Being President of the student trustees has helped advance my career
Hi I’m Lizzie and this was my experience as a student trustee.
During my time with Discovery I’ve held multiple roles including volunteer, trustee, project coordinator and some paid roles as well (Supported Volunteer Scheme Intern and Research Assistant). Being a trustee was really exciting and helped me develop lots of different skills.
I was the student president on the board of trustees. In this role, I represented the board of trustees and the charity at events such as meeting the University Vice Chancellor, at networking events held in the University colleges and in the day to day promotion of Discovery (e.g. lecture talks, recruitment fairs). I also supported other trustees on the board, chaired meetings and liaised with non-student trustees.
Being a trustee helped me massively with my confidence and allowed me to communicate and network with people from lots of different backgrounds. It also allowed me to learn about all the behind the scenes of how a charity runs that you don’t always see as a volunteer. I was jointly responsible for promoting Discovery as well as making decisions that would benefit staff, volunteers and service users alike. Discovery did so much for me in my life as a Swansea University student and it felt really rewarding to give back to the charity and explore ways to promote and continue building on the amazing work the charity does.
I currently work for the NHS as a Psychological Well being Practitioner and being a trustee (and volunteer) helped me secure this role. Being a trustee helped me develop lots of skills that I could demonstrate in interviews that some people may not be able to show such as working with key stakeholders which now helps me have the confidence as a therapist to work with multiple agencies to support patient care. Being a trustee has also helped me understand the rationale behind budgets and financial decisions an organisation or company may make and I can see the impact it may have on different areas of the organisation. Being a trustee and part of Discovery helped with my confidence and helps me work as part of a team. I also feel able to communicate with people from a range of backgrounds and I can work collaboratively, adapting my approach to projects I’m on with ease.
One of the most valuable things I’ve taken from being a trustee is developing my leadership skills. I have been able to identify positive role models in the staff and other trustees and learn from them positive leadership qualities that I’ve adopted and use when I’m mentoring new therapists in my service or when I’m running team building sessions. This has also helped me identify progression in my career and helps me set goals for myself to work towards.
Another valuable experience I gained was being able to connect with others that I wouldn’t have met unless being a trustee. I met so many people that were on different courses or were senior members of university staff that I wouldn’t have had the privilege of meeting without being a trustee and the lessons I’ve learnt from them will serve me for life. The friendships developed were invaluable and got me through student life which is always a bit of a whirlwind!
Every day I use my experience as a trustee in my role. Having been on a board of trustees and helped make decisions around the running of a charity, I am able to understand operational changes to my service and how they will impact on myself, colleagues and service users easier.
I am able to network with other services and colleagues with the confidence developed during my time as a trustee. I am also able to use this confidence when my promoting my service at local events in the community or delivering service promotion talks to improve access rates of those needing support with their mental health.
I would recommend anyone thinking of becoming a trustee to put themselves forward and apply. Being a trustee is a rewarding role and provides a unique experience and insight into the third sector that not many people (let alone students) get to experience in their life. It’s a role that helps you give back to an organisation that benefits so many others in the community. You learn so many transferrable skills in the role that will help you with your personal life and your future career! If I could be a trustee again for Discovery, I would apply in a heartbeat as I enjoyed the role so much and often think about my experience (I also get to use it as one of my 2 truths, 1 lie facts whenever there’s an ice breaker at work or at a conference!).
Become the next Discovery student Trustee. Find out more here: https://discoverysvs.org/discovery-trustees/