Young trustee highlights role in community decision-making

A Leeds volunteer says joining a charity board can give young people a say in decisions that affect their communities.

Charlie Lancashire, a trustee and Voluntary Youth Leadership and Engagement Lead with BEAT (Belonging, Empowering and Thriving in Leeds), has described how his involvement with local organisations led him to take on a board role.

His account was published by Voluntary Action Leeds (VAL) as part of its coverage of Trustees’ Week, which runs from 9 to 13 November 2026. The feature focuses on the experiences of young trustees.

From involvement to board membership

Lancashire said he had been involved with BEAT and, previously, HAVA for several years. Through that experience, he had seen the organisations develop and observed how local people could contribute when given the opportunity.

He said becoming a trustee felt like a natural next step. It offered him the chance to contribute at a strategic level and have a greater influence on decisions affecting BEAT. Lancashire also said he was still learning about the responsibilities involved and wanted to build his knowledge as he took part in the organisation’s work.

In the interview, he said he had wanted a genuine say in an organisation that mattered to him and his community. His account links his board role with a broader aim of supporting local people to shape the future of their area.

Representation in decision-making

Lancashire said young trustees could bring perspectives and experiences that might otherwise be overlooked. He argued that young people’s involvement in decision-making could help organisations better reflect the needs of those affected by their choices.

He also said having young people on boards could demonstrate that their views and skills are valued. In his view, this should involve more than asking for opinions: young people should have an opportunity to influence decisions and contribute to putting them into practice.

Lancashire encouraged others, particularly young people, to consider becoming trustees. He said prospective board members did not need to be experts before they started, and could learn, ask questions, develop confidence and gain skills through the role.

He also stressed the importance of people from different backgrounds and communities being represented around the board table. For him, the role is connected to making a positive difference in Hawksworth Wood and ensuring local people have a voice in the area’s future.

This article is based on a feature published by Doing Good Leeds, which shared Lancashire’s account for Trustees’ Week.