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Campaign aims to attract more charity trustees

Volunteering charity TimeBank and the Charity Commission are launching a campaign designed to inspire people to become charity trustees. The key message is that by giving time as a charity trustee you can develop essential skills and experience which will look great on your CV.

Half of all charities claim to have problems recruiting new trustees, and research shows that currently only 15% of trustees are under 40 years old. The campaign will seek to help charities fill their vacancies, and encourage younger people and those from minority communities to volunteer as trustees.

An online marketing campaign and targeted print advertising will be used to communicate to young professionals that they can 'be important' by becoming a trustee. Employers will be encouraged to support staff who want to volunteer as trustees. Careers advisers will also encourage job-hunters to consider trusteeship as a way of gaining skills and experience for their career.

A YouGov survey commissioned to launch the campaign showed 41% of people wanted to have higher status or a higher salary in five years time. 25% of them would look at professional training or courses, 18% would try and build their reputation and 11% would learn new skills. According to TimeBank, being a charity trustee can help people get all three while they help others in the process. In addition TimeBank point to research from Reed Executive that says nearly three quarters (73%) of employers would choose a candidate with voluntary experience over one without.

Alan Watt, Head of Community Investment at the Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc, said: "By taking an active involvement in their local communities, employees can develop a wide range of skills, which can be brought to the workplace thereby benefiting themselves, their colleagues and the companies they represent. We also recognise the importance of helping our staff support the causes that matter to them as a key part of being an employer of choice."

The Body Shop founder, Dame Anita Roddick, is a charity trustee of Body & Soul, a London based AIDs charity. Dame Anita said: "Being a charity trustee is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference to a cause you care about. Everyone has skills and experiences that could be useful to charities - from marketing skills to understanding the mental health system or simply knowing your local area well.

"Trustees should be representative of the people their charities support - more women, under 40s and people from ethnic minorities are particularly needed. I think trusteeship is a golden opportunity to gain career experience and make important contacts outside of the workplace. It's a responsible position but there are huge potential rewards."

Ayesha Janjua, (26), is a Public Affairs Executive at Network Rail and trustee at Respond - a charity helping people with learning difficulties. She said: "I was inspired to become a trustee because I think there is a lack of provision for vulnerable people in these difficult circumstances. I've also found my role as trustee has helped me to develop some valuable career skills.

"I've particularly benefited from helping to write a communications strategy and from being on the interview panel for a new helpline manager. As well as giving me a sense of purpose, volunteering as a trustee has enabled me to get some really practical experience to take back into the workplace."

Moira Swinbank, Timebank’s Chief Executive, said: "We want to dispel the myths about being a trustee, you don’t need to be asked and you don’t need to be a powerful mover and shaker. A fifth of people surveyed said their best professional assets were their skills and knowledge – the Get on Board campaign wants to tap into that resource."

External links

For more information on the campaign, visit: www.getonboard.org.uk

To view trustee vacancies by postcode, visit www.do-it.org.uk, for England or www.volunteering-wales.net for Wales.

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