For 16 – 30 year olds. Volunteer, make a difference and gain experience in the voluntary sector.
What was the Young Leadership Project?
The project enabled young people (aged 16 to 30 years) to volunteer with charities and voluntary sector organisations in leadership roles.
We ran the Suffolk Young Trustee Programme, supporting young people to become Young Trustees or Young Shadowing Trustees.
What was the Suffolk Young Trustee Programme?
This programme connected motivated young people with voluntary organisations, looking to welcome a young trustee onto their trustee board:
The average trustee in England and Wales is 59 years old, and 55 in Northern Ireland! The Young Leadership Project aimed to bridge the gap between trustees, organisations and young people. Young people are our future charity leaders.
• The Suffolk Young Trustee Programme lasted for one year
• Young people could become a Shadowing Trustee (non-voting) or Young Trustee
• Organisations were part of the recruitment process of young people, supported by CAS
• A charity trustee mentored the young trustee
• CAS offered free ‘Get on Board’ training for young people.
There are many benefits connecting young people with local charities:
• Broaden the diversity of your organisation’s trustee board
• Bring young people’s perspective, experience and skills to your trustee board
• Pave the way for future charity leaders and trustees
• Young people are interested in volunteer leadership opportunities, but are unaware of trustee’s role, or feel inexperienced to become one
• Young people increasingly want to make a difference to their community
This model was adapted from Oxford Hub Young Trustees Programme, as an excellent example of how to involve students on trustee boards.
Young person or organisation
Even though this project has now closed, if you are still interested in getting involved, please contact [email protected] to discuss volunteering opportunities including trustee roles, or visit Volunteer Suffolk to search for Volunteering Opportunities or advertise your own volunteering opportunities or trustee vacancies.