It’s #TrusteesWeek! The time of year when we celebrate the amazing contribution made by trustees for their charities, not-for-profit and voluntary organisations and recognise the difference they make.
Trustees’ Week is an annual event held during November (this year 4-8 November 2024) to showcase the great work people do as trustees, directors and committee members and provide opportunities for everyone to get involved and make a difference.
It’s a time to celebrate the achievements of trustees across the UK and to thank them for the time, commitment, and effort they bring to our charities, not-for-profit and voluntary organisations to help them thrive.
Crucial Role
Charities, not-for-profit and voluntary organisations play a crucial role in addressing social needs and driving positive change. A central part of their success is its trustees.
Trustees, directors and committee members are the guardians of an organisation’s mission. They oversee its strategic direction, financial management, and legal compliance. They bring a diverse range of experiences and perspectives. This helps organisations, like British Naturism, make better decisions and have a bigger impact.
The Directors and Executive Committee members of British Naturism are volunteers who give their time and effort and take on big responsibilities. Being a Director or Officer of BN is a rewarding experience. It allows us to learn new skills, meet new people, and gain experience. Most importantly, we get to give back to a cause and a community we care about.
Directors and Officers, like all trustees, play a sophisticated role in governance, compliance, and strategic decision-making. The role is becoming more complex as voluntary organisations navigate an ever-evolving landscape. Tackling issues such as social justice, environmental sustainability, and health requires trustees with more diverse skills.
British Naturism, in common with between one in three and one in two voluntary organisations, has vacancies for Directors and Officers. This means we are missing out on the skills and knowledge we need to deliver the biggest impact possible. And it’s making the job harder for those who already give so much.
Understanding the Issue
To address this issue, we must first understand it. The NCVO report of a recent Voluntary Sector survey Understanding Trustee Recruitment and Retention Challenges helps us to do just that.
“Trustee vacancies are a widespread and persistent issue. This is mostly due to recruitment rather than retention challenges. Once in position, trustees tend to remain longer than other volunteers. Trustee vacancies impact both organisations and individuals. They lead to difficulties in decision-making, following good governance practices, and organisational development. Vacancies can create stress and anxiety for trustees. Trustees often feel pressured to do extra work. This only gets worse as trustees leave and organisations struggle to find replacements. But there are steps boards can take to address these challenges.”
The report suggests that organisations should...
IMPROVE GOVERNANCE PRACTICES. Governance can sometimes seem complicated or feel like a tick box exercise. But having clear structures and processes can streamline recruitment and reduce stress. Well-governed trustee boards can build a more resilient, inclusive, and impactful voluntary sector.
Within British Naturism we have developed new policies to help improve our governance. We have clear structures and processes to streamline recruitment. At our recent in-person meeting we agreed on a new five-year Strategic Plan for 2025-2030 and members are now pulling together their annual objectives and delivery plans for 2025. Policies are also being reviewed and new ones developed.
DIVERSIFY RECRUITMENT. By targeting specific groups, organisations can access new talent pools.
Within British Naturism we continue to promote our volunteering opportunities, to encourage more members to register their interest in volunteering and, if necessary, to head hunt ‘difficult to fill’ roles. British Naturism supports the Women on Boards initiative and welcomes applications from women and others to bring fresh experience and perspectives to the governance of BN.
PROVIDE CLEAR ROLE DESCRIPTIONS. Help trustees understand the role they’re committing to by providing clear role descriptions.
Within British Naturism we already provide clear opportunity and role descriptions that outline the responsibilities, time commitments and skills needed. We also seek to encourage members to become Directors and Officers and promote the benefits of doing so; whether it’s personal growth, making a difference, or developing new skills. We need to do more by sharing their stories and experiences.
Get On Board
There are opportunities for members to utilise their skills, knowledge and experience 'to get on board' as part of the Leadership Team of British Naturism and join the Executive Committee, as part of the following roles:
Finance Director – you will be responsible for the strategic oversight of the organisation’s financial affairs and assisting the Executive Committee to fulfil its duties and responsibilities for the proper financial governance of the organisation.
Vice Chair (and a Company Director) – your role will be to support the Chair in enabling the Executive Committee to fulfil its responsibilities for the overall governance and strategic direction of the organisation.
Campaigns Officer – you will be responsible for leading and coordinating the development of new and existing campaigns that promote and normalise naturism and social nudity as a healthy lifestyle.
Regional Organiser (LASER) – you will be coordinating and promoting a programme of naturist activities and opportunities in the London and South East Region; leading the delivery of the organisation's aims and objectives and representing the interests and views of members in the region.
For a bit of fun, try the Trustee Quiz and test your knowledge. You don't need to get 100% to become a BN Director or Officer as we can provide training and help you gain the skills needed. Do let me know what your score is!
To find out more about any of these roles, view the opportunities listed on the website and browse or search for the role you are interested in (member login required) or contact John Gelder, Volunteering Officer, by email: john.gelder@bn.org.uk or DM through the website.