News Story
It's Trustees Week so we want to take a moment to celebrate our fabulous Board of Trustees. We're incredibly grateful for the time and work our Trustees voluntarily offer us, their expertise and guidance continues to help shape Worthing Theatres and Museum into the thriving charity we aspire to be. A massive thank you to our Trustees.
We also took this opportunity to chat to two of our trustees and find out more about being on the board including what inspired them to join, what goes on behind the scenes and why they would recommend being a trustee.
Meet our Trustee Rebecca Wakeford...
What first inspired you to join the board of our charity Worthing Theatres & Museum? Worthing is so blessed with cultural spaces and being a trustee seemed like a huge opportunity to get involved in the local scene.
What has been your proudest moment or favourite show with us so far? The panto always feel like a high point for WTM where the whole of Worthing seems to come together. It’s a high point in the year for me and my family. I was also part of the judging team for the art exhibition that reopened the museum this year. Again the opening launch evening was so busy and demonstrated how loved the museum is by our community.
In one sentence, what does a trustee actually do behind the scenes? Attend a lot of meetings! We don’t interfere with the day to day running of the organisation, but we set the goals and review the progress of all aspects of the charity. We offer support, advice and guidance to our dedicated senior leadership team and work closely with Worthing Council on maintaining Worthing’s cultural offer.
What is the most rewarding part of supporting our arts and culture community? Getting to work with the other trustees who all have so much experience. Also for me getting insights to the world of theatre which I didn’t know much about!
Would you recommend becoming a trustee, and why? Yes I would! I have found it hugely rewarding and interesting so far and I have a huge amount of respect for the staff of WTM who all work so hard. Whenever I am at the museum, cinema or theatre in Worthing I feel very proud of the quality and variety of what WTM offers and it’s nice to feel I contribute a small part to that.
Meet our Trustee and Vice Chair Jane Lodge...
What first inspired you to join the board of our charity Worthing Theatres & Museum? My ongoing love of theatre and museums; also having attended many events, and visited the museum in Worthing, my apprecataion for this amazing local resource. I wanted to use my skills and experience to help WTM in any way I could.
What has been your proudest moment or favourite show with us so far? My favourites- I have two- would be “We will Rock You” - a locally produced show of such great quality, and really uplifting, and the recent "History of Tea" talk with Prof David Olusoga which was very interesting, and well presented. Very proud that we can have this type of quality in our town.
In one sentence, what does a trustee actually do behind the scenes? We give the charity strategic direction, oversee governance and finances, manage risk, support and challenge senior leaders, and ensure the charity stays true to its purpose and provides the best possible offer to local people and communities.
What is the most rewarding part of supporting our arts and culture community? Feeling a part of a great organisation, and seeing the results so tangibly- whether that is actually seeing things myself, or appreciating this through reports to the Board..
Would you recommend becoming a trustee, and why? Yes, absolutely - though it is not for everyone, and you do have to like governance and reading documents! It is a great way to feel you are using your expertise and experience in a positive way.
Anything else you would like to say or a question that you would prefer to give us an answer for!? Being a Trustee is a commitment and responsibility that I don't take lightly; but it is hugely rewarding to feel you are a part of a great organisation and there is a sense of pride when you do go to see a film, attend a play or show, visit the museum or be a part of a community conversation, that this is "your organisation".
