Trustees’ Week is a time for us to come together to celebrate the achievements of nearly one million trustees across the UK.
As part of Trustees’ Week 2023 we are shining a light on some of WVCA’s trustees to thank them for the time, commitment and effort they bring to our organisation.
Simeon Greene is an individual member and Co-Chair of WVCA’s board.
How did you become a charity trustee?
I’d been involved in the voluntary/community sector in both paid and voluntary capacities for more than 30 years and knew the of the important role the sector played in the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in the country. So when I was approached about becoming a trustee, I was honoured to join.
What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned as a trustee?
It’s critical to get the right blend of ‘lived experience’ and ‘learned experience’ in developing and delivering services if we are to really meet the needs of the beneficiaries of that service.
What advice would you give to someone interested in becoming a trustee?
One of my heroes is Black American feminist, educationalist and civil rights activist Angela Davis, who once said, “ I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change, I’m changing the things I cannot accept”. Those words have become the maxim I live my life by and being a trustee provides the opportunity to influence those changes. Influencing change may seem a daunting task but in the words of the Dalai Lama, “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito”.