Venture Scotland is incredibly lucky to have a brilliant Board of Trustees who support every aspect of our work, from the oversight needed to keep a charity like ours going, to the daily volunteering, driving minibuses and spending time with our participants.
Today, we’re introducing our Treasurer, Frances…
I grew up in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. After graduating from Edinburgh University, I worked for over 20 years as a financial analyst selecting investments for pension funds.
I switched careers over a decade ago to the voluntary sector. Since then, I have been treasurer for 3 charities in the youth work sector and completed a Masters in Charity Finance.
I am a Trustee with the role of Treasurer. I attend board meetings and Chair the Finance and Fundraising Committee. I provide support to the VS team in preparing budgets, reports and keeping our procedures up to date for dealing with grants, donations and bills.
I first volunteered with Venture Scotland over 30 years ago when a friend invited me to join a weekend in a bothy in Glen Etive. I quickly learned that a bothy is basic, that the Glen is a magical place and that the people who run and participate in Venture Scotland are a big part of that magic.
I get a lot out of being a part of Venture Scotland; I have my opinions challenged by a diverse group of people with different life experiences to mine. It has helped me to realise how lucky I have been in having a supportive family, great local schools and opportunities to take part in a host of hobbies. So, it feels good to pass on some of that luck in giving young people an opportunity to do fun, adventurous outdoor activities. Meanwhile, those young people are building their self-esteem and finding people skills.
I have benefited from continually learning as the charity sector has rich resources in online courses and webinars, mostly free or subsidised by companies or the government. I also get a sense of satisfaction in being able to use my skills towards the incredible impact of Venture Scotland.
One moment that really sticks with me from my time at Venture Scotland was when I was at an award ceremony in Glasgow, and one of the participants said he was climbing a hill with his group when he realised he had been climbing a hill all his life. But, for the first time, he got to feel what it was like at the top. For me, that is the definition of making a difference.
I think there is a luxury of space in the outdoors that is a pleasantly shocking contrast for me to living in a city. I find it grounding to see myself in contrast to the “great” outdoors.
Also, there is the second degree fun of slogging through a tough or terrifying activity and then the happy rush when you did it!
If someone is considering joining a Board of Trustees, I would recommend looking for a charity that does something that you care about and that you can relate to. Before you commit, check out the programme and the team so you know they are positive people with a clear idea of how to contribute to making the world work better for others. Then, be generous with your skills and open-minded to investing some time to learn what you need to be a competent trustee.
Just give it a go, it’s free and you have nothing to lose but a bit of your time – and you never know what you might gain!