The value of digital trustees
It’s Trustees Week so I thought I tell you about my own experience as a Trustee over the last three years.
I have been a trustee for Seescape, a Fife-based charity that supports people with visual impairment, for nearly 3 years. It provides a range of services from that include home assessments, sight support services, equipment support and provision and befriending. It employs around 14 staff and operates across the county. Losing your sight at any age is awful. Sight loss in later life, coupled with other age-related conditions can lead to loss of independence and leads to pressure and concern for families and health services alike.
My route to this organisation was perhaps unusual. I have no personal experience of sight loss, nor does any of my family or close friends. I had been looking for a Trustee role as a way to make more use of my business experience and joined Changing the Chemistry, an organisation that promotes diversity of thought on boards, be they non-executive or trustee roles. I was approached by a fellow member about joining the Seescape board because she thought my background would be useful.
I did some homework on the responsibilities of a Trustee, which are not insignificant, met with the Chair and also took advice from a very generous mentor, who advised me that the trustee role is one of ‘nose in, hands off’.
As someone who’s neck-deep in running an organisation on a day-to-day basis, that distinction is an important one. The role of the board of trustees is not to run the charity – it is to ensure that it is well governed, has a clear strategy and that the CEO and their team are delivering it. It’s there to offer support and guidance as well as keep on top of financial and risk factors. It’s the CEO’s job to run the organisation, not the trustees’.
I’ve been surprised by how rewarding I have found it. A half day once a quarter to attend board meetings plus taking appropriate time to read papers, ask questions and liaise with fellow board members by email from time to time is a lot less onerous that you might think. Being part of the board has given me a refreshing perspective on how organisations are run and it’s an interesting personal challenge not to ‘interfere’ and get stuck in operationally.
I joined the board just before the pandemic hit and supporting the CEO during that time was very interesting for us all. I managed to bring a digital perspective firstly to other board members and then to the leadership team, providing examples of digitisation in the sector, making suggestions, providing a bit of inspiration and reassurance. We’re now at a place where considering digital opportunities is the norm. We’ve always provided assistive technology to our clients, but now we are much more focussed on expanding that as well as looking at how we can use digital to extend our reach.
You never feel like you’re supposed to know everything - I think the collective experience and expertise on a board is incredibly powerful. This year I’ve become Seescape’s Vice Chair, another step in my board experience with a few added responsibilities.
One benefit of being a Trustee is that you get to hear the most wonderful stories of the difference the charity you support makes. My favourite so far is a recent message from our Head of Accessible Technology, Stuart Beveridge, who reported that he’d recently helped a client whose sight was deteriorating but who was reluctant to try a new mobile phone because she was unwilling to learn how to use a new device ‘at her age’.
Stuart was very patient and after investigating a few options found a device that the client was happy to use. In fact, she became a complete convert, communicating with friends and family daily, something she’d been unable to do for months. She also bought a couple of Amazon Echo devices and now uses them too – news, weather, alarms, timers and reminders. Her life has been completely changed for the better. Great story – but here’s the kicker – she’s 102 years old!
As a Trustee with a particular interest and focus on digital, this is just such a wonderful story – a terrific example of how technology can make a positive impact on people’s lives, their families and the support network around them.
There is great need for more digital thinking on charity boards, especially now as the sector comes under great pressure to do more with less. Take a look on charity recruitment site Goodmoves for board opportunities in Scotland or visit the NCVO’s website for opportunities in the rest of the UK and see how your experience and knowledge can help.
If becoming a Trustee isn’t for you, don’t forget that you can volunteer your skills and experience and the time you have with us here at the Scottish Tech Army.
Kirsty McIntosh,
Head of Partnerships at the Scottish Tech Army