Becoming a Lay Trustee: a chance to learn from and mentor a generation of leaders

Students’ Union boards – uniquely unique

It is very rare for charities to be dominated by young trustees, and this makes for a dynamic setting. Officers and student trustees understand their organisations and student experience. They bring passion, ideas and knowledge to board meetings, which can often be their final chance to shape a decision made by the Union. However, conversations about finance, engagement numbers, internal recruitment and multi-year strategies can be intimidating to people so early in their careers.

SUs are unique within the not for profit sector – they are complex organisations with complex challenges. Many have commercial arms that provide students with life-long experiences. Others provide the social fabric through sports, societies and clubs that make up their members’ lives; and all aim to represent students, often on difficult issues – ranging from sexual violence on campus and culture change, to curriculum and employability, to teaching methods and free speech.

If you are driven by giving higher education students the skills they need for their future in an environment where they can thrive, why not become a lay trustee?

What is a lay trustee?

A lay trustee is a member of a students’ union board who provides an external point of view, guiding the governance and strategic direction of a students’ union. They are not a member of the university, but are recruited for their expertise in specific areas, such as finance, HR, governance, engagement, commercial or legal.

Why should you think about becoming a lay trustee?

Lay trustees have the chance to immerse themselves in students’ lives. They can shape the Union’s direction – its priorities, internal practices, and how it supports its members – by providing insight from careers in an array of sectors. Strong boards breed strong SUs which provide advice, representation, and opportunities for millions of students.

Becoming a lay trustee puts you in a privileged position to impact a new generation of leaders. Officers are elected annually, so the chance to watch young leaders grow happens every year. Thanks to the guidance of my SU board, I felt my own confidence grow between every meeting.

Lay trustees showed me how to formulate arguments, win people over, help other people voice their own opinions, and think through possible unintended consequences. Sub-committee chairs gave me a glimpse into HR issues, helping me turn my knowledge of sexual harassment into workplace policy that protects staff.

Ultimately, if these colleagues could ensure the Union was working for its members and draft a 5-year organisational strategy, then I felt I could too.