A DRIVE to help Wales’s thriving third sector become even stronger will be highlighted next month during a UK-wide week of events organised to attract more volunteer trustees. Trustees’ Week 2014 (November 10-16) is a national campaign highlighting and celebrating trusteeship. Wales will see the importance of good governance outlined through events and initiatives run by umbrella body Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) and its members. They include a Twitter question and answer session, trustee seminars and the opportunity to enter a prestigious national annual awards ceremony. “We want to encourage people to take up trustee responsibilities,” said WCVA Acting Chief Executive Phil Jarrold. “Trustees are crucial to the smooth running of the third sector, but not always easy to attract.

They play a vital role, making important decisions about their organisation’s direction. Taking on such work can be both challenging and demanding, but those who decide to become trustees are not alone, and there is a wealth of information and support available for them.” Events taking place during Trustees’ Week include: Two shared learning seminars for trustees, which will be hosted by the Wales Audit Office in Cardiff on Tuesday (Nov 11) and Llanrwst on Thursday (Nov 13).

A WCVA Twitter Q&A on trustee training and development on Friday (Nov 14) using the hashtag #trusteesweek as part of a programme of Q&A sessions being held during Trustees’ Week – including ones to be hosted by the Charity Commission and the Charity Finance Group. The deadline for entries for WCVA’s Third Sector Awards Cymru, featuring a category rewarding good governance, which is also on November 14. The winner in the 2013 awards was YMCA Swansea which, between 2007-2013, saw a significant growth from having just four members of staff to employing 31 people and managing another 34 across Wales, delivering an all-Wales portfolio with a turnover of £1.5m.

Chief Executive of YMCA Swansea, Anne-Marie Rogan, said: “To have a board of trustees that is 100% engaged and committed to the organisation has been fundamental in building our organisation’s strength and determining our strategic direction.” One of the runners-up in the same category were the trustees of Vale Centre for Voluntary Services (VCVS), Barry, who led the organisation on a programme of continuous improvement since the adoption of the Practical Quality Assurance System for Small Organisations (PQASSO) more than 10 years ago.

Partnership and Development Manager, Clive Curtis, said: “The award shows that VCVS trustees have worked hard to ensure that the organisation is fit for purpose to support voluntary and community groups and also demonstrates that we have robust policies and procedures in place.” A number of Welsh trustees have been recognised for their work over the past year, including Tenby’s Kathy Talbot, who recently stepped down as Honorary Curator of one of the town’s top tourist attractions – its Museum and Art Gallery – but has remained as a Trustee.

Kathy, who picked up a 2014 WCVA Wales Volunteer of the Year Trustee category award, was credited by her nominator with bringing the museum into the 21st century. “The role of trustee should bring skills and contacts for the administration of – in our case – the museum, to ensure a sustainable future,” she said. “A trustee can take both a bird’s eye and strategic view of the operation, but at the same time should be prepared to take an active role, helping in seeking funding, outreach work and marketing, etc.” WCVA and county voluntary councils across Wales are able to provide direct support to individual trustees and trustee boards, as well as signposting to further sources of expert advice and guidance.

A range of information sheets to help trustees are also free to download from WCVA’s website, as well as free publications including: Good governance: a code for the third sector in Wales Faith and hope don’t run charities (trustees do) WCVA’s governance health check. Other support includes events such as the annual Wales Charity Law and Governance conference in May, and seminars delivered by a range of professionals including associate accountants and solicitors. Visit www.volunteeringwales.net and www.recruit3.org.ouk to find out about trustee vacancies in your area.