​Not just supporting but learning from small charities

"As a volunteer, and having worked in a small charity, I leapt at the chance to lend my skills and expertise to this year’s Small Charity Week Big Advice Day.

The team at the Foundation for Social Improvement (FSI), who organised the event, were great in the run-up to and on the actual day. After submitting what areas I could run an advice surgery on, I received information about what I needed to do before and on the day as well as some background information on the organisation that booked to have an advice surgery with me. My surgery session was with a new member of staff at a UK-US sports development charity who was keen to review the charity’s Board. As someone who had been both a trustee and staff member in a small charity, I was able to pass on my experience of how she could fulfil her desire of having a Board that ‘added-value’ to the charity.

The actual surgery ended up as a two-way flow of learning, as the charity are also US based. I learnt a bit more about how US charities are governed and we had a good chat about the ‘give or get’ ethos of US charities where Board members are expected to financially donate to that cause (unlike here in the UK where the key thing is trustees giving their time, skills and expertise to a charity).

The session reinforced my belief that small charities can not only learn from but also teach large charities things. It was great to see fellow Scope colleagues also lending their time and advice on the day. I would encourage everyone to think about how they can use their skills and experience to support a small charity.”

Jules Mason, Head of Strategy, Planning and Impact, Scope