Deirdre Prower joined the Foundation as a trustee in 2023. This Trustees Week she tells us about her position, one year into the role.

I was delighted to be asked to join Sussex Community Foundation as a trustee last year. One year on, I am just beginning to understand how much work is involved in what the Foundation strives to achieve. I am in awe of the commitment of the staff who work here. They engage with donors, local partners, and individuals to make their philanthropy a reality. They encourage the voluntary sector in Sussex and support a diverse number of small charities to make grant applications. This means that an enormous amount of work is done looking at funding priorities, making evidence-based decisions around the grant making process and finding the funds to support all this.

Why did you become a trustee at the Foundation?

I felt that becoming a trustee gave me an opportunity to put the knowledge of thirty years working in the local health service to best use. I believe in the Foundation’s mission and have seen firsthand the important contribution the voluntary sector makes to local communities. With the pressure on our public services greater than ever, this contribution is vital to meet the diversity of need in Sussex. Small local charities are quick to see an opportunity to support people and fill the gaps in local provision, from children to older people and so much more - there is much we can do!

What experiences do you have of being a trustee?

As well as my primary care nursing background, I have been a trustee at a Sussex Hospice and I am a governor at Chailey Heritage Foundation. Both these roles have given me insight into the running and support that is required to nurture the development of a charity, in this case, Sussex Community Foundation.

What do you enjoy about being a trustee?

I enjoy working with a diverse group of professional trustees and staff who are committed to making Sussex a fairer place to live. There is so much to learn, for example: obtaining insight into the changing challenges facing our local communities or sitting on the grants committee and witnessing the variety of applications the Foundation receives. I also enjoy being able to meet and talk to the funded charities themselves. It is rewarding to feel that as a trustee I can make a contribution… albeit small!

What are your responsibilities as a trustee at Sussex Community Foundation?

As well as attending the quarterly Trustee Board meetings, I sit on the Grants and the Audit & Risk committees. In addition to these commitments, I regularly meet with fellow trustees and the senior management team to oversee the running of the charity.

I also represent the Foundation on the East Brighton Trust and the Lewes Fund, including attending grants decision panels.  

What does a day in the life of a trustee at the Foundation look like?

My day might be reading and preparing for committee or board meetings. I can visit charities, advocate for the Foundation with potential donors or represent us at various events - no two days are ever the same!

What advice would you give others thinking of becoming a trustee?

Go for it! The rewards are worth it.