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This year’s Trustees’ Week takes place from 4-8 November and we’re calling on professionals to consider using their experience to help carers in Wiltshire by becoming a trustee of Carer Support Wiltshire.

We’re currently looking to fill three trustee vacancies ideally with those who have expertise in one or more of the following areas – legal and governance, finance, digital and young people.

Trustees’ Week is an annual event that showcases the great work for charity that trustees do and highlights the opportunities for people from all walks of life to get involved and make a difference. There are over 850,000 trustees in England who volunteer their time to make a difference to organisations they’re passionate about.

Carer Support Wiltshire trustee Malcolm Seymour says of the new positions within the charity: “You would be contributing to an organisation that is constantly evolving and facing new challenges. Your knowledge base will help the management team to plan and develop Carer Support Wiltshire and develop new skill sets.”

People become trustees for a variety of reasons. CSW trustee Ruth Martindale speaks of her experience: “I had worked in the charity sector as a finance director for over 10 years and wanted to give something back. I had knowledge and experience that I felt would be of use to another charity.”

Another trustee Liz Brown says: “I joined CSW because I am a carer for my 91 year old mum and so I have seen the amazing, crucial support that CSW offers carers.”

She highlights how being a trustee can also be beneficial for personal and professional development. “I am a member of the Fundraising and Publicity Committee as well as chairing the Courage to Care Steering Group. I have recently been appointed Vice Chair. Consequently I have been able to learn about many facets of CSW and development in the carer sector. The team are hugely knowledgeable and there are always opportunities to learn more from them.”

In terms of the time commitment required for trustees, Liz says. “Board meeting and committee meetings work well; much thought has been given to making them as accessible as possible. I am very actively retired as a trustee of two other charities as well, helping my mother, and a keen amateur singer. Although there is opportunity to contribute in between meetings on various issues, this is not onerous and offers a great opportunity to work with the team and develop a deeper understanding of CSW’s work.”

Being a trustee is a rewarding way to make a difference to a cause you believe in and learn new skills along the way. The new trustees would be supporting us in our aims to provide services for unpaid carers and to influence care and support policy.

More information on the roles can be found here.