“This is something that I am unlikely to encounter in my day job for several years.”
There are a few reasons that I was initially drawn to exploring trusteeship. Firstly (and slightly selfishly), was the opportunity to develop knowledge of organisational governance, as this is something that I am unlikely to encounter in my day job for several years. I was interested to explore how high-level decisions, strategy and risk were handled by a board and the potential implications. Secondly, I was interested in seeing how a board worked in practice, the skillset that board members have individually and as a group, and the wide range of activities that they cover. We tend to fall into silos in our professional lives, and trusteeship seemed like a great opportunity to build new skills outside of my comfort zone.
So I applied for Spitalfields Music’s Trainee Trustee Scheme as the charity’s mission resonated with me. Throughout my childhood and education, I benefited greatly from involvement in music. At the time of applying to the scheme I was working in education in Tower Hamlets and was acutely aware of challenges in the borough and wanted to give back in some way and contribute to creative opportunities for local communities.
I initially thought the scheme would involve attending the quarterly meetings and observing – but it was so much more than that. I was surprised at just how much support the trainees got from the board, both from our board buddies and around the table at board meetings when we had questions or comments. However, the biggest surprise for me was how much time Clare (Spitalfields Music’s General Manager) dedicated to the Trainee Trustees. Whether it was discussing papers before and after meetings or explaining the accounts, she was always an email away whenever we had questions. So a huge thank you to Clare!
I found the time that was given to us as Trainee Trustees to learn about trusteeship and explore what that might mean for us now and in the future extremely valuable. I also really appreciated that the board come from a range of backgrounds and careers, bringing different skills and viewpoints to meetings. I had expected most of them to work in the arts but in fact many of them don’t, and I think that’s a real strength for the board.
Now that I’ve completed the Trainee Trustee Scheme I plan to keep an eye out for Trustee positions, probably in the arts or education. That being said, I’ve gained lots of skills and knowledge that will be useful in my work life, including diplomacy and collective decision making.
Schemes like this are vital because they fix a leaky pipeline in the sector. Often, prior board experience is required to become a Trustee, making it very difficult for new voices to break through. For those early in their career, the reputation of boards lacking diversity can make joining one feel incredibly daunting. We all have to start somewhere, and these schemes provide an essential entry point to governance. Crucially, at Spitalfields Music, diversity is front of mind, with the scheme being primarily open to the Global Majority, D/deaf, disabled, neurodivergent people, and those under 35.
