Hi, I am Ron, and this National Trustees Week, I am sharing my journey to becoming a Trustee at YAA.
I’m very fortunate in being a trustee for the Yorkshire Adoption Agency. Trustees are volunteers who meet at least six times a year, often more frequently, to oversee the running of the agency and support the staff team in their core purpose of recruiting and supporting adoptive parents to provide permanent loving homes for children who would otherwise, spend their lives in care.
I started my career in social work in the 1970’s and my first permanent job as a social worker was in Doncaster in 1976. I then spent over 20 years working in a number of different authorities in different roles, but always with children in care who were invariably needing loving parents and carers to look after them. I decided to move to work in the voluntary sector at the start of the millennium and for the next 20 years worked for a charity, as a Director and CEO, that ran children’s homes, fostering, supported housing, leaving care and related services for children, young people and families. Throughout this time I worked with volunteers, usually trustees from a wide range of backgrounds who provided the expertise and guidance that was essential to the good running of the organisation.
When I retired 5 years ago, I had to make a new life outside of paid work and, in addition to helping look after my grandchildren, being a volunteer was high on my list of things to do.
I started by volunteering at my local park run. For those that are not aware, park runs are held every Saturday across the country (and now in many countries across the world) at 9:00am, organised and marshalled entirely by volunteers. Hundreds of thousands of people of all ages, including babies in pushchairs, children, octogenarians (and dogs) take part in running, jogging or walking 5K every Saturday morning. It is a great atmosphere and helping organise and cheer on those taking part (along with running the 5K) is a great way to start the weekend! However without volunteers none of this would be possible.
I also decided to learn to sail and joined a sailing club, that again relied upon volunteers and it wasn’t long before I was helping to paint the club house and getting involved in one of the club’s committees.
Ron on his boat
However, as much as I enjoyed these activities, I still missed aspects of work. In particular the great teams and colleagues I worked with; being involved in helping and supporting children, young people, their families and carers; and helping the organisation grow and deliver the best services we could.
I was therefore really pleased when Sue May, CEO at YAA, asked if I would consider being a trustee for YAA. I quickly learnt that YAA had been successfully recruiting and supporting adoptive parents for over 70 years, had an excellent reputation and, unlike statutory adoption agencies, offered support to adopters and their children for as long as needed. I was approved as a trustee by the Board of Trustees in November 2023 and in March this year met the staff team at their offices in Doncaster.
Without a doubt this was a real pleasure and confirmed what a great staff team we have. It made me feel really proud to be part of this organisation, albeit as a volunteer. Thank you Sue for giving me this opportunity.
My heartfelt thanks however go to all the adoptive parents and families who have adopted, or who will adopt a child who might otherwise spend their life in care. To provide a caring and loving permanent home to a child is, without a doubt, one of the greatest forms of volunteering there is.
Thank you