ELBA’s Volunteer of the Month for November 2017 is Michelle Hill of Royal London. Between May 2016 and December 2017, Michelle Hill conducted a comprehensive governance review for Bonny Downs Community Association (BDCA).

Conducting a governance review requires a substantial amount of work and Michelle has demonstrated extraordinary application and commitment in her work with BDCA.

CEO of BDCA, Peter Laing said the following: “Bonny Downs Community Association (BDCA) is a dynamic community-led charity that works in the London Borough of Newham to promote community cohesion, encourage healthier lifestyles, tackle isolation and address the root causes of poverty. Michelle Hill of Royal London has supported us in a review of our governance arrangements as part of a wider sustainability drive. From the outset we were very impressed by Michelle’s excellent knowledge and articulation of governance issues, particularly relating to charities like ours. Michelle spent a considerable amount of time with our staff and trustee team in an effort to understand our governance needs, including conducting in depth interviews and reviewing our memorandum and articles of association. This process has resulted in Michelle producing a detailed report and list of recommendations in order to help improve governance at BDCA. Michelle continues to give her time and expertise and is currently helping us to work through the implementation of these recommendations. Her support and advice has been invaluable to us as we seek to build a firmer foundation from which to support one of the most disadvantaged communities in the country. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the work Michelle has done for and with us is among the most valuable pieces of pro bono support we have received as a charity – thank you Michelle and thank you Royal London!”

We caught up with Michelle to find out about her volunteering experience:

1) Why did you volunteer? 

I wanted to offer my skills and experience to help charities improve their governance arrangements.

2)What did you gain from your volunteering experience?     

I had the opportunity to meet and work with some wonderful people whose passion for their charity and the work they do was really inspiring.  It also allowed me to apply my skills gained in a corporate environment to a new sector, providing me with a broader perspective on the governance issues faced by different organisation types.

3) Would you recommend volunteering to a colleague and if so then why?    

Absolutely, it allows you to broaden your skills, provides an opportunity to work with passionate talented people who want to make a difference in society and knowing you have helped in a small way provides a sense of achievement.

A huge thank you to Michelle for a fantastic piece of volunteering.