Like all good stories, this one starts with a chance
encounter. While in a tutorial in Napier University Dr Miles Weaver was filling
in for the regular tutor who was off for some reason.
He mentioned his work on equalities in leadership, and the
need for young people to take the initiative and start representing our peers,
rather than accepting another generation representing us and mentioned Young
Trustees in Scotland .
I listened to him politely and decided, half-heartedly, to
see what was what. I went along to an information day, and listened to the
ideas and although was interested in the idea, had other things on my mind –
studying, partying, and applying for internships for my Year in Industry.
Fast-Forward 6 months and I was still struggling to find an
internship – the whole class had gone through the soul-crushing, ego-deflating
routine which is repeated rejections from companies – Thanks, but no thanks; I
was recovering from a horrific 6-week bout of glandular fever in which I lost 2
stone; my girlfriend had decided enough was enough; and I still didn’t have a
bloody internship!
Then another 6 months and it was October: I was happily
working for EDF-Energy at Torness Power Station and was looking for ways to
improve myself, while giving something back to society. Happily, I received an
email from the university inviting students to apply to the Get-On-Board
program, a 3-module evening class to give students a professional Corporate
Governance accreditation, with a view to put more young people in positions of
responsibility and governance within the voluntary sector.
I’ve always been one for widening my horizons, and taking
the opportunities afforded to me – especially if I feel they will put me out of
my comfort zone, and felt that learning about corporate governance during a
time in which the public perceptions of corporations are of low moral standards
would be particularly topical.
So without being particularly hopeful I applied to this
Get-On-Board program, and somehow was accepted. This was an eye-opening
opportunity, with Professor Karl Georges taking the classes in fun, exciting,
and engaging ways while being seated in what One thought of as board-room style
– all very exciting!
One of the benefits of being on the Get-On-Board program are
the updates of trustee places available in the local area. One of these which
piqued my interest was the Voluntary Action Fund, or VAF, which is a national
charity which distributes grants on behalf of the Scottish Government in the
areas of Equalities, Violence Against Women, Volunteering, and
Anti-Sectarianism. But it is more than just money, it is a charity which
advises their funding charities and helps them in more qualifiable ways.
The main attraction was that this charity aligns with my
moral compass – the need for equality, my ability to battle for those who I
feel are being unfairly treated, support for vulnerable people, and the need
for public money to be used properly.
So off I went for the interview, which was with the
chairman, CEO, and a trustee of the charity, and we mainly talked about the
work which VAF does, while eyeing each other up to see if the charity would fit
in with me, and vice versa.
Apparently it went well, as I was invited for another
interview. This interview was more focussed on me, what my ambitions were,
where I saw the charity going, what I felt about the charity, and whether I
felt it was doing a good job.
Yet again, seemingly it all went well, because I was invited
onto the board as a trustee. This was a great honour and privilege to be in a
position to make decisions on the strategical direction of a national charity,
decisions which, hopefully, will have a positive impact on Scottish society,
and which will support charities which are doing essential work throughout the
country.
As is my way, I felt that the only way to go about this was
to jump head first and get as involved as possible, so was accepted as a member
of the Property and Finance Committee, as well as the Business Development
Committee. This gave me the opportunity to learn more about good, responsible
governance as well as the work which the charity does.
After attending several board and committee meetings the
post for vice chairman became available and was brought up during a board
meeting. The question was – who should the next vice chairman be?
The thoughts going through my head were mainly along the
lines of – What an opportunity to be in a leading position within a national
charity which is a power of good in society, against the doubts which must creep
into most peoples’ minds – Am I too Young? Do I have the Experience? Do I have
the necessary knowledge? And the final one – Am I good enough?
Then a sudden, sharp thought came through – a trustee must
show leadership, and first and foremost follow his fiduciary duty towards the
charity, and that this was an opportunity not to be missed – so I gingerly put
forward “I know that I am a young trustee, and that there are several member of
the board with more experience than myself, but I would like to put my name
forward as the Vice-Chairman”… and somehow I was voted through unanimously.
It’s been a tremendous privilege to get this opportunity and
I owe a debt of gratitude towards all those who have shown interest in my
position and encouraged me to back myself – from Miles Weaver and Karl Georges
at the Get-on-Board Program, Napier
University , and
EDF-Energy for allowing me to take the time to go to my board meetings.
I am getting a huge amount of satisfaction from being a vice
chairman, knowing I am representing a charity which is doing a huge amount of
good work through out Scotland ,
and pushing the need for community capital in all modern societies.
Many young people feel they aren’t getting heard, that they
can’t make a difference, and that their future is already decided. This story
shows that is not the case, and with a little ambition, drive, and a lot of
enthusiasm anything can happen.
So to any young people reading this – become a trustee of a
charity you believe in, build your employability skills and your knowledge of
corporate governance, but most of all help our charities be more representative
of those they help, and make sure our voices can be heard.
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