Tom Davis

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

I wanted to do two things.  One was to make a contribution to addressing issues that mattered a lot to me.  The second was to understand more about the role and what it entailed being a member of a trustee board.

2. Which organisation(s) do you represent?

At present, I am a trustee for War Child and, latterly, I was a trustee for the Consortium for Street Children. 

3. What particularly attracted you to these organisations?

Broadly, the causes.  I believe that street children are the most downtrodden and disadvantaged of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people and children.  Children affected by conflict are in even worse circumstances than being on the street, with lives ensnared by the full horror of war.

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

There are a lot of tools and information out there.  Bringing these together and streamlining it and presenting it in the right way would be one key thing.  A second thing would be information – so often one lacks the vital information that one needs to perform the role fully.

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

Working with other trustees on addressing shortfalls in funds that threatened the very life of the charity.

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

A feeling of satisfaction that one is making a contribution, and being able to meet such great, wonderful people along the way that are doing the same!

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

Definitely not – not general recognition.  Often there is no full appreciation of what the roles entail and where they can lead.

8. (If you have been a trustee/chair for some time) have you felt that the demands made on trustees/chairs have grown over time?

Definitely.  It’s no picnic when the life of the organisation can be at stake, and when survival is not an issue, strategy usually is.

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

Long enough to become effective, short enough to keep fresh and to make way for new blood and new ideas.  For that reason, it depends on the charity and the situation but, broadly speaking, two terms of 3 years each, for example, must be the maximum.

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

Study-up using the free guides that are around on various websites and published by law firms such as Bates, Wells and Braithwaite and get to know your new duties and obligations, especially where you are liable.  Secondly, determine the tenor of your board and the organisation and find the best way to make a contribution.

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

Well, I have a number of things that I already do, such as teaching, mentoring, other volunteer projects, and providing advice.  I serve on the advisory board of MyBnk, an innovative social enterprise for young people.

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

Every trustee needs to be able to open their contact database to support an organisation’s objectives – and every organisation needs to have the systems in place to assure trustees that these contacts will be dealt with professionally.

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

How do you go about getting specialist advice for your organisation without paying a bomb for it?

For your opportunity to answer Tom's question, please click on the link to the Forum.