Trustees at the event heard speakers from two existing networks: Eva Aldrige of the West Midlands Trustees Forum and Liz Craggs, City of London Trustees Nework. Caroline Knighton, Executive Director of Charity Trustees Networks - the national charity working to improve networking amongst voluntary and community groups' trustees - spoke of the usefulness and importance of peer support and information for trustee, in what is an increasingly challenging and, often, isolating role.
Individuals attending the meeting then went into two groups to discuss how a network might best suit their needs. Discussion among the groups suggested that face-to-face meetings between trustees were a vital part of any network, and from the starting poing the new network might look at developing other, additional, networking tools such as telephone contacts and email groups.
Each of the meetings of the network will have a specific focus and will initially be jointly facilitated by GMCVO (Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisation) and VAM (Voluntary Action Manchester) staff. The next meeting of the GMCTN is at 6:30pm on Wednesday 27 November at VAM, North Square, 11-13 Spear Street M1.
Bronwen Pledger, VAM (0161 236 3206, support@vamanchester.org.uk)
David Sutcliffe, GMCVO (0161 277 1011, david.sutcliffe@gmcvo.org.uk)