A Q&A With Trustee, Narendra Waghela
Narendra, one of our amazing Trustees, answers some questions about his experience here at Citizens Advice LeicesterShire, explaining why he volunteered and why you should “give it a go”!
Q: Why did you volunteer as a Trustee?
A: Growing up in East Africa and losing my father at the age of 10 made me realise that there is a need for community support and guidance when growing up.
I also gained a wealth of experience and knowledge on social, political and economic issues through being a key member of various organisations in Leicester and Leicestershire. This made me determined to give back to the community what I was deprived of during my childhood.
The two things that make me feel truly fulfilled are when I am with my family and when I’m helping to make a real difference to my community – which Citizens Advice LeicesterShire enables me to do.
Q: What would you say to someone thinking about becoming a Trustee?
A: Give it a go! You will get satisfaction in helping create a better life for someone as well as a better society. You can offer your existing skills to the charity whilst learning new ones.
Q: What have you been most proud of during your time at Citizens Advice LeicesterShire?
A: The expansion and merging of the town and villages to create Citizens Advice LeicesterShire, mainly to help people resolve their legal, money and housing problems by providing them with free, confidential advice.
Q:Is there a particular skill set required to be a Trustee?
A: Experience and knowledge of how a charity operates and a qualification is a bonus. Otherwise, maybe an ability to make decisions and drive the organisation forward.
Q: Are there other ways to get involved?
A: Volunteering is a powerful way to give back to society and your community, and will make a positive difference to the lives of others.
Becoming a trustee
Interested but not sure where to start? Our Trustee Information Pack is your guide to everything you need to know about being a trustee with us. You’ll get an inside look at our mission, values and how we’re working to create a fairer society. We’ll also share details about what the trustee role involves, the skills we’re looking for and how you can apply.
We believe lived experience is as valuable as professional skills. Although very useful, it does not matter if you have trustee or senior leadership experience. What matters is that you are passionate about our purpose, share our values and are committed to your own personal development and making a difference.
You can apply to be a Trustee by visiting our website and filling out an application.
To find out more about other ways to get involved, you can take a look at our vacancy and volunteer pages.