I am not good at running marathons or hiking up Everest — don’t have the time or the energy — but I enjoy being part of a team which works to govern a charity, making sure it is run in accordance with the law and our constitution,” says Kiera Bentley, one of the trustees at Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action (OCVA).


Next week is Trustees’ Week (November 5-11) which is an opportunity to celebrate the hidden work of volunteer charity board members who are sharing their professional and life skills and have the responsibility of running a charity; making decisions about its finances, activities and future plans.

Becoming a trustee is a two-way thing; you bring your skills and experience to where it is needed, and you also have the opportunity to learn new skills and gain different experiences, which could develop your professional life — and social life.


Oxfordshire’s vibrant and diverse voluntary sector relies on trustees, but figures from the Charity Commission estimate that nationally almost half of all charities have at least one vacancy on their board.


Figures also show that young people — with their own experiences, perspective and enthusiasm — are under-represented on boards of charities. Just 0.5 per cent of trustees in England and Wales are aged between 18 and 24, while two thirds are 50-plus.


Volunteering as a trustee is a great development opportunity if you’re looking to gain more managerial experience, and the role can fit around full-time work.

Julie Baker, another OCVA trustee, goes the extra mile. She says: “Trusteeship is big on reward and satisfaction, and manageable in terms of time commitment. I am a consultant working away from home during the week, but I have been able to organise attendance at meetings, which are planned in advance. I am finding the role challenging, but in a positive way. I didn’t go into it to soft-pedal. Where would the reward be in that?”


If you are currently involved with a charity and your board has vacancies, you can advertise the roles free on the Internet — fill in the form at ocva.org.uk/need-volunteers or telephone the number below. OCVA also offers bespoke training courses to charities to equip their trustees with relevant skills and knowledge.
Visit www.charity-commission.gov.uk to find out more about trustees. View local volunteering roles at do-it.org.uk or contact Volunteer Centre Oxfordshire by vol@ocva.org.uk or 01865 251 946.