“I love the feeling of positivity that comes from making a meaningful difference — whether that’s prompting a great question from a young person at a careers speed dating session or especially as part of the team of governors on seeing the students faces on exam results day. So rewarding!”

How did you get involved in volunteering?

For me there were 2 reasons — firstly on moving back to my hometown in Brighton I was keen to meet new people and give back to the local community. Secondly it was to develop and hone my own skills. I was going through major changes in my professional life and so was keen to build on my general leadership experience. I was able to achieve both objectives by becoming chair of governors for a local school.

What do you most enjoy about volunteering? 

I love the feeling of positivity that comes from making a meaningful difference — whether that’s prompting a great question from a young person at a careers speed dating session or especially as part of the team of governors on seeing the students faces on exam results day. So rewarding!

What has been your proudest moment as a volunteer?

I felt very humble at my last meeting as chair of governors after completing my 4 year term. At various times I thought I may have to stand down due to work commitments but I managed to persevere. And I’m so glad I did at that final meeting — it’s not so often that you look back on what you have achieved but to be reminded of the progress our students had made and the physical expansion of the school we had delivered during the period — and hence the resultant change in reputation in the local community — made me very proud. 

What has been the toughest time volunteering?

Undoubtedly navigating the pandemic during 2020/21 for all the volunteer roles I undertake. For example when the schools physically closed was heartbreaking but to also see how both the school team and families rallied round to remote learning so quickly was very inspiring. This was one of those 1 in 25 or 50 year scenarios we’d discussed in our business continuity planning and it was surreal and scary that it was unfolding right in front of us.

How have your accountancy skills come into play? 

Finances for charities and non-profits have never been tighter so accountancy skills are invaluable if you’re volunteering as trustees or governors. At the school where I’m a governor we’ve been able to manage the finances very tightly and creatively, looking at new income streams and internal structures to manage costs. In an ideal world there would be more funds but equally as important is to give the organisation stability by having a very clear picture of the current and future finances so you can plan accordingly. 

What have you learnt from volunteering?

That there are so many unsung heroes in the non-profit sector. People not only working hard in their paid jobs but also giving up their free time to help others — whether that’s a teacher voluntarily running an after school club to inspire young people to build their our racing car out of all recycled items — or the team at SCABA who are providing a lifeline to those in need through grants and support — and at times often the only regular human contact that person may be getting. 

What would be your one piece of advice for accountants looking to volunteer?

Definitely invest time upfront to ensure you’re volunteering for a cause that you’re really passionate about (in my case education!) and then to give it a go. I’ve found the biggest benefit to me and the non profit comes after volunteering for a longer period — once you’ve had a chance to understand how they work (and all the tricky abbreviations!) and crucially where you can add the most value. 

How can get more accountants volunteering?

2 things stand out to me — many accountants I speak to under appreciate the value of their skills to a non profit so bringing that life in an inspiring way feels really important. And secondly having time to actually volunteer and I think there’s more here that the profession and employers can do so that accountants can volunteer without feeling guilty that they’re neglecting their paid work. I honestly think volunteering for accountants is a win-win-win for the individual, their employer and the non-profit!