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.
Get involved in our upcoming Trustee events:
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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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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Sarah is an Associate Solicitor and Professional Support Lawyer in our Charity & Social Enterprise Team. She advises charities on all aspects of safeguarding and on the policies they need to have in place. She advises charities on all aspects of safeguarding vulnerable groups including safer recruitment, DBS checks and barred list checks, safeguarding and other policies, the legal duty to refer, training for trustees and other members of staff and volunteers. |
Chair of the Local Governing Body for:
Motcombe Primary School part of Sherborne Area Schools Trust
Church Road, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 9NT
01747 852018
How did you become involved with Sherborne Area Schools Trust?
I became a governor at my local primary school, which is part of the Sherborne Area Schools Trust, 5 years ago. When I saw the advert for a parent governor vacancy I applied because my children were very happy at the school and I felt that I might be able to contribute to the governance side using my professional skills, particularly in relation to safeguarding. I'm now Chair of the Local Governing Body.
What is the most rewarding thing about being a trustee?
I think, throughout the pandemic, it has been supporting the school staff, in particular the senior leadership team, to provide the best education and mental health support possible for our children whether in school or, during lockdowns, at home. We have managed to remain connected as a governing body and Trust overall. I think staff wellbeing will be a key focus over the coming year.
What are the main skills you need to be a trustee?
I think that the first thing you need is a desire to learn and a readiness to commit to becoming a governor. A range of skills is important for any governing body, and any good governing body will carry out a skills audit on a regular basis to ascertain what gaps there are in terms of areas of expertise and knowledge. I have used and developed my skills in relation to safeguarding and governance, and the Trust has provided excellent training opportunities to develop skills in areas in which I had no prior experience. It can be very rewarding.
What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a charity trustee?
There is never a dull moment! I think with a good team of governors who are all committed to the ethos and values of the school, as well as to high standards of teaching and learning, you can really make a difference to the experience of children at the school for the better. There are often difficult times and you need to make the best decision you can based on the facts before you. A good relationship and shared vision with the Head or Principal is crucial, but at the same time you need to maintain the role of ‘critical friend’ in the forefront of your role as a governor.
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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 for:
Media Diversity Institute
85-87 Bayham Street, London, NW1 OAG
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7255 2473
How did you become involved and how long have you been a trustee?
I advised on its legal establishment in 2003 and, as the founder was new to the UK, provided further support by acting as an original trustee in relation to its operational establishment from 2004.
What are the main skills you need to be a trustee?
Charity Law expertise and an overview of the public benefit environment and organisational operation.
What do you enjoy most?
Providing support where and in a way so that what I specifically have to offer is particularly needed.
What have you learnt from the experience?
It has given me direct practical experience of a range of issues where the external advice is easier to give than implement.
What advice what you give to someone considering becoming a charity trustee?
You need to be interested in and committed to the particular organisation, as time and application are needed.
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 Team for Employment, HR Consultancy, and Immigration, and leads on all aspects of business development for the Employment and 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. |
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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Karine is a bilingual French/English Paralegal in Stone King’s International and Cross-Border Team, dealing with matters with an international or cross-border element. |
Trustee for:
Cats Action Trust (N&W Wilts)
How did you become involved and how long have you been a trustee?
I have been a Trustee of Cats Action Trust (N&W Wilts) for the past 6 years. I started volunteering in their Melksham charity shop in 2004, before becoming a Committee member and taking on the Officer’s role of General Administrator and was appointed as a Trustee in 2018.
What are the main skills you need to be a trustee?
To be a Trustee, you need to have a solid understanding of how the charity works and fully commit to it. Administrative, organisational, financial skills are essential as well as the ability to collaborate positively with fellow Trustees and Committee members to make the right decisions that will ensure the best interests of the charity in the short and long term.
What do you enjoy most?
Being a Trustee is a huge honour as you get to be an “Ambassador” of your chosen charity, representing its values publicly and making sure that it continues to do what it was originally set up to achieve and benefits its intended beneficiaries. I enjoy working as a team with other Trustees and volunteers and feel our role is vital to ensure the safeguarding of our charity and its values.
What have you learnt from the experience?
I have learnt new skills and knowledge such as a high sense of responsibility, long-term commitment and decision-making abilities which are important aspects of a Trustee role. Also, keeping myself informed of new legal, governmental requirements that might affect our charity’s work. I have also gained some accountancy knowledge as I am in charge of filing our financial accounts with the Charity Commission annually.
What advice what you give to someone considering becoming a charity trustee?
I would advise them to contact a local, small charity whose cause they are truly passionate about. Tell them you would like to help them and ask what current volunteering vacancies they have where your own skills and experience would be put to good use. Get to have a solid knowledge of the internal organisation of the charity, opt to become a Committee member and once you have demonstrated your worth and trustiness, offer to join the team of Trustees and be patient. There might not be any vacancy at the time but Trustees do eventually step down due to personal circumstances, leaving their position vacant for the right candidate showing dedication and enthusiasm.
Stone King offers comprehensive trustee training, Senior Associate Clive Vergnaud outlines what the programme covers here
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