Rachael wrote this blog for us to encourage members aged 18-30 to apply to be a Girlguiding LaSER trustee. If we're currently recruiting for trustees, we'll advertise it in the Vacancies section of our website. We hope the below inspires you to apply when our next round of recruitment starts!
I’m coming to the end of my three-year role on the Girlguiding LaSER trustee board and want to share some of my experiences to encourage others to apply for this fantastic role.
Trustees are present in all charitable organisations and are a requirement of the Charity Commission to oversee the charity’s activities. My role has meant working alongside other volunteers which has developed my teamwork skills. It’s given me direct experience of strategic decision-making, budgeting and financial oversight as well as long-term planning – all skills which are really valuable outside of guiding at the beginning of my career. But most of all, all these new skills have given me the confidence and passion to push myself to take on other leadership roles both within guiding and outside it.
Like lots of volunteering roles, being a trustee involves giving up your time and skills to help others. However, the work of trustees is more hidden and unknown to lots of members. There might not be the immediate reward of seeing happy girls enjoying activities, but there is the knowledge that the decisions you collectively make will ensure the sustainability of guiding in the region - thereby ensuring thousands of girls can continue to take part in our activities for years to come.
Throughout Girlguiding and our international WAGGGS sisterhood, young women’s views and perspectives are under-represented within our governance structures – something I’m passionate about changing. Within the Girlguiding LaSER constitution, there is a requirement for us to have two 18-30-year-olds on the trustee board. But we could have more! If you’re interested in the future of our organisation and you’re looking for a new challenge, and you’d like to develop your skills, consider applying for this role.