Being a trustee
If you like the bigger picture and thinking strategically then you could be a Student Trustee.
A Student Trustee helps to ensure that Durham SU is well governed. This is a distinct role, which is different to a student representative or a student activist. A Trustee deliberates and decides with the rest of the Board about the best way to deliver Durham SU’s purpose.
You’ll be elected alongside three other students to join our Board of Trustees and gain professional development skills at the highest level available to students.
The Board of Trustees is the governing body of Durham Students’ Union. The overall role of the Board is to ensure that the Union is well run, meeting its aims and working within the law.
There are twelve Trustees; the three full-time elected Student Officers, four elected Student Trustees, and five external or lay Trustees appointed for their specialist knowledge in areas such as law and finance, to provide independent expertise for the Board.
Any student who is a member of Durham SU is eligible to become a student trustee, which includes if you are a Sabbatical Officer or a member of your Common Room Executive.
Student Trustees aren’t individually accountable to any constituency. The Board of Trustees is collectively accountable to the Students’ Union’s regulators – Durham University and the Charity Commission.
Student Trustees have the same rights as every other Durham SU member, these rights are set out in our Articles of Associations. When you become a Trustee these rights remain, you just take on extra responsibilities.
A full training, induction and support programme is provided. For more information on what being a charity trustee involves, you can visit the government website.
Being a Trustee is a high level professional development opportunity, the kind that you’re unlikely to get elsewhere as a student.
You’ll help make sure the Union is owned by students, and governed correctly.
As a Student Trustee you have the opportunity to shape the business strategy of the Union while ensuring it is running in accordance with our Articles of Association and the law. As we are a charity, you must work within the Union’s best interests, being aware of our charitable objects and financial responsibilities.
You’ll gain skills and experience of the highest level available to students.
It is a unique experience to take part in a strategic managerial position which has a direct influence over the work Durham SU does for every Durham student.
Here are the skills you could add to your CV, if you become a Trustee:
Highest level of experience during your degree
Being a Trustee involves being an executive director of an organisation – you even get included on the Charity Commission website – which is one of the highest levels of experience you could get before graduation. All of the skills you can develop, and the high levels of responsibility, would really stand-out for any potential employer.
Business acumen
Being a Trustee gives you oversight and a decision-making role in the running of a membership organisation – a real insight into a range of activities which go on within a company. Sitting on the Board sub-committees provides a robust understanding of HR, finance, risk, governance and business assurance, which are all really useful bits of knowledge to take into the working world.
Third sector charitable experience
Many of the internships out there are at large organisations in the public and private sectors. Working as a Trustee gives an alternative viewpoint and a different route into gaining useful knowledge and experience. It also gives an understanding of a different industry area and working in charities.
Strategic Teamwork
Being a Trustee offers the chance to interact within a team in a setting that isn’t commonplace within the University. Trusteeship is a unique way to take part in strategic teamwork, looking at why and how things happen and the effect this can have on an organisation.
Commercial awareness and prioritisation
The role involves making decisions on the direction and activity of Durham SU. A lot of the things that a Students’ Union can do are really important, but the Trustees have to prioritise which they think will be the most beneficial with the resources available.
Challenge and conflict
A Trustee exists to ensure Durham SU fulfils its purpose of doing things for students. All of our Trustees have a different background, so the role often involves challenging ideas to guarantee the best outcome for Durham students. When challenging ideas, you’ll learn to handle conflict between individuals constructively, as well as managing conflicts of interest and loyalty.
Wider industry understanding
As a Trustee you’ll learn the importance of having an awareness of external influences which could have an effect on Durham SU – political, economic, social and legal issues can all affect the work of the Students’ Union and have an impact on its members.
For more information on being a trustee, you can view the role description here.
