Dave Butterworth

1. First of all, about you: what attracted you to becoming a chair/trustee?

I became a trustee for a small national charity purely by accident.  I started by helping them on their web site and ended up as a trustee.  It wasn’t really my sort of charity but I had caught the bug so set out to find a lively local charity.

2. Which organisation do you represent?

I was pleased to find and start working with Root & Branch a charity that provides therapeutic rural crafts for people experiencing mental health problems.  After a short time as an observer on the trustees’ board, I was excited to be elected as secretary.

3. What particularly attracted you to these organisations?

It sounds silly but I just fell in love with the organisation.  It is centred on an organic garden based on a farm in beautiful rural Oxfordshire.  The staff, volunteers, trustees and even the clients are all enthusiastic, friendly and supportive.

4. Is there anything that would make you an even more effective trustee/Chair?

I have so much to learn including understanding mental health and finding the best ways to raise funds.

5. What’s the biggest challenge you have faced in your role?

Everything is a challenge to me because I come from a background of chemical engineering research, but it is fun to learn new skills.

6. What do you consider the most satisfying aspect of your role?

It is wonderful to help to make things happen both in terms of the organisation and, especially, for the people we are supporting.

7. Do you think there is enough general recognition of the value of the trustee/Chair role?

Probably not, but it doesn’t concern me personally.  One advantage of the low recognition is that it doesn’t attract those who are mainly motivated by self-interested.

8. Have you felt that the demands made on trustees/Chairs have grown over time?

It is clear that regulations are increasing and availability of funding getting tighter.  But, what is new!

9. What do you think is the ideal term of office that a trustee/Chair should serve?

You need to balance experience with new ideas.  My guess is that 6 years is about right for most people but that is not to say that some people have particular skills that will be valuable to the organisation for much longer.

10. What tip would you give to a new trustee?

Be clear about the particular skills you can bring to the charity but be flexible and willing to learn new skills when needed.  Don’t be too overawed by the expertise of the old timers.  They were once newcomers like you.  So, don’t be shy when you feel that you need to make a point.

11. If you weren’t a trustee, what would you do with that time?

I like to think that I would be honing my landscape-painting skills but suspect I would just be frittering my time away!

12. What steps do you take to increase/retain your organisation’s membership?

Although I am by no means an IT expert, I am doing my best to make our web site lively and attractive.  I am now looking into ways of involving clients and members in the web site.

13. What question do you want to ask next week’s trustee?

Have you had any formal training in your trustee role and do you think this has helped you.

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