Trustees' Week 2026: Road To Recovery Trust, Footsteps Children's Services and St Cuthbert's Care

As part of Trustees' Week 2026, we asked local Trustees to share more about their experiences. In this blog, we hear from Syed Mehran Munawar (Road To Recovery Trust) and Alexandra Johnson (Footsteps Children's Services and St Cuthbert's Care).

Syed Mehran Munawar (Road To Recovery Trust)

Why did you decide to join your organisation as a trustee? 

I believe strongly in volunteering. For me, it is one of the best ways to give something back to the community and use my experience to help others.

What are you most proud of during your time as a trustee? 

One of the things I am most proud of is the financial discipline we have achieved as an organisation. At the same time, we are serving more people and helping many more on their journey through recovery. Seeing the organisation become stronger while continuing to make a real difference in people’s lives is something I am very proud of.

What is your favourite part of being a trustee? 

As a member of ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales), finance and accounting are areas where I have been able to contribute my professional knowledge and experience. In my role as Finance Trustee, I have always tried to use those skills to the best of my ability to support the charity, strengthen financial discipline and help ensure that we can continue serving more people in recovery.

What keeps you going? 

I would like to serve more charitable trusts in the future because supporting organisations that genuinely help their communities is a real passion of mine. Seeing the difference these organisations make motivates me to contribute more of my time, experience and professional skills. 

What is one piece of advice you would pass on to someone starting out as a trustee? 

Being a trustee starts with understanding the real purpose of the organisation and the people and communities you are volunteering to serve. Keep your focus on providing strategic direction, exercise good governance and ensure that the charity meets its compliance responsibilities. 

Alexandra Johnson (Footsteps Children's Services and St Cuthbert's Care)

Why did you decide to join the organisation(s) as a Trustee?

I decided to become a trustee of two locally based charities because I am passionate about championing the smaller charities and I believe very strongly in the importance of people coming together to make their communities better. I have seen, both personally and professionally, the immense difference that particularly smaller charities, community organisations and volunteers make, often quietly and without recognition.

The values and purpose of both organisations resonated with me, and I felt that my experience as a charity CEO could not only be useful in support of their CEOs knowing the challenges and opportunities that can be faced daily, but also to help with the development of the charity, to be a champion of their work and help continue making a meaningful difference. I was lucky to be brought up in a family with strong values and super supportive parents and friends. I know how important it is to listen, care, champion others and help make things better wherever possible, so becoming a trustee just felt like a very natural extension of those values. 

What are you most proud of during your time as a trustee?

I’m most proud of being able to support and champion the people who make the organisation’s work possible. Staff and volunteers are often so busy delivering services and responding to people’s needs that they don’t always have the time or opportunity to step back, breathe out and recognise the significance of what they achieve. As a trustee, I am proud to help shine a light on that work, ask constructive questions, offer encouragement and ensure that the voices and experiences of the people the organisation supports remain at the heart of decision-making. Much of the impact created by charities is deeply personal and cannot always be shared publicly, but that does not make it any less powerful. Helping the organisation to recognise, protect and build upon that impact is something I value greatly. 

What is your favourite part of being a trustee?

My favourite part is feeling connected to organisations whose work genuinely matters and knowing that I can contribute to their future. I enjoy listening to staff, volunteers and beneficiaries, learning from their experiences and helping to create the conditions where good ideas and good people can flourish.

I also value the collective nature of trusteeship. Trustees bring different experiences, perspectives and skills, but we are united by a shared commitment to the organisation’s purpose. When trustees work well together, they can offer both support and constructive challenge while ensuring that the organisation remains true to its values. For me, trusteeship is not about having all the answers. It is about listening carefully, asking thoughtful questions, believing in people and using your experience to help the organisation make the best possible decisions. 

What keeps you going?

The people and the impact keep me going. Life is not linear, and people experience challenges and opportunities at different times and in very different ways. I’ve seen first-hand how the right support, offered with kindness, patience and genuine belief, can help someone feel heard, regain confidence and recognise that they do have choices. I am continually inspired by staff and volunteers who give their time, energy and expertise to improve the lives of others. I am equally inspired by the courage, resilience and potential of the people that our charities support. Knowing that an organisation is there for someone when they need it matters enormously. This does not create dependency. It builds trust, strengthens people’s ability to advocate for themselves, increases their capacity to aspire and helps them feel more in control of the decisions affecting their lives. Being able to contribute, even in a small way, to creating that kind of environment is what keeps me motivated. 

What is one piece of advice you would pass on to someone starting out as a trustee?

My advice would be to listen before feeling that you need to provide answers. Take time to understand the organisation, its values, its people and the community it serves. Be curious, ask questions and never underestimate the knowledge held by staff, volunteers and beneficiaries. Your role is to provide oversight and constructive challenge, but it is also to champion the organisation and support the people responsible for delivering its work. Bring your experience, but also bring humility. Be prepared to learn, recognise that impact is not always easily measured or publicly visible, and remember that every discussion and decision should ultimately connect back to the organisation’s purpose and the people it exists to support.

A good trustee should be both a critical friend and a committed advocate: someone who is willing to ask difficult questions, celebrate achievements and always act with kindness, integrity and respect.