A number of Stone King’s people are charity trustees in their own time. Here, they each talk about the charities they work with and reflect on what they have learnt from their experiences.
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Are you a new trustee or thinking of becoming one?
- Stone King’s leading Charity & Social Enterprise team runs regular Essential Charity Training for trustees and senior management.
Please see our Charity Training Programme.
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Vicky is CEO of Stone King and is an experienced business leader and strategist with a proven track record at a senior level in the legal industry |
Trustee for:
PSDS – Providing Support for individuals with Down Syndrome
42a Prices Lane, Reigate, Surrey RH2 8AX
info@psds.info
How did you become involved with PSDS and how long have you been a trustee?
I co-founded PSDS in 2006 with two other women after my son was born with Down Syndrome. As mums facing a new challenge, we were keen to find the very best support for our babies and the local authorities were limited in what they could provide. So we decided to create them ourselves. The charity was born and I’ve been a trustee ever since.
What are the main skills you need to be a trustee?
The trustee body needs to have between them: strong governance skills, strategic thinking, and financial oversight. Trustees need to collaborate effectively, make informed decisions, and ensure compliance with charity law. Empathy and commitment to the charity’s mission are equally important. Many charities are constantly facing funding challenges so the ability to be practical, pragmatic and sensible in creating solutions that are economically achievable but also meet the needs of the charity’s beneficiaries are critical.
What do you enjoy most?
I enjoy the diversity of the role. Working with trustees from different industries has given me fresh leadership insights, and seeing the positive impact on children and young adults with Down Syndrome is incredibly rewarding. From a personal point of view, I know our work truly makes a difference for families – which is a real privilege and joy.
What have you learnt from the experience?
I’ve learned how vital collaboration and adaptability are in the charity sector. It’s taught me to think beyond commercial priorities and focus on values-driven leadership. The experience has deepened my understanding of inclusion and resilience, which I’ve carried into my professional life as a CEO.
What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a charity trustee?
I would say, do it! It’s hard work and voluntary, but the rewards are immense. You’ll gain new skills, broaden your perspective, and work in an environment that aligns with your values. It’s professionally enriching too – you learn to lead differently and bring those insights back to your own career.
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Julie is an experienced immigration expert and has worked with various types of organisations and individuals on a broad range of immigration issues. She supports clients across Stone King’s sectors with often sensitive immigration-related matters. |
Trustee for:
Immigration Law Practitioner’s Association
Lindsey House, 40-42 Charterhouse Street, London EC1M 6JN
How did you become involved with ILPA and how long have you been a trustee?
I wanted to become a solicitor in order to practice immigration law. I therefore found a training contract that offered immigration as one of its seats. Most immigration lawyers are members of ILPA, it is a fantastic charity. I have therefore been a member ever since I started practicing law and a trustee for two years.
What are the main skills you need to be a trustee?
In order to support the charity effectively, you need to understand the purpose as well as how a charity works, and how to offer strategic support to the excellent team employed by the charity.
What do you enjoy most?
I love being a trustee of ILPA as I am able to shape its work and support the staff. Whilst the charity has a big impact, there aren’t many employees, so it is rewarding for the trustees to offer support.
What have you learnt from the experience?
Working with so many other immigration lawyers of various backgrounds and areas of specialism, we learn from one another and how different individuals handle different situations.
What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a charity trustee?
Being a charity trustee is very rewarding. Having previously been the Chief Executive of a charity, I understand how important good trustees are, and how valuable it is to the organisation when individuals will invest their time and expertise. It is mutually rewarding.
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For over 30 years Julian has specialised in Social Enterprise; Charity; Responsible Business; Public Service Reform and Innovation; Co-operatives and Stakeholder Participation; blending business and public benefit legal disciplines. |
Trustee of the Pathway Fund
https://www.pathwayfund.org.uk/
How did you become involved and how long have you been a trustee?
I was approached and invited to a competitive interview. I was interested in the extremely worthwhile purpose of this organisation, which is to provide social investment access to initiatives originating in and supporting black and minoritised communities.
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Craig is Head of HR Consultancy services and leads on all aspects of business development for the HR Consultancy team including speaking at regional and national events. He is a people-focussed HR professional with specialist knowledge in recruitment, talent management, people strategy and workforce design, and has extensive experience of working with clients from all sectors and holds specialist knowledge in education and charity. |
Trustee for:
Kool Kids Club
Clifton with Rawcliffe Primary School
Eastholme Drive
Rawcliffe
York
YO30 5TA
Tell us a little about Kool Kids Club and how long you have been a trustee
Kool Kids Club is an out of school setting that provides activities, educational trips and a safe place for children; I’ve been a trustee since March 2023.
What are the main skills you need?
In my view, you need to be passionate about the organisation you are supporting. This group has a big impact on the community and the most important skill I have is my ability to assist with the management of people. My knowledge of the legal requirements and safeguarding is also helpful to the Board.
What is the biggest challenge, and what do you enjoy most?
It can be time-consuming, but I enjoy helping the team and making a difference to the community I live in.
What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a charity trustee?
Do it! It is very rewarding.
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Caroline is a partner and head of the family team at Stone King, advising on all issues arising on the breakdown of relationships often where complex financial issues are concerned. Caroline is also an accredited mediator, supporting clients to find resolution where possible, and is qualified to consult with children during this process. |
Trustee for:
Walcot Methodist Chapel
Nelson Pl East
London Street
Bath
How did you become involved with the contact centre?
The contact centre provides a safe environment where separated parents are able to spend time with their children. I have been a trustee at the centre for seven years, taking over from another solicitor at Stone King. At the time, I had been working with the contact centre in a professional capacity and saw the invaluable service provided to the community.
What are the main skills you need to be a trustee?
You need general life experience, the ability to consider matters objectively, and a real interest in the work of the charity for whom you are a trustee.
What do you enjoy most?
Meeting others who are wholly dedicated to a particular cause and who commit such time and energy to their charitable work.
What have you learnt from the experience?
That there are so many people within our community who wish to support others in need. For anyone considering becoming a trustee, it is such a rewarding experience – I would wholeheartedly recommend it.
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Tamsin has more than 25 years’ experience in corporate finance, banking and financial services. She was previously an equity partner in Dechert and was a consultant to the leading north west firm, Brabners LLP for 20 years, joining Stone King in 2013 and became a partner in 2018. |
Trustee for:
Robert Arkenstall Primary School
Camping Close
Haddenham
Ely
Cambridgeshire
CB6 3UA
What does East Anglian Education Trust do and how long have you been a trustee?
I became a trustee just over a year ago. I had known one of the trustees for many years, and they were aware of my involvement in the broad education sector through Stone King.
East Anglian Education Trust is a recently established CIO which forms strategic partnerships with national and regional organisations to develop and deliver programmes to partner schools and communities in our area of benefit.
Its strategy is to raise educational standards of school-aged children in the area, creating fairer access to better paid and skilled employment in the hi-tech big businesses in the region. EAST3T sees itself as a successor to the Opportunity Area Partnership Board.
What are the main skills you need to be a trustee?
Each trustee brings something different to the table and it is important to appreciate what particular skills you bring.
Common to each trustee should be an understanding of what the charity is trying to achieve and an ability to assess the opportunities, rewards and related risks so as to be able to form an informed and considered view.
One needs an ability to think independently, to identify the questions that need to be asked and the determination to find an answer.
What is the most challenging part of being a trustee?
Finding the time to do as much as one would like, especially with an early stage charity which needs all hands on deck.
What advice would you give to someone considering the role?
Carefully consider whether it is something that you want to do and to which you can really contribute.
What makes the experience worthwhile?
Working with skilled and able people with a common aim, with the belief that we really can make a difference to some lives.
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Caroline is a Partner and Head of Real Estate at Stone King. She has extensive experience in all aspects of commercial property for both listed companies as well as for non-faith charities dealing with all their property requirements. |
Trustee for:
The Guild of Friends of the Bristol Children’s Hospital
info@bristolchildrenshospital.org.uk
How did you become involved with The Guild of Friends of the Bristol Children’s Hospital and how long have you been a trustee?
I’ve been a trustee for The Guild of Friends for over 28 years! It is the oldest charity that supports the Bristol Children’s Hospital (founded in 1948) and steps in where the NHS isn’t able to help. Just a few things we do is support the Play Department, pay for all tea and coffee in the Families rooms on the wards, and the list goes on.
What are the main skills you need to be a trustee?
Be considered in your judgement, you can’t help everyone even if you want to. Be prepared to volunteer at all sorts of fundraising events at weekends when you would rather be at home.
What do you enjoy most?
I have a lovely Committee who care passionately about the Hospital and the families within it. Making a difference to so many people that I will never meet but whose lives have been impacted by my Charity’s donations makes the time spent so worthwhile.
What have you learnt from the experience?
You don’t realise the difference you are making until someone tells you a story about how the Charity really helped them at a low point in their children’s lives. You then realise all the time spent going through equipment requests or Social Worker requests has been worth it.
What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a charity trustee?
It might be the most rewarding thing that you do in your life – even if you don’t realise the difference you make, you do make a difference just by volunteering.
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Frances is a Senior Associate specialising in charity and ecclesiastical law, and the law as it relates to matters of art and heritage. She also has extensive experience in education law and works for charities and organisations throughout the country. |
Trustee for:
The Ecclesiastical Law Society
1 The Sanctuary, London SW1P 3JT
How did you become involved with The Ecclesiastical Law Society and how long have you been a trustee?
I first joined the Society as a member when I was a trainee solicitor. It made a refreshing change from dealing with the big corporate transactions I was working on at the time! I’ve since developed expertise in ecclesiastical law alongside charity law as my main specialisms. I’ve been a trustee for about 8 years, seeing the charity through incorporation during that time.
What are the main skills you need to be a trustee?
A mix of hard and soft skills is really useful, any professional insight you can bring (such as financial or legal knowledge) are helpful but not essential, whilst having strong communication skills and good judgment and an ability to work as part of a team are crucial. You should also have a strong commitment to the charity's cause, understand its impact and beneficiaries, and be able to contribute meaningfully to board discussions.
What do you enjoy most?
The people I have met, both my fellow trustees but also through the wider work and events of the charity. The sense of achievement and giving back, and promoting the development of an area of law so historical but still in force today.
What have you learnt from the experience?
Absolutely loads – as editor of the charity’s newsletter I have improved my writing and communication skills. I helped to organise one of the conferences and really developed my confidence in public speaking as co-host and convenor.
What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a charity trustee?
Definitely do it! You won’t regret it – every opportunity opens doors.
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Matthew is a specialist criminal and regulatory solicitor, with associated civil expertise and experience. He leads the Stone King Criminal Law Team. Matthew is widely respected by colleagues and peers, and regarded as one of the most technically able solicitors in the field: driven, fearless, incisive and a figure to respect in court. |
Trustee for:
Friends of Box School
How did you become involved with Friends of Box School and how long have you been a trustee?
I live in a village near Bath and my children attend the local village primary school, a small school of about 150 children. The school no longer had a PTA, and so everyone was missing out on the benefits, especially around extracurricular activities and fundraising for fun stuff for the school. I was already a Parent Governor and so decided, with a couple of other parents to set up Friends of Box School as a parent, teacher and school community association. We formed an unregistered charity initially, created a board, got a bank account, website and some other boring policy stuff, then registered with the Charity Commission and are up and running.
What are the main skills you need to be a trustee?
I am fortunate to have been a trustee elsewhere for well over a decade, so knew something about sensible good governance. The key skills are to really care about the charity and make sure you leave it in a better place than when you joined. Listen and respect others, and be prepared to learn learn learn. Saying thank you and meaning it helps too.
What do you enjoy most?
Having a laugh with the kids and their grown-ups. Never take yourself too seriously.
What have you learnt from the experience?
That having people involved who know their stuff really makes a difference. Getting the right people involved at the right time can transform an initiative, event or process. A trustee has the power to harness the energy and skills of others in a way far beyond their own direct contribution
What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a charity trustee?
Go for it, as long as the charity is something you are passionate about or really believe is important. Being a trustee should never be just about board meetings. Structure and governance is important, but being a trustee means you can make a difference in so many ways.
Stone King offers comprehensive trustee training, Senior Associate Clive Vergnaud outlines what the programme covers here
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