Charity trustees' week 2020: Q&A with Donna Bulmer

November 2nd-6th is Trustees' Week, an annual event which celebrates all of the hard work of charity trustees across the UK. Being a charity trustee requires a time commitment and taking on a level of responsibility. What is really rewarding is being part of a leadership team who oversee the governance of not-for-profit organisations, witnessing and participating in some of their amazing work first hand. To mark the week we sat down with our Managing Partner, Donna Bulmer and asked her about what being a trustee means to her.

Why did you choose to become a charity trustee?

For me, it's a really about giving back to the community. I have a longstanding connection with the local voluntary sector, and I know how important charities are to my local area. In my professional capacity, I often see the struggles charities have when recruiting people with financial experience, especially in the voluntary sector. So, I know I have the skills to provide valuable advice, which is often out of reach, especially for smaller charities.

What does it require?

Responsibility to make sure that the charity is governed well. Coming from a financial background, I ensure that the charity finances are well looked after. Beyond this, it means being an advocate of the charity and genuinely caring about the charity and its beneficiaries.

What value do the charities get from you working with them?

Charities need to be able to access professionals with a broad range of experience in the sector, so that they can draw upon the knowledge of someone who is abreast of regulatory change within the sector. This helps the organisations stay on the right track.

How do you benefit from being a trustee?

Being a trustee has allowed me to view the world through different lens. It's opened my eyes to a lot of local issues, which I probably wouldn't have been aware of otherwise. Being able to support charities which I'm passionate about also really gives me a sense of worth.

What would your advice be to other accountants, thinking about becoming a trustee?

I would say go for it! Find a cause that you are really passionate about, whether it be sport, young people or homelessness. If you have a genuine interest in that charity, you'll be able to really devote yourself to charity's cause and its beneficiaries. The charity commission is a great port of call for guidance. They have lots of useful information on their website which will help you wherever you are in your trustee journey. But also speak to your fellow trustees about their experiences too. Learning from people who've been trustees for a number of years was one of the most important things that I did early on in my role.