Proud to be a Trustee

Proud to be a Trustee

by | Nov 3, 2025 | Infrastructure

What a journey I have had over the last two years. I have always ensured I have given something back to the community I live in and have had several different volunteering roles in the past including being a chair of governors for a primary school and an Ambulance Community First Responder.

My journey into trusteeship began at the CVST AGM in September 2023. A presentation was given about trusteeship and an offer from CVST’s Yvette Wetton to provide more of an insight into what being a trustee entails and to support me in finding an organisation that my skills would align with. Following a very fruitful conversation with Yvette, I went away with a renewed passion and very soon after I applied to be a trustee at the Youth Enquiry Service. Following a successful interview and completing the mandatory Trustee training provided by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) I formally became a trustee in April 2024.

I have found my first 18 months as a trustee very rewarding, working alongside my fellow trustees undertaking a skills audit and enabling each of us to be aligned to a head of section depending on our skills and background. This has been a very supportive way to enable a collaborative approach to the challenges around funding and working differently in this uncertain time across the sector. Being there to support the CEO, offering advice and support and understanding more about the service offerings has provided me with a sense of pride in being part of an amazing organisation which supports one of our most vulnerable cohorts across North East Essex, our young people.

The time commitment as a trustee is flexible, you can give as much or as little as you are able as long as you manage your statutory duties in reviewing board meeting documents such as budget papers, heads of service reports and provide constructive feedback as part of the regular board meetings, which are held bi monthly with an option of face to face and MS teams.

If you ever want to get more involved with a ‘special community voluntary sector faith enterprise group’ in your area please do so – we all have transferable skills that could make a real difference and a greater impact than you could imagine to many people in your community.

Would you like a Safeguarding top-up at our next Trustee Forum?

Would you like a Safeguarding top-up at our next Trustee Forum?

by | Aug 14, 2025 | Infrastructure

If something went wrong in your organisation tomorrow… could you honestly say you’d done everything possible to keep people safe?

For small voluntary and community organisations, it can be easy to assume that safeguarding is “someone else’s job” or only relevant in certain settings. But as a Trustee, you hold ultimate responsibility for ensuring your organisation protects the people it serves, especially those who are vulnerable.

That means more than simply having a safeguarding policy in place. As a Trustee you need to ensure procedures are not just clear and accessible, but also actively followed, from recruitment checks to reporting concerns. It also means creating a culture where people feel safe to speak up, and where safeguarding is embedded in every activity.

Laws, best practice, and risks evolve over time and Trustees have a duty to stay informed, seek training, and regularly review your organisations safeguarding arrangements. Neglecting this could expose your organisation to serious harm both to the individuals you serve and to your reputation and sustainability.

At CVST we want to support Trustees to be able to fulfil their safeguarding obligations. At our next Trustee Forum on the 4th September at 6pm we will be welcoming Alison Clark who is the Head of Safeguarding in Adult Social Care at Essex County Council to talk about the role of  Trustees in making their organisation’s operations safer and provide information about where to go and what to do if you have concerns.

To register to attend – please contact CVST at events@cvstendring.org.uk

 

 

Skip to content