More than £21 million has been awarded to charitable organisations in the last 35 years by Lloyds Bank Foundation for the Channel Islands.
As well as awarding grants, the Foundation provides a variety of support to charitable organisations which help people, especially those who are disadvantaged, to play a fuller role in the community.
Trustees’ Week happens every year to showcase the vital work trustees do and to encourage people from all walks of life to get involved and make a difference.
We spoke to Neil Fellows to find out more about his role as a Lloyds Bank Foundation Channel Islands trustee.
Neil joined the board in January 2020 and has more than 30 years’ of service with Lloyds Bank. He is the Guernsey Senior Manager for Lloyds Bank International with responsibilities that stretch from designing and then owning discretionary strategic growth, local lead on engagement with the Regulator and Government plus supporting Lloyds Bank International’s Covid response.
He shares his thoughts about being a trustee, and insight to help those who are considering becoming a trustee.
What does being a trustee mean to you?
I’m one of two Lloyds Bank International employees that are trustees on the LBFCI Board. As well as the legal and governance responsibilities, it is an opportunity to bring together our collective experience to support charities that are working tirelessly every day to help vulnerable and socially excluded members of our community.
What’s motivating about being a trustee?
We’re more than grant givers. As well as assessing grant applications and making decisions around funding, we look at what else we can do to support the charity to achieve its purpose. This could be bespoke mentoring or sharing our insights and experience on areas from business planning to effective hybrid working, succession planning to digital adoption.
Working with Lloyds Banking Group we offer training opportunities, like our free series of digital marketing webinars taking place in November. It’s the multi-dimensional value, connecting people and breadth of skills and experience we can offer that is motivating.
What challenges have you faced?
For me personally some of the charity visits can be emotively challenging in places, but that’s all part of understanding the value and impact that the Foundation brings and seeing the difference across successive visits is incredibly rewarding in itself.
Do you feel being a trustee has added to your personal and professional development?
Definitely. As well as being able to make decisions that directly contribute to supporting the Channel Islands communities, it has given me more confidence to share my views when surrounded by experts. The other trustees have helped me to understand that I have more to offer beyond banking.
What advice would you give to others thinking of taking up a role as a trustee?
I wish I’d known earlier that I could have become a trustee.
I’d advise anyone considering it to sit in at a Board meeting before you join so you can listen to the tone, behaviour and focus of the Board and understand what you are stepping into.
Be honest with yourself too. Are you passionate about the organisation? You’ll need to bring energy and enthusiasm as well as relevant skills and experience. Don’t be scared to share your views either.
Being an effective trustee is about having genuine conversations, challenging each other’s thinking and being empathetic. It’s about balance and respecting views and sharing experience.
