Being a trustee or mentor....
What you might expect to do as a Mentor:
- Provide guidance, encouragement and support
- Be a sounding board to bounce ideas off
- Provide feedback on specific pieces of work
- Ensure your ‘mentee’ is meeting their objectives
- Commit to regular meetings
- Be patient
- Help with contacts
- Make a huge difference to a small charity
- Empower your ‘mentee’ to do the job - don’t do it for them!
“I am delighted that the Small Charities Coalition has taken the initiative to partner large charities with smaller ones. The opportunity for specialists working in bigger charities to share a mentoring relationship with people in small charities, who don’t have access to their expertise, is excellent. The learning and personal development that comes from this will work both ways, adding great strength and sustainability to the third sector.” Dame Mary Marsh, Director, Clore Social Leadership Programme
What you might expect to do as a Trustee:
- Input into the strategic direction of the organisation
- Be jointly accountable for the charity
- Make a significant impact on the success and effectiveness of the charity
- Bring specific skills to the Board that complement fellow Trustees
- Attend Board and other meetings
- Network and share contacts
- Be an Ambassador for the charity
- Make a huge difference to a small charity!
"Small charities play a vital part in local communities often doing very creative and innovative work to meet people's needs right at the grass roots. The Charity Commission fully supports smaller organisations and the fantastically important work that they do. Being a charity trustee allows people to use their skills to help good causes grow and develop. All charities' success depends on their trustees, so the trustee role is hugely important. This scheme will be vital in helping trustees to help their charities." Dame Suzi Leather, Chair, Charity Commission
If you or your staff are interested in becoming trustees or mentors to small charities then please contact us at supporters@smallcharities.org.uk