Too busy to volunteer? How combining parenting and trusteeship worked for me.

Most people expect that when you become a parent for the first time a few things have to slide. Sleep, sanity and a variety of extracurricular activities are often the first to go…

I’ve volunteered for a number of things over the years – mostly in the evenings after work. I spent many a happy Tuesday evening humming a tune and cooking for the brilliant Choir with No Name. However, with a busy job and a partner who works long hours, I knew that having a child would change things and I might not be able to commit to a regular volunteering slot.

During pregnancy, a random test picked up the fact that I was carrying Group B Strep (GBS) and needed antibiotics in labour. Although we had a few complications, none were as serious for a new-born baby as a GBS infection and we were home in just under a week. I had almost forgotten about it when a friend from school posted a Facebook update. In sharp contrast, GBS was not picked up in her case and her daughter tragically passed away.

I contacted Group B Strep Support, a charity that works to end GBS infection in babies, and asked about trustee opportunities. I met the chief executive a few weeks later and discussed how I could contribute. In my day job, I spend a lot of time working with MPs and Ministers, so I wanted to use those skills to help push this issue higher up the agenda.

Volunteering as a trustee is a fantastic experience, I’ve learnt a lot about running an organisation. We feed into the overall direction and strategy and spend a lot of time weighing up the benefits and risks of decisions.

I may have less time than before, but I have more determination than ever. We meet four times a year on Saturdays so I can attend board meetings when I know that childcare won’t be an issue – I’m also very fortunate that NCVO will give me time off to volunteer (up to five days) so when we are called upon to represent the charity at events or committees I know I can make it work with enough notice and planning. If you’re also struggling to fit volunteering around a busy life, maybe trusteeship is worth exploring too.

As it happens, GBSS are looking for a new trustee and you can find out more here.

Or you can find other trustee opportunities here.