Celebrating our Board members
It’s Trustees’ Week – the time when we celebrate the achievements of nearly one million trustees across the UK and thank them for the time, commitment and effort they contribute to charities to help them thrive.
At Framework our Board of Trustees plays a vital but largely unseen part in our work. The dozen or so members of the Board are drawn from many walks of life and volunteer their time to support the senior leadership: they ensure that our strategy, finances and operations are robust, and that we can continue to satisfy our funders and the many regulatory bodies who scrutinise our work.
The delivery of our work undoubtedly benefits from the wide range of experience, expertise and wisdom offered by Board members, drawing on decades of work in the public, private or voluntary sectors, often at very senior levels.
As Professor Sheona MacLeod, a Medical Director in NHS England, said: “As a trustee you bring a different and external perspective to help an already excellent executive team look at their work critically and see how they could be better.
“By offering challenge where you think there are other considerations or missed risks and opportunities, and by offering praise where they are doing well, you help the executive team and organisation be realistic and pragmatic in their decisions about their work, investments and future.”
However, this demanding engagement is not a one-way street. We recently asked current and former members of the Board to reflect on what their involvement meant to them.
Catherine Arkley, a charity management consultant, said: “I was looking for an opportunity to become a trustee of a charity because I felt this was a way to apply my experience and knowledge, as well as volunteer some time, towards something worthwhile. I’ve never regretted making that application.
“You need to be prepared to give time and make an effort, but it’ll be worthwhile, and I’m inspired by the staff I meet – they demonstrate genuine dedication and a real desire to make a difference.”
Former member Dr Vinay Shankar said: “Spending six years on the board of Framework was extremely rewarding. An opportunity to witness first-hand the care, attention and efforts of the organisational leadership team to provide its crucial services.
“Being able to contribute to the effectiveness, viability, governance, clinical safety and strategy has led to my own personal growth.”
And housing professional Holly Dagnall said: “My expertise is in social housing and social care so I am able to bring my experience of my day job to Framework and share good practice. It also enables me to take practice from Framework and consider it in my own organisation. It’s a virtuous circle.”
Thank you to all the members of our Board.