I’ve been a volunteer for as long as I can remember, helping out at local events, supporting charitable causes and activities in different ways, and in different contexts across the UK. Some of those volunteering opportunities have been by chance, others by design, all of them coming with reciprocal benefits – joyful, stimulating and developmental.
Trusteeship has been an important part of my experiences as a volunteer and it fits in well with other commitments. I first became a trustee 15 years ago, with a spirit of inquiry as to what the role was all about, and discovered that the characteristics of a trustee include enthusiasm and commitment to the purpose of the charity, and a willingness to learn from, with and about fellow trustees, staff and beneficiaries. It’s always a collective endeavour. When the culture is inclusive, good humoured and respectful, when there is training, support and feedback, being a trustee is time well spent, knowing that you really can make a difference.
That’s what I love about Volunteering Matters, with an emphasis on people, communities and partners, and the local and often complex issues that matter to them. This is a charity that champions the power of volunteering, spanning generations and boundaries, and knows beyond doubt that volunteering really does matter if everyone is to thrive.