What trustees make possible at Bridges
What trustees make possible at Bridges
A lift to an appointment. A familiar face at Social Circles. A Saturday activity where a child with additional needs can join in and make friends. These are some of the ways people come to know Bridges. This Trustees’ Week, we want to thank the people who volunteer their time to help make that work possible and explain why their role matters, especially now.
What does a trustee do?
Our trustees share responsibility for the direction of Bridges and for making sure the charity uses its resources well. They look at how we spend our money, how we keep people safe and what risks we need to prepare for. They work with staff to understand what is happening across our services and make decisions together about where Bridges should put its time and resources.
That involves work most people will never see. It means reading the papers before a meeting, asking how a proposal would affect the people who use a service and following up on a decision to see whether it did what we hoped. A good question can make a practical difference. If we change where an activity runs, can people still get there? If we ask volunteers to take on something new, what support will they need? If we start a project with a year’s funding, what happens when that year is up?
Trustees bring different skills and experiences to those conversations. Someone who knows the local community may spot a barrier others have missed. Someone with financial experience may help the board see what it can commit to over the longer term. The value is in bringing those perspectives together, listening to staff, volunteers and people who use our services, and making decisions the board can take responsibility for together.
Why it matters now
As we approach a year since the flood at Drybridge House, staff and volunteers are still helping people across Monmouthshire stay connected and independent. Our Befriending service brings people regular company. Volunteer drivers help people get to appointments and make journeys that would otherwise be difficult. Building Bridges and Quest Busters give children and young people with additional needs opportunities to spend time with their peers, try new things and build friendships.
Keeping that work going while we plan for the future takes careful choices. When a group needs a different venue, the cost matters, and so do the bus route, the accessibility of the room and whether people feel comfortable there. When we plan a budget, we need to consider what staff and volunteers can realistically take on and what families are counting on from us. Trustees help make sure those considerations are part of the same conversation.
Thank you to our trustees
Trustees give their time around jobs, families and other commitments. Some of that time is spent in meetings. Much of it is spent reading, thinking, talking things through and being available when a decision needs their attention. It takes care to weigh up different views and stay focused on what will serve the charity and its community best.
To everyone who gives their time as a Bridges trustee, thank you. Your work helps staff and volunteers plan with confidence and gives people who rely on Bridges a voice in the charity’s future. The questions you ask and the decisions you make together matter to the person waiting for a lift, the family looking for support and the person who knows there will be a familiar face to greet them when they walk through the door.
There is work to do on two timescales. People in communities across Monmouthshire need reliable support this week , while decisions about funding, partnerships and the future of Drybridge House will shape what Bridges can offer in years to come.
To all our trustees, thank you for giving your time to Bridges and for bringing your experience and care to the charity. This Trustees’ Week, we’re glad to have a chance to say how much we appreciate the work you do behind the scenes.
