When I was asked to become a trustee at Elmbridge Community Link (ECL), my first reaction was to wonder of what use I could possibly be (a knee-jerk response which I now believe was due to something known as imposter syndrome.) However, I was assured that my lived experience as a carer would mean that I could make a valuable contribution to decision-making at the charity. Despite a lack of confidence about my personal capabilities, my desire to help was never in question; I know what vital work ECL does because my son is one of our members. With this unique perspective, I can say with absolute certainty that ECL really does succeed in its mission to enhance the lives of people with learning disabilities and/or autism living in Elmbridge.
Being a trustee gives me the opportunity to support the work of the charity by providing the board with an insight into what might be most important to our members and the issues they face. It's also fun to come up with ideas for fundraising events and to get involved with organising those events with my fellow trustees. Recently, there was a quiz night where each trustee formed a team with their smart and competitive friends to compete for intellectual glory. Beyond fundraising and entertainment, this event allowed us to introduce our charity's work to our friends and families. Moreover, reaching out to local shops and businesses for raffle prizes helped raise awareness for ECL, an invaluable opportunity that should not be missed!
All the trustees at ECL are committed to ensuring we can continue to support our members. This is at the heart of everything we do. Most of us are familiar with our members so we know, first hand, the positive impact our charity's work has on their lives. For me, it's wonderful to witness the progress and development of our younger adult members, the majority of whom attend our weekly AllSports session. Coming together in a safe and friendly setting really helps them to connect socially, make friends and grow in confidence as well as learn new skills. Our Board meetings provide an opportunity to discuss strategies for attracting more members to access our services and brainstorm ideas for different activities.
I look forward to Board meetings and enjoy catching up with everyone. It's interesting to hear news about what our members have been up to and, occasionally, the great challenges trustees have taken on to gain sponsorship. One intrepid colleague and his fiancée recently competed in a gruelling Iron Man competition. Equally impressively, another Board member carried out a sky dive to celebrate her 80th birthday. Both activities raised a good deal of valuable cash to support the charity's income but fortunately for me, high adrenalin or physical challenges are not compulsory!
Times are tough for all charities now. The pandemic took its toll on the nation's finances and there isn't a lot of money to go around. We have to get creative and make the most of every penny to ensure the best outcomes for our members. We are fortunate to have great staff and volunteers who are experts at this, many of whom have been involved with ECL for years. As a Board, we look to our friends, families, neighbours and acquaintances and for any potentially fruitful connections! This has proven to be a reliable recruitment method, so beware if you know any of ECL's trustees!
As a carer, I find it difficult to balance my caring commitments with paid employment but, taking on the voluntary role of trustee means that I can do rewarding work for a charity which I wholeheartedly believe in and without compromising my responsibilities at home. In fact, becoming more involved with the charity has enlightened me about other families who face greater challenges than my own. This new degree of perspective is very welcome and has reminded me about the importance of counting my blessings. While there is always someone better off, there is also someone for whom life is far more of a struggle. Worth remembering.
Which brings me to the personal benefits of being a trustee. The sense that I'm doing something meaningful and worthwhile is good for the soul. Working with ECL is both a pleasure and a privilege and I'm sure my fellow trustees would say the same. If you're ever feeling bad about yourself, doing something for someone else never fails to make you feel better.
To find out more about volunteering for ECL click here.
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