Eight great reasons to become a trustee

Looking for a way to make a difference in your spare time? Want to give back to a cause you feel passionately about?

Have you thought about becoming a trustee?

In addition to being extremely rewarding, a trusteeship is an excellent opportunity to learn new skills, build your professional network, and gain valuable experience to further your career.

And if you consider that almost half of charities have at least one vacancy on their board, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved.

What is a trustee?

Trustees are volunteers (collectively known as the board, governing body, or management committee,) who are responsible for managing and overseeing a charity. They ensure the organisation operates in accordance with its mission, stays financially stable, and complies with all the relevant laws and regulations.

What do trustees do?

Trustees sit at the top table with the most senior decision-makers. They make crucial decisions about a charity’s activities, funds, and future, and play a key role in ensuring it does what it set out to do.

Some of the responsibilities of a trustee include:

• Helping the CEO lead the organisation

• Leading the strategic development of the organisation

• Ensuring the charity is delivering on it’s goals

• Looking after the organisation’s finances and assets

Who can be a trustee?

Trustees come from all walks of life. Some are retired. Others work full- or part-time.

Providing you’re at least 18 years old, (or 16 if the organisation is a charitable incorporated organisation), and you don’t have any unspent convictions, you’re good to apply.

Why become a trustee?

Aside from the warm and fuzzy feeling you’ll get from giving back, there are a ton of reasons to take on a trusteeship.

Here are eight for starters:

1. Skill-building: According to a study by GettingOnBoard, 96% of trustees say they developed new skills as a result of their trusteeship. As a trustee, you'll work on strategic planning, financial management, and problem-solving, among other things, all of which are highly valued by employers.

2. Boost your CV: A valuable addition to your CV, a trusteeship will make you a more competitive candidate.

3. Networking opportunities: Serving as a trustee will give you the opportunity to build relationships. As well as your fellow trustees, you’ll interact with volunteers, staff, and the public. These connections could open doors to future job opportunities.

4. Leadership experience: You’ll get hands-on experience in leadership, decision-making, and team management - at board level.

   This is invaluable if you’ve got your eye on a senior leadership or non-executive role.

5. Commitment to giving back: Employers are always on the lookout for candidates that are passionate about making a difference. A trusteeship will demonstrate it in spades.

6. Enhanced well-being: Studies show that volunteering can have a positive impact on our well-being. As a trustee, you'll be contributing to a cause you care about and making a difference. You’ll feel happier, more fulfilled, and confident as a result.

7. Improved job prospects: According to Reach Volunteering, 68% of trustees say their involvement in charity governance has helped them progress in their careers. Enough said!

8. Represent the underrepresented: GettingOnBoard research has found that the average age of a trustee is 60-62. Just 0.5% of trustees are 18-24, despite the age group making up 12% of the population. If you fall into this age bracket, a trustee role is a unique chance to help a charity achieve its goals by bringing a fresh perspective to the board.

Final Word

A trustee is a fantastic way to make a tangible difference to cause you care about. It’s a role that’ll give back as much as you put in, and more. So why not start your journey to becoming a trustee today? Contact us on 020 3750 3111 or info@bamboofundraising.co.uk to find out more.

‘Feel Good’ Fundraising: Chilly camp-out

In our ‘Feel Good Fundraising’ series, Bamboo’s digital marketing apprentice, Georgie, follows up on the stories of inspirational volunteer fundraisers, asking them the questions no one’s thought to ask.

Over to Georgie.

According to research by Shelter, 271,000 people are living rough on the streets of the UK.

Without fundraisers like Jackie Little, the number would be a lot higher.

Jackie took it upon herself to organise a sleep-out to raise funds for First Housing Aid & Support Services.

I was intrigued to find out how it went, so contacted her to ask some questions.

Why did you choose this cause?

I was heartbroken by the stories I read about the homeless. Following the death of a young 15-year-old girl in Dublin, I felt compelled to do something.

How did people keep warm?

We huddled together. We all brought sleeping bags and put disposable heat pads in our socks in the early hours of the morning, due to it being -4. One man managed an hour or two of sleep, but the rest of us didn’t get any. It was too cold.

Where did the sleep-out take place?

In the City of Derry, outside Guild Hall. We had a good response from the public. Everyone was friendly and supportive.

We spent time with the homeless, which was heart-wrenching, but we were able to provide them with emergency kits, fresh blankets, and food, which felt good.

How did you feel about the experience?

It was eye-opening. It made me realise how blessed I am to be living in comfort, and how much I take for granted.

The event was a great success. There was lots of interest and many generous donations were made during the night.

I wouldn’t do it again, but I’d help in another way. Maybe a skydive or bungee jump.

Want to support Jackie? You can still contribute to her GoFundMe page.

Looking for a community fundraiser to inspire volunteers like Jackie to support your cause? We can help. Drop us a line at info@amboofundraising.co.uk to get started.

GivenGain

When COVID-19 broke out, much of the world moved online, accelerating a digital transformation that had been underway for decades. It affected every industry, including the charity sector. For fundraising, it meant the adoption of new tech and a greater reliance on digital platforms. This led to a boom in online fundraising platforms.

Today, there are loads to choose from, but we’ve come across one platform we feel stands head and shoulders above the rest. Allow us to introduce GivenGain.

What is GivenGain?

GivenGain is a global, not-for-profit online social fundraising platform that helps charities maximise donations by empowering supporters to fundraise on their behalf.

The app, which utilises cutting-edge technology, enables charities to receive donations from anywhere in the world, in multiple currencies. As a result, they work with organisations across 80 countries, enabling donors to fundraise in over 190 locations.

Since launching in 2001, the platform has helped high-profile global charities such as WWF, Médecins Sans Frontières and Unicef, raise hundreds of millions of pounds.

Why GivenGain?

You know the old adage, “it’s more blessed to give than to receive?” The folk at GivenGain live and breathe this, as they don’t profit from your fundraising. Instead, they reinvest every penny into the development of the platform and helping to set up charities in South Africa.

In addition, the platform, and all the donations made through it are managed by the GivenGain Foundation. The reason for this is the Founders believe that “managing donations through a supervised Foundation creates greater transparency and value for the global non-profit community.”

Managing the platform through a Foundation also means GivenGain can't be bought out or swallowed up by a larger platform, so you can rest assured it’s here to stay.  

Benefits of GivenGain

• Global platform

• Easy-to-use

• Provides support in multiple languages

• Accepts donations in multiple currencies

• Their API can easily integrate with any website, database, or CRM

• Split charity donation function

• No subscription or campaign fees

The app comes with expert fundraising advice and custom-branded fundraising materials to make the fundraising process even easier

GivenGain Giving Back

As an employer, the GivenGain foundation provides employees with an additional 12 days of paid leave each year to volunteer with a charity of their choice, anywhere in the world. Nice touch eh?

What About Fees?

Set-up fees? Nope

Subscription fees? Nah.

Campaign fees? Nada.

The GivenGain Foundation collects a 5% admin fee from each donation, which is used to build new tools and features to improve the platform. There’s also a transaction fee to cover the costs from banks and credit card companies. But that’s it.

What next?

Want to find out more about GivenGain? Send Will Irwin an email at will.irwin@givengain.com, or give him a call on 07811110023.

Alternatively, you can jump right in and register your charity here.

And of course, if you need some help recruiting talented digital fundraisers to manage the tech, don’t hesitate to get in touch on 0203 750 3111 or info@bamboofundraising.co.uk.

‘Feel Good’ Fundraising - Pedal Pushers

Our ‘Feel Good Fundraising’ series sees Bamboo’s digital marketing apprentice, Georgie, follow up on the stories of inspirational volunteer fundraisers to ask them the questions no one’s thought to ask.

Georgie, it’s over to you.

During my weekly Google search, I came across a story about Jon Hazan. The keen cyclist took on the mammoth 980-mile Ride Across Britain Challenge to raise funds and awareness for Blind Veterans UK, a charity that’s close to his heart due to the support they’ve given his father, Ray.

As a keen cyclist myself, I reached out to Jon to find out more.

The challenge took you from Land’s End to John O’Groats. Were there any particular places or moments that stood out?

There were lots of memorable landmarks. But the standout one was St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall.

In terms of a standout moment, it would have to be crossing the Severn Road and Forth Road bridges.

Knowing that you were leaving one part of Britain and entering another was a great morale boost and felt like a real achievement.

Was the British weather kind to you?

It held for most of the time we were in England, but true to form, the moment we crossed into Scotland it turned. Memories of strong headwinds and lashing rain in the Glenn Shee Valley will stay with me forever!

On the upside, the landscape got more beautiful the further North we went. Each day I would finish up thinking the views would be hard to beat, but each day they would be bettered. The Scottish landscapes were every bit as beautiful as I’d imagined.

What kept you going?

The cause. I did it to raise money for a charity that’s supported and cared for my father for most of his life. There was no greater reason to take part or stay motivated.

I was also spurred on by my support team, consisting of my wife, mother, parents-in-law, and a family friend.

They made the herculean effort to be at each of our lunch stops and finish lines every day, clocking up 2,000 miles in the process.

Add to this the occasional visit from friends living in the areas we passed through and it was a wonderful experience.

You completed the challenge with a friend. Did 77 hours of arduous pedalling put a strain on your relationship?

No. We’ve known each other for a long time and have a good understanding of each other’s strengths, weaknesses, and moods.

The training rides also helped us understand what each other needed along the way, whether it be conversation or silent resolve!

What was the hardest part of the challenge?

My morale was lowest during the opening days of the challenge when I was adjusting to the task mentally and physically.

But the final day (for obvious reasons) was the most enjoyable.

980 miles is a long old bike ride. How did you keep your energy levels up?

The organisers laid on a full breakfast every morning (it’ll be a while before I can stomach beans on toast again) and left snacks, energy bars, and drinks at various checkpoints along the way. We also had a generous stash of Jelly Babies.

How did you celebrate?

As any good Englishman would; with a pint and a meal. I will remember that dinner for as long as I live. Surrounded by family, drinking a well-deserved pint, and eating a delicious meal while looking out over breathtaking views of John O’Groats harbour.

Looking for a community fundraiser to inspire volunteers like Tom? Contact us at info@amboofundraising.co.uk to find out how we can help.

Feel Good Friday: a charity album with a difference

It’s time for another feel-good Friday post, this time with a football flavour, seeing as the historic 2022 World Cup tournament is currently taking place in Qatar.

The tournament is historic, both for the number of “upsets” we’ve seen so far (England vs. France, anybody?) and the level of controversy surrounding the decision to host the event in Qatar.

But let’s focus on the positive with this week’s feel-good story.

Sing for Stonewall

There’s nothing like a good old-fashioned singalong to bring people together - especially when it’s for a good cause.

That’s why we were delighted to see footy legend Peter Crouch join forces with Britain’s Got Talent winner, Paul Potts, to fundraise for LGBTQ charity, Stonewall.

The unlikely duo teamed up to release ‘Crouchy Conducts The Classics’ – a charity Christmas album of football chants with a classical twist.

The collaboration saw the ex-footballer make his debut as a conductor on the eight-track album, which was released by Paddy Power Records. Yes, you read that right. The well-known gambling company hedged their bets on Crouch and Potts and turned music publisher fpr the one-of-a-kind album. The brand also committed to making a minimum donation of £25,000 to Stonewall.

The album features reworkings of football chants with the backing of a 20-piece orchestra. The track listing includes:

●      We Love You England

●      VAR My Lord

●      You’re Not Singing Anymore

Wondering if Crouch has talent? You can see him in action here.

Support for the LGBTQ+ community

All the proceeds will support Stonewall’s campaign to tackle the oppression that the LGBTQ+ community faces in Qatar. A country where being gay is illegal, and punishable by up to seven years in prison.

FIFA faced heavy criticism after the announcement in 2010 that Qatar would host this year’s World Cup. Many charities called out the organisation for holding the much-loved tournament in a country with such a poor track record for human rights.

As a result, Manchester Pride boycotted the tournament, and Amnesty International labelled it the ‘World Cup of Shame’.

But let’s turn our attention to Stonewall.

Stonewall Stands Up Against Qatar

Founded in 1989, Stonewall stands up for LGBTQ+ rights in Britain and beyond. The organisation is dedicated to championing LGBTQ+ communities and campaigning for a change in attitudes and policies to enable individuals to live a life free from prejudice and discrimination.

The charity’s Proud Stadium campaign aims to fill a virtual stadium with supporters of LGBTQ+ rights, shining a light on the injustices faced by LGBTQ+ people in Qatar.

The target is to reach 80,000 signatures – the capacity of the Lusail Stadium, which will host the 2022 World Cup Final in Qatar.

A worthy campaign.

Want to make a difference?

Looking to use your skills to raise money for a worthy cause like Stonewall? We can help you score a winning career move.

Give us a call on 0203 750 3111 or email info@bamboofundraising.co.uk to kick things off.