{"id":4917,"date":"2022-06-01T13:27:32","date_gmt":"2022-06-01T13:27:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crossroadscarerk.org\/?p=4917"},"modified":"2023-06-30T12:47:42","modified_gmt":"2023-06-30T12:47:42","slug":"have-you-ever-thought-of-becoming-a-trustee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crossroadscarerk.org\/have-you-ever-thought-of-becoming-a-trustee\/","title":{"rendered":"Have You Ever Thought of Becoming a Trustee?"},"content":{"rendered":"
During Volunteers Week, human resources expert Jane Vines and Geoff Lane, a former partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), talk about just what it takes to be a trustee for Crossroads Care Richmond and Kingston upon Thames<\/strong><\/p>\n What motivated you to become a trustee?<\/strong><\/p>\n Jane: \u2018There was an advert at a bus stop for a trustees\u2019 recruitment event across Richmond. It sounded like a great way of giving back to my local community, so I went along. It was set up like speed dating. I talked with Crossroads first and immediately felt that this was a brilliant gem of a charity with a fantastic team of people who it would be a privilege to serve alongside and be inspired by.\u2019<\/p>\n What does being a charity trustee bring to your life?<\/strong><\/p>\n Geoff: \u2018It\u2019s easy to live life just seeing the people that you normally see who are often a bit like you, but this work takes you out of your comfort zone and brings you human connections, ideas and insights that you wouldn\u2019t otherwise have. Social care is such an important issue for all of us and what we\u2019re doing with Crossroads, providing strategic leadership and support, is making a real difference to the lives of Carers and those they care for and the lives of the Care Support Workers.\u2019<\/p>\n What would you say to anyone thinking of becoming a charity trustee?<\/strong><\/p>\n Geoff: \u2018Think about what you want from the role and what you can give to the organisation. You can\u2019t just do it because you\u2019re being benevolent, you have to be really engaged, committed and passionate about the work to be effective.\u2019<\/p>\nGeoff: \u2018When I stopped working, I realised that I would need more than playing golf or going fishing to stay happy and healthy. I\u2019ve always had a sense of purpose in my working life and if you took that away from me, I\u2019d find that hard. I volunteered for Crossroads during the pandemic and saw the vital work that they do supporting Carers, so I wanted to stay involved. During my induction as a trustee, I saw the patience and skill the staff need to look after a child living with cerebral palsy, allowing the parents valuable respite time. The family told me that without Crossroads\u2019 support, they would find it very hard to cope.\u2019<\/p>\n
Jane: \u2018It\u2019s a win-win where I use and develop my skillsets and experience while seeing clearly how the charity makes a positive difference to people\u2019s lives.\u2019<\/p>\n