Trustees’ Week 2024
4th to the 8th of November is Trustees’ week! Every charity relies on its trustees for guidance and governance and Milestones Trust is no different.
To celebrate the work that they do, we asked two of our Trustees, Jan Lawry and Neil Baines-Thomas, to tell us more about what it’s like to be a trustee for Milestones Trust!
What does a trustee do?
Neil:
A trustee is a person, or several people, (known as the Board) who are ultimately responsible for making sure the charity is managed and run in accordance with its purpose.
We must make sure the charity is governed effectively, it has the necessary resources, and complies with all legal requirements.
Trustees don’t oversee the day to day running of the charity, that is the responsibility of the Executive team whom we work closely with.
How do people become a trustee?
Jan:
I think people believe that being a trustee requires special skills and qualifications – that’s simply not true! All you need is the desire to genuinely make a contribution, and bring your own life experiences, skills and knowledge – they all help the organisation. When I look at the trustees of Milestones Trust we come from a wide variety of backgrounds, from health and social care, through to legal and financial backgrounds – we all make a contribution, and we all help to shape the future of the organisation we love.
If you’re interested in being a trustee my advice is to make contact with organisations that you have a particular interest in, keep an eye on their websites to see if they’re recruiting trustees and, keep that LinkedIn profile and CV up to date. I was approached out of the blue via LinkedIn and have never looked back! It’s also a good idea to volunteer at organisations that are of interest, so you get to know them well and, of course, they get to know you.
What was your background before you became a trustee?
Jan:
My entire career has been spent in health and social care, working across the NHS, private practice, and hospice support.
I am also a Safeguarding Governor for a Gloucestershire school and earlier this month I was appointed as Chair of Age UK Gloucestershire.
Neil:
Before I became a trustee for Milestones, I dedicated some of my time as a volunteer management consultant for Cranfield Trust – an organisation which provides specialist expertise to small charities who ordinarily do not have the resources to pay for such experience, but still have many of the problems faced by larger charities.
Previously to that I have been involved in Scouting as well as fundraising for The Pahar Trust, which builds schools and health centres in remote areas in Nepal. My son and I were lucky enough to visit a school in Nepal we had helped to fund the construction of in 2014!
How long have you been a trustee at Milestones Trust?
Neil:
I was appointed in September 2022 – two years ago. How time flies!
Jan:
I celebrated my first anniversary last month! I don’t know where the time has gone – I’ve honestly loved every moment of it.
Why did you decide to become a trustee at Milestones Trust?
Jan:
Milestones Trust’s values really resonate with me. Starting with the individual, and not a label, building relationships, being courageous and creative. During the recruitment process, the more I learnt about Milestones, the more I wanted to be involved – the staff genuinely care for people, and those we support are happy and engaged. I wanted to be part of that. I also believed that I had the skills and experience to bring something ‘to the table’ and help shape a sustainable and relevant future for the organisation.
Neil:
Having spent my voluntary time in helping different causes (sometimes on a different continent!), I decided I wanted to make my position more formal but more importantly become involved in a charity which is close to home – Bristol. I am a Bristolian, and aside from two years living in London, I have lived here my whole life and therefore am very attached to the city!
What’s the best thing about being a trustee?
Neil:
In summary it is about feeling that what you do does make a difference. It’s about always having in mind what Milestones sets out to achieve across the different service locations for the people we support.
If I can help in some way that will ultimately have a positive impact, then that for me is a tick in the box!
Jan:
Without a doubt, visiting our services and meeting our staff and those we support. I try to visit two services per month, and I always leave the visits smiling and in awe of what our staff achieve. I also feel that my skills and knowledge are really being used in a positive and constructive way – I actually feel that I’m being of use and that my input is valued. Being a trustee at Milestones Trust is one of the best things I’ve done in my career.