After more years of service than she cares to remember to Communities 1st and its predecessor, Community Action Hertsmere, Sue Pearlman stood down as a trustee last year. Over the years, within the voluntary sector, she has been a volunteer, a paid member of staff, a chief executive, a trustee, and a consultant. No wonder then that she has such a wealth of knowledge and experience of the world of charities in Hertfordshire and beyond. Perhaps unusually, she has a great interest in charitable governance. I wanted to talk to Sue so I could understand why volunteering as a trustee is so important.
After several attempts, I finally caught up with Sue and over a cup of coffee in Potters Bar, where she lives, and she told me about her experience and what makes her tick.
From being a Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) volunteer to providing consultancy to charities
Sue, who is now in her seventies, and looking as elegant as ever, told me about her journey. “In 1979, when my children were small and I was a young mum, I wanted to do something other than sit at home!” Sue smiled, “I thought about volunteering, came across the CAB – Citizen’s Advice Bureau, as it was then called – and I joined up as a volunteer. I received a wonderful training, and I took off. I loved it! I really enjoyed being able to understand the issues and then helping people.”
Sue progressed within the CAB movement, and when an opportunity came up in another CAB, she became a deputy organiser, and then later the manager. As the manager of Elstree and Borehamwood CAB (later merged with Bushey and Potters Bar CABs), she became a committee member of Allum Hall, and a trustee of Elstree and Borehamwood CVS (Council For Voluntary Service). “At the time I knew nothing about either of these organisations, but I became hooked on how charities work, and, importantly, their governance,” Sue explained. She went on to chair Hertsmere CVS and helped set up Community Action Hertsmere, which in 2018 merged with Community Central St Albans to become Communities 1st.
In 2004, Sue “retired” from the CAB and became a consultant to charities, doing work through a wide range of organisations including NCVO, Lloyds Bank Foundation, and Hertfordshire Community Foundation. Sue told me how in the talks she gives to voluntary groups she often explains “how volunteering gave me my career.”
Sue’s Jewish faith is important to her and alongside her work in the voluntary sector she became very involved in her synagogue and found herself chairing a lot of groups. She smiled, “This made a lot of sense because I’ve a lot of experience of trusteeship and know a lot about governance.” Sue was also active in her children’s schools’ parent teacher associations.
The importance of governance
Sue will admit that at times she may appear a little geeky! She told me, with a smile, that “I am the only person I know who will enjoy reading a charity constitution when I am tucked up in bed!” I don’t know if she meant that literally or metaphorically, although I rather suspect the former. Sue explained that “getting the constitution right is crucially important. It governs the organisation, what it can do, where it can do it and, crucially how trustees are elected/appointed, and how long they can serve.
She added that “the relationships between the chair, the Board, the CEO, and senior staff must be right. This is pivotal.” Sue knows this because she has not only served in all these roles, but also because, as a consultant, she has observed a large number of organisations and advised them on their performance. “And,” she added, “underpinning all this, there has to be good communication.”
Taking a deep breath, I chanced my luck and asked how she rated Communities 1st, now that she is no longer a trustee. There was a pause while Sue thought about this. “The Board works well and it has a lot of expertise within it. This can lead to debate and tensions but that can be a good thing if it is managed well.” She reflected on her considerable experience, “The more I see of other boards, and I have seen a lot, the more I think that Communities 1st is a good model.” The chief executive has an important role “and in Stephen we have an excellent CEO. He provides leadership in a sensitive and deft manner.”
Trustees are volunteers
“We know from our work at Communities 1st that volunteers undertake vital work in very diverse roles,” Sue continued. “Many organisations, including Communities 1st, wouldn’t exist without their volunteers. We don’t always remember that Trustees are volunteers, but their contribution is essential to the smooth running of the charity. So when a board talks about volunteers, trustees often forget that they should include themselves.”
Commitment to the voluntary sector
As I drove home, I reflected, that throughout our chat Sue had shown great commitment to not only the work of the voluntary sector but also to ensuring that it is fit for purpose and effectively managed. The many organisations and groups that Sue has worked with, including Communities 1st, have cause to be grateful to her for her wisdom and willingness to share her knowledge and understanding. That, in turn, has enabled them to best serve their many users. Sue’s impact spreads widely.
When I mentioned my discussion with Sue to Stephen, our CEO, he commented, a little wistfully, I thought, “I really miss, Sue. I miss being able to pick up the phone and test something out with her.” He added, “What I valued most about Sue was her ability to talk through governance issues in a calm, balanced way. She understands not only the technicalities but also the realities of the local voluntary sector. That combination isn’t common. She was also very generous with her time in supporting Communities 1st.”
Sue Pearlman is a remarkable person. Her experience is a good example of what you, as a volunteer, can achieve through being a trustee.