During Trustees’ Week, Mark Pawsey, MP for Rugby, is highlighting the vital contribution made to the community by local charities and their trustees.
There are 241 charities in Rugby. Every one is different but the one thing they have in common is their reliance on trustees who are the people with responsibility for making the important decisions about the direction of the charity and its work. Usually volunteers, they give their time, energy and passion to make a real difference.
Mark said:
“We are lucky to have so many charities in Rugby undertaking important work and achieving fantastic things both locally and beyond. Without the tireless efforts of the trustees who run these charities, none of this could happen. During Trustees’ Week, I’d like to thank all of those who volunteer their time to make a difference. But around half of charities around the country have a vacancy on their board and many people have skills and experience they can bring to a cause. If you are passionate about our local community or another cause, why not consider becoming a trustee?”
He continued:
“Today I visited the Bradby Club in Rugby and have met with their Trustees. The Club is 91 years old, and was founded as an independent youth club by teachers from Rugby School. The Mayor of Rugby is the President, the Head Master of Rugby School is among the Vice-Presidents, and there are 14 trustees who support the Club's Leader. They have the commitment to offer support, across the range of much-needed projects and initiatives, in a tightly-budgeted club which has won recognition not just locally but with a Queen's Award in 2004.
Mark added:
“The trustees work together outstandingly as a team for this unique club. An example of the team's many strengths is the way it combines members offering remarkably loyal long service, with young people who have come more recently to the Management Committee by way of their involvement in the club as volunteers or members. Six of the fourteen on the committee have been trustees for ten years or more and two young members of the committee were involved with the club some time before they became trustees. It is clear to me that the club exercises a lasting hold over trustees' affections and commitment.”
To learn more about Trustees’ Week and trusteeship, visit www.trusteesweek.org.uk. The website includes trustees’ stories, details of events being held during Trustees’ Week and links to trustee matching services for those who want to become a trustee.