything else would be the same, meetings every couple of months that’s all.
So I went ahead and it was fine for a while. The worker was great and did do most of the work.
Our Chair resigned and we were therefore looking for a new one and someone suggested it be me as I was one of the long standing members by this time and anyway “there’s no one else”.
Largely through concern for the member of staff I agreed to take on the role of Acting Chair for 6 months. During that time my personal circumstances changed and I became a single parent with a toddler. I questioned how could I get to evening meetings now? So I started to take my child with me to meetings and even though no one said anything people sometimes gave me that "look” or a heavy sigh.
I said that I was thinking about stepping down several times but people told me I was doing a great job and I was really needed, I felt guilty so I stayed.
At the next AGM there were no nominations received for Chair. I was told there was nothing for it I’d have to stay on. So I did. A year later I couldn’t do anymore, life in general was hard, my child was getting bigger, needing attention and more importantly needed to be in bed at a reasonable hour not colouring in at meetings.
As I announced my wish to resign, the worker also resigned, leaving due to a lack of uncertainty of funding and also feeling isolated as the only employee. No one wanted to take over as Chair. The committee felt there was no way forward for the charity therefore instead of resigning and being able to feel proud of what we had achieved as a group I ended up struggling to close a charity.
It was only at this point I became aware of the level of my responsibilities and liabilities and I’ve never quite been able to let go of the guilt I felt at a charity having to wind up because I couldn’t be Chair anymore.
No one offered me training, no one talked to me about expenses or childcare support. I didn’t know enough to know I could ask for anything but I vowed I would never let that happen to me again.
So, when you sign up to be a trustee what are you agreeing to:
One meeting a month, 3 a year?
Don’t forget, its not just about the time meetings take up, there will be papers to read, plans to understand, people to get to know, tasks to do in between meetings
From experience I would say treat becoming a trustee like a job:
• There should be some form of role description which should cover everything that is expected of you and the skills you will need.
• There should be a welcome pack telling you a bit about the organisation, its aims, who’s who, the financial situation, plans for the future
• There should be an induction and a training schedule so that you have the chance to develop new skills
• There should be clear information about your responsibilities and potential liabilities
Try and talk to other board members before you make a decision.
A key message would be start with an exit strategy
Are terms of office limited?
How long are you signing up for?
Will there be a plan for succession?
It’s a horrible feeling when you come to leave a Board and you’re persuaded to stay and those two years turn into 20. Staying because you feel guilty or think there will be no-one to replace you isn’t healthy for you or the organisation.