How to Achieve your Career Goals by Volunteering

Could volunteering help you achieve your career goals?

1-7 June 2023 is Volunteers’ Week, a time to celebrate the invaluable contribution that volunteers make. This coincides with the point of the year that many professionals across the country are considering their professional development plans: could volunteering as a school governor offer the development opportunity you are looking for this year?

Being part of a governing board offers experience of working at a strategic level and the opportunity to learn and practice skills that have direct relevance to your career development. These include:

strategic leadership
problem solving
budget control
data analysis
building relationships and networks
influencing and negotiation

A school’s governing board works as a team to support and challenge senior leadership, guide the strategic direction of the school and ensure public money is well spent. There is no easier way to gain experience of operating in a board level environment.

Teacher Liam Anderson got involved as his research showed it was a brilliant opportunity to help achieve his career goals:

“Before becoming a governor, I did some research into what school governance was all about and I could see that it was a brilliant way to develop my knowledge and understanding of strategic and operational work within schools, that would benefit my career progression to becoming a senior leader.”

Hannah Cummins from the North East LEP has benefitted from being in the role as a young governor and says:

“It’s been one of the best things that I’ve ever done. I’ve enjoyed working with the senior leadership team and developing my personal skill set”.

Ready to find out more?

Join our information session on Wednesday 14^th June 12.30-13.00 to learn more about the role and hear from staff at CCCU already undertaking the role sharing the benefits they have personally experienced – and how you can get involved too.