I have been charity trustee for 4 years now, having joined a trustee board in the midst of the first COVID-19 lockdown back in 2020. I put myself forward as I needed something to do which would keep me connected to others and wanted to give back to a charity which had supported me when I was younger. My experience as a trustee has been both more challenging and rewarding than I had imagined, but I’m pleased to have taken the opportunity.

In this blog, I want to focus on the two core themes of giving and getting back – giving in the sense of what I have been able to bring to the table, and getting in the sense of the impact being a trustee has had on my work outside of the charity.

Being a charity trustee is incredibly fulfilling and doesn’t require intense commitment, making it a great way to create impact without needing to make a financial commitment or to detract from other passions you may have. For example, the guidelines for the charity that I’m a trustee for advise around 16 hours a year.

Young people can also add huge value on charity boards, and therefore you shouldn’t be worried if you feel you don’t have the necessary ‘experience’ – having been a beneficiary or being passionate about the cause are great qualifications that means you can do good!

It’s also important to recognise that experience comes in many forms. Good trustee boards are made up of people from a range of backgrounds and all walks of life. So diversity in thought and experiences should absolutely be embraced by all boards to make the most impact. Disagreeing well helps to drive better outcomes for the beneficiaries of the charity. Therefore your perspective, particularly if it brings a new angle to the table, should be absolutely welcome.

Just because you have less so-called professional or career experience doesn’t mean you can’t substantively contribute to the discussions at hand. As an example young people are usually quite social media savvy which is becoming an increasingly important communication channel. And this might be particularly beneficial if you are part of the target age group or demographic your charity intends to support.

In terms of areas where I felt I have been able to have impact, I have been particularly focused on how we select and monitor KPIs for data-driven decision making. I’ve also emphasised the importance of perceptions about the charity in shaping communication strategies, and identified the individuals or organisations that could have a meaningful impact if we hire or collaborate with them. From serving on recruitment panels to participating in charity strategy sessions, and running workshops for young people about activism and applying to university, I have felt able to contribute as an equal at Potential Plus UK, regardless of the fact I joined in my final year of sixth form.

It may be cliché to say, but being a trustee really enhances your skillset – by investing in the charity, you are also investing in yourself.

At university, I was able to use the skills I had learned as a trustee to serve first as Secretary, then President of my college’s common room. From what minutes should look like to making strategic decisions and how to go about chairing meetings, I felt I was able to contribute with higher impact due to my formative experiences as a trustee. Given the charity I am a trustee of works closely with young people with ADHD and autism, I also found the knowledge gained invaluable when supporting students who may have special educational needs on outreach visits to ensure the experience was accessible to all.

You may ask how does being trustee of an educational charity benefit running your own DJ business? Being a trustee of a medium-sized charity exposed me to the importance of having a cashflow, and in ensuring spending is on projects which will have the highest impact on beneficiaries or consumers of what the charity provides (just the same as what I spend on my business should be on the highest impact projects which will help its financial stability).

Being entrepreneurial is, in addition, becoming more common in the charity space with there being far less projects receiving government funding than 15 years ago and the sector being in a far more challenging space since COVID-19 (which for many charities closed down opportunities to engage with beneficiaries and fundraise).

And now I work as a project manager in FinTech where engaging with and considering the impact on stakeholders is hugely important, alongside clear status reporting and establishing good project governance. Running a charity well is good project management, so the experience of being a trustee at Potential Plus UK lends itself to my current role well. This cross-sector learning allows me to see what works well and what doesn’t, so that I can bring my best skillset to the workplace and to the charity.

The charity sector can hugely benefit from the insights, experiences and passion of young people. With them it can continue to innovate and have a high impact on the millions of beneficiaries across the sector. Just because you haven’t had decades of experience in the workplace, it doesn’t mean you can’t contribute and be at the table. Different perspectives are important to ensure charities are making the best decisions through respectful but challenging conversations.

So if you’re keen to support a cause close to your heart or looking to build up your skillset, now is a great time to become a trustee.

Have your own experience of being a young trustee you want to share? Reach out to the Young Trustees Movement to share your experience.