Becoming A Trustee
How did you become involved with Home-Start NEA?
About 10 years ago, in the Fraserburgh Herald, I saw an advert asking for people to join Home-Start NEA as volunteer trustees. After finding out more about Home-Start and their work befriending families in difficulty, I made an application and was accepted as a trustee.
Never did I think that I would still be involved in 2021! However I became more and more impressed with the value of the support given to families, week by week, by their home visiting volunteers. These volunteers are trained and supported by Home-Start coordinators, and that is where the trustees come in.
What is the role of a Trustee?
It is the trustees' responsibility to make sure that each Home-Start scheme is properly managed and funded and staffed.
It is very interesting to meet each month with the other trustees. We check on our policies, funding and training...all the governance issues. During 2020 and in 2021 we have had to plan how to provide a service to many families who are struggling with Covid related issues of loneliness, or mental health, or child care and poverty.
What have you gained from being a Trustee?
For all the hours put in as a trustee I have gained so much. Trustees develop strong bonds working as a team to guide and support the Home-Start scheme. We also have the opportunity to be involved in fundraising plans and developments and the fun of family activity days around Banff and Buchan.
It is a privilege to know that every volunteer's involvement is helping to improve a child's life chances and also providing friendship and support for a family going through a hard time.
Marjorie, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Home-Start NEA.