My name is Alisa Matyunina – She/ Her

I am a trustee at** Craigmillar Literacy Trust**, based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Our charity works to empower children and families through literacy. It was really important for me to work with a charity that is based in the community and takes a relationship- based approach.

I joined the Craigmillar Literacy Trust from a background of primary teaching, youth work and education research.

Being a trustee may seem like a very distant idea for many people in their 20s. There are plenty of reasons for this, including the (unpaid) time commitment and competing priorities, as well as the reality that only about 1% of young trustees are out there. This can make the idea of applying feel intimidating, especially when you don’t see yourself represented in those spaces.

Then there’s the way many trustee vacancies are written, often requiring evidence of strategic thinking, financial oversight, and regulatory compliance. What do those even mean? Many of these skills are usually gained later in a career, so many would-be young trustees are put off before they’ve even started an application.

That being said, boards are increasingly recognising the value that young trustees with different lived and professional experiences can bring, and the meaningful ways in which they can shape a charity’s direction. If you’re thinking of starting out as a trustee, I would consider your key interests and experiences, and think about what causes you could contribute to in a way which is truly impactful.

Most boards do not publicly advertise their vacancies, which can limit the pool of applicants and the diversity of experiences contributing to the charity. As a prospective trustee, it’s therefore worth reaching out directly to charities you’d like to work with.

The recruitment process varies across organisations. For example, I contacted the Craigmillar Literacy Trust and was invited to apply for a trustee position several months later when a vacancy arose. I went through a ‘semi-structured’ interview,basically an interview with follow-up questions/ conversations. At the AGM, I was ‘recommended’ by a fellow trustee and voted in, without needing to give a public speech, which was a relief!

When discussing your experience, try not to worry about skills you don’t yet have (especially when reviewing a long list of jargon in the job specification). Focus instead on the insight and experience you can contribute

I strongly encourage requesting reasonable adjustments for interviews, including asking for the questions in advance. Interviews are a two-way street, and the way an organisation handles recruitment often reflects its values.

Woohoo... Congratulations! Starting out as a trustee can feel daunting, as you’re suddenly exposed to new terminology, documents and fiscal responsibilities. Some boards offer mentorship, which can be incredibly useful for understanding your role and how the charity operates.

An induction document (not all boards have one) can also be helpful in giving a written outline of what everyone does and what the key documents are. Understanding the financial workings of a charity can be particularly confusing. While the board as a whole is responsible for finances, it’s okay not to be an expert if you’re not in a treasury role.

I suggest approaching the treasurer to review key documents and definitions so you feel confident discussing financial matters. Key areas to start with include reading (and having someone support you to understand) the reserves policy and the Statement of Financial Activity (SoFA), which outlines the charity’s income and expenditure.

Juggling life, work and trustee commitments can be challenging, and since being a trustee is voluntary, it can be harder for people with different lived experiences to give up their time. Returning to a charity’s values, some operational aspects, like offering online meetings, can make participation more accessible by reducing travel time and costs.

Building a board environment where everyone feels able to share their views is tricky and requires skilled facilitation. It can be intimidating to make suggestions as a new trustee, particularly around accessibility, which often falls disproportionately on disabled people or those with lived experiences that are different to those of others on the board, to explain.

Ideally, we would all have access to inclusive facilitation training, but a relatively easy first step could be to encourage your board to attend a Young Trustee Movement Champion session, which introduces a framework for understanding how to approach diversity on boards.

By becoming a young trustee, you can contribute meaningfully to a charity’s mission and direction. Applying or attending your first meeting can feel like a huge step, but joining a community of other young trustees can help. For instance, the Young Trustees’ Movement Community Café meets about once a month, and can be a way of building a supportive network with other young (future) trustees.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this blog entry, and where you’re at in your trustee journey. Please feel free to share it with your thoughts or reach out directly to me through LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/in/alisa-matyunina-9b55a519a) Let me know - if you’re thinking about becoming a trustee, what excites you most? And if you’re already on a board, what can charities do to make recruitment more inclusive and attract young trustees?