Survey of trusteenet members on ctn services - October 2007

Preliminary results from our survey of trusteenet members in October 2007 indicate that our members value a very wide range of services and information. 

Thank you to the 100 members who took the time to respond to the survey, with the majority kindly giving us detail about what support they would like, the issues they face, and what’s of concern at the moment.

Top of the list of concerns were, of course, funding, but also strategic planning.  Some of you are facing organisational change, others wondered how to plan in a time of financial uncertainty.  Another recurring theme was ‘getting along’ – how to smooth the path of the Chair/CEO relationship, how to refresh a long-standing board, how to motivate other trustees to become involved.  These headlines will help us find ways to support you in facing these challenges – through more networking mechanisms and resources.

The kinds of things that would make your life easier as a trustee were information on current issues (34%), chances to network (20%) and general support (17%).  Many of you cited a particular topic or challenge on which you would like to be able to talk to another trustee.  Our forum exists for that very purpose, and we would encourage everyone to use it to gain or give advice and suggestions to their colleague trustees.  No doubt someone somewhere has gone through what you’re facing!

In regard to challenges you recently faced, the top wish (31%) was to have had access to advice – whether legal, financial or other.  As a close second, many of you (27%) would have liked support, whether having a mentor or network colleague to talk the issue over, or a helpline to turn to.  These results will feed into CTN’s planning of services and resources for next year.

You favoured online resources (88%) over paper ones, followed closely by receiving information/learning through meeting other trustees through networks or at other events (54%).  So it’s not just about speed of delivery, but getting the right information in the right form at the right time.  A fact sheet on trustee recruitment you can print off right before a board meeting is one thing;  having a cuppa with another trustee who is also having hard time finding a Treasurer is quite another.

Your thoughts about the possibility of CTN becoming a true membership organisation were interesting too.  What you would like from such an organisation was wide-ranging, from training and a helpline to trustee events.  Networks and information on current affairs were at the top of the list of your needs.  These are things we currently provide and will continue to develop whilst we keep an eye on the slightly more distant future.

Finally, it is great news that so many of you are happy to be contacted by us in future to be sounded out about the development of our membership package and services.  We won’t abuse the privilege, but the occasional reality-check will help ensure that our work is relevant and useful to all trustees.

Thanks again to all respondents.  Please feel free to contact us again in future with further feedback or suggestions.