When I started out as a first-time trustee in 2011, I was attracted by the responsibility of overseeing the running of a charity and the opportunity to develop my skills and CV. Several years later, I am still making new discoveries about what it means to be on the board of a non-profit organisation.

Like all the voluntary roles I’ve held since I was 18 and worked in a charity shop one Easter break, it has been fulfilling to meet a need in the community and in the years since I attended my first board meeting, the demand for trustees has continued to grow.

It has always been challenging for charities to find trustees with the right skills and experience to control and take legal responsibility for the organisation’s management and administration as part of an effective board. What is happening now is that charity boards are at the helm as the voluntary sector steps up to deliver a growing number of vital services in a climate of funding cuts, under increasing scrutiny following a spate of highly publicised scandals which have shaken public confidence.

Finding themselves in choppy waters, charities recognise that they need a strong board to steer them more than ever.

OCVA, which advises and supports volunteers and non-profit organisations is reporting an increased interest in training trustees, and in finding new board members for a wide range of charities.

The shifts and changes in the demands placed on the community and voluntary sector are one of the reasons I have been rewarded year-on-year, through honing skills and working with inspiring people at a time when nothing is staying still. It’s interesting work in interesting times.

For anyone who has an interest in charity trusteeship as the sector rises to the challenges presented by the pace of change, there are plenty of urban myths to deter them.

One of these is that as a trustee, taking legal responsibility means that you can lose your home in the event of financial difficulties in the organisation. In practice, the law generally protects trustees who have acted honestly and reasonably and many charities take out indemnity insurance.

Volunteers are doers by nature, so providing support for senior management and maintaining a strategic rather than a hands-on role might not be for everyone. However, trustees are not completely detached. As well as strategy we provide support.

At OCVA we have assigned a board lead for key areas of work which means that sometimes we roll our sleeves up and get closer to the detail, adding value but without interfering in the day to day operations we are supporting.

Many people assume that being a trustee is time consuming and therefore difficult to do alongside paid work. I have found that you can juggle work and the demands of charity board life. Evening board meetings mean that even when I have been working away from home, I have been able to plan my attendance.

With the numbers of non-profit groups growing fast, and the crucial work being done by charities in the county, Volunteer Centre Oxfordshire, which is one of OCVA’s services, is calling for people of all ages and from all walks of life to come forward to give their skills and experience as a trustee.

I can vouch that although unpaid, the role brings challenge and responsibility but also pride in being a part of something that matters.

To find out more about trustee roles through Volunteer Centre Oxfordshire, email volunteer@ocva.org.uk or call 01865 251946