ELBA’s BoardMatch programme helps community organisations find the right trustees from the business community for their board. Here we catch up with Anthony Lee , Employment Project Manager at ELBA and Jo Carter, Artistic Director at Immediate Theatre, who talk about their BoardMatch experience:

ANTHONY LEE, EMPLOYMENT PROJECT MANAGER, ELBA:

Organisation you are volunteering with: Immediate Theatre

Why did you engage with ELBA’s BoardMatch programme?
I thought being a trustee would be a great idea considering I work for the charity ELBA. I wanted a chance to raise my profile in addition to the profile of ELBA.  Also, I wanted to be able to give strategic help with Immediate Theatre’s Pathways programme.

 Tell us about your BoardMatch experience
I really enjoyed the experience, listening to the other charities speak about their ideas, being able to have a chance to ask questions and learn about their initiatives and reasons why they need a trustee on their board.

What have you gained from your trusteeship?
I have gained the confidence in knowing that the experience I have working in this sector is invaluable, and the fact that more than one charity wanted me on their board.

Would you recommend volunteering to a colleague and, if so, why?
I would urge people to volunteer, especially men of colour due to the disparity of people from a minority background who are trustees.

JO CARER, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, IMMEDIATE THEATRE

Why did you engage with ELBA’s BoardMatch programme?
Immediate Theatre had already welcomed and benefitted from a board member that ELBA had introduced us to some years ago, and we have always utilised ELBA’s advice and training programmes. BoardMatch sounded like a great opportunity to source new people with the specific expertise that Immediate Theatre is looking for to develop the work that we do.

Tell us about your BoardMatch experience
As this was the first time Immediate Theatre had been involved with BoardMatch, we weren’t sure what to expect. We gained a lot from the pitching process, even just getting the chance to chat to people about our work, and hearing their thoughts was insightful. The formality of the follow-up interview process was also new to us, but it allowed us to focus on exactly what Immediate Theatre needed. We were delighted when Anthony put himself forward, as his experience working with young people and supporting their journey into employment was exactly what we were looking for.

What impact has the trustee appointment made to your organisation?
Immediate Theatre’s Pathways programme takes a creative approach to supporting young people who face barriers to finding employment. We use drama techniques whilst producing a short film to encourage confidence and communication in our participants; teaching them the values of teamwork to have their voices heard. They are simultaneously supported via one-to-one job search guidance, CV writing, interview skills, etc. Our holistic approach allows Immediate Theatre to recognise the individual needs of each participant and support their overall wellbeing.

The addition of Anthony at board level will help us to develop this programme in the coming years and ensure that we are thinking strategically in order to see Immediate Theatre as part of the bigger picture of employment support for young people.

Any other thoughts?
The BoardMatch Programme is an excellent way to create positive relationships between businesses and the charitable sector. By welcoming Anthony as a board member, Immediate Theatre can continue to learn and develop the programmes that we offer. We hope that Anthony will gain just as much from the experience as we will. We’re very grateful for the new addition and we’re excited to see what the future holds for Immediate Theatre’s Pathways programme.