{"id":6203,"date":"2025-11-03T09:43:22","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T09:43:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.voluntaryactionnorthlanarkshire.org\/?p=6203"},"modified":"2025-11-03T09:43:34","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T09:43:34","slug":"from","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.voluntaryactionnorthlanarkshire.org\/index.php\/2025\/11\/03\/from\/","title":{"rendered":"Emily\u2019s Journey: From Horse-Loving Volunteer to a Charity Board Member"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Young people make up a large part of the population but they hold less than 3% of charity trustee roles.<\/a> According to the Young Trustees Movement, that\u2019s not just a gap, it\u2019s a huge missed opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Charity boards are missing out on fresh perspectives, digital know-how, and lived experiences that younger trustees can bring. At the same time, many young people don\u2019t realise the career-building and confidence-boosting potential of becoming a trustee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being a board member sounds serious. Maybe even intimidating. But is it really as inaccessible as it seems? Or could it actually be more flexible, rewarding, and even fun than most young people imagine?

To find out what it\u2019s really like, meet Emily, a young trustee helping to shape the future of a unique local charity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emily is the youngest board member at Ponies Help Children<\/a>, a remarkable local charity based in Shotts, North Lanarkshire. The charity rescues ponies and offers transformative care to children and young people, focusing on improving mental health and wellbeing through powerful connections between children and animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How It All Began<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Emily became a trustee at Ponies Help Children two years ago, when she was just 22. Now 24, she reflects on how she got involved and why she believes more young people should consider joining charity boards.

At the time, Emily was doing agency work when her mum suggested she volunteer at PHC. Their shared love of horses drew them in and after just a few visits that week, Emily was completely won over. She never left.

Emily\u2019s background in residential childcare, particularly trauma-informed practice, became a real asset to the team. She started by covering ad hoc sessions when staff were on holiday, and gradually became more involved in the charity\u2019s day-to-day work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stepping into a Trustee Role<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Six months into volunteering at PHC, Emily attended her first Annual General Meeting. Curious to learn more about how the charity operated behind the scenes, she decided to attend. During the meeting, a board member mentioned they were recruiting and that caught Emily\u2019s attention.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She knew she was bringing valuable experience to her role, and she had a genuine passion for the charity\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What gave her the confidence to apply, she says, was simply \u201cknowing I was allowed to.\u201d As a 22-year-old, she\u2019d assumed that board roles were only open to people with decades of experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But that perception is slowly changing. More and more boards are actively seeking fresh perspectives, diverse lived experience, and the digital fluency that younger trustees often bring.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking Stereotypes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Emily brings deep insight into the challenges today\u2019s young people face, particularly around mental health and growing up in an always-online world. Her background in trauma-informed care gives her a strong foundation, and being closer in age to many of the charity\u2019s clients helps her connect with their experiences on a more personal level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having younger trustees alongside more experienced board members adds a valuable layer of understanding to decision-making, one that reflects the full range of voices the charity supports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the Boardroom<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Outside of Emily\u2019s contributions to regular meetings and decisions. She also helps organise PHC\u2019s regular quiz night, a family-friendly event that brings the local community together. She even writes the questions and acts as quiz master, blending her love of fun with her commitment to the charity\u2019s mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finding the Right Balance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the beginning there were doubts of course. Emily wasn\u2019t sure how much time commitment was required on top of her day job, and how the trustee responsibilities would fit in with her routine. Many young people mystified by the world of charity boards think the same. There is a myth that it will be time consuming and meeting heavy.

Charity boards often meet once a month, and the number of hours required outside the meetings in often manageable on top of other responsibilities. Emily\u2019s role is very flexible and she has a good balance between her trustee responsibilities and her day to day work life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like many young people, Emily was unsure what becoming a trustee would actually involve. Would it be a huge time commitment? Would it clash with her day job?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have a meeting every two months\u201d she explains. \u201cFor an hour, hour and a half, and maybe a wee extra one if we have the quiz night coming up, so that everybody\u2019s got their roles. And it\u2019s very flexible. You\u2019re not expected to be there all the time, as long as you\u2019ve done your job. They\u2019re very understanding that everybody\u2019s got their own life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This flexibility is key, and a far cry from the rigid, high-pressure image that often surrounds board roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTV programmes talk about board members, and it\u2019s like power suits, and that sort of thing. Half the time on the board calls I\u2019m sitting in my jammies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Decision-Making Power & Practical Impact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Having started as a volunteer, Emily brings a grounded, hands-on understanding of the charity\u2019s day-to-day operations. This gives her valuable insight as a board member, helping bridge the gap between decision-making and frontline experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over time, she\u2019s contributed to a number of board decisions, from improving staff spaces to approving the installation of a new roof and setting up a coffee station for volunteers and employees. These kinds of improvements have a direct and lasting impact on the wellbeing of the team and the smooth running of the charity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Personal Growth: Confidence, CVs & Career Boosts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The benefits of trusteeship don\u2019t stop at the charity gates. For Emily, it\u2019s had a ripple effect on her confidence and career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt looks really good on my CV,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s such a talking point when I\u2019ve gone for job interviews.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her trustee role has helped her stand out in interviews, and shown employers that she brings leadership, responsibility, and passion to the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emily\u2019s Advice for Aspiring Young Trustees<\/h3>\n\n\n\n