I have been a Discovery trustee for the past 3 years, and a Discovery volunteer for the past 5 years. I absolutely love everything that Discovery stands for, and the vital work they do to enrich our local community. I have had an incredible time as a trustee for the past few years, and would love to continue this experience, whilst also developing my skills further, therefore I am applying for the position of secretary.
I signed up with Discovery in my first year of university, and since then have progressed from a volunteer, to student trustee, to project coordinator. I've been incredibly lucky to volunteer on a range of projects (such as Digital Media and the PenPal project) and experience a range of roles within the organisation, and feel that this has provided me with a really solid understanding of the amazing work Discovery does, the logistics involved and what happens on the ground, which informs my work as a trustee looking at the bigger picture. It also means I understand what kind of commitments and responsibility each role in the organisation requires, and how to support people within that role. I have had the opportunity to develop skills that I never saw myself gaining (such as public speaking and understanding finances) within an incredibly supportive team, and would like to continue this growth over the next year in the role of secretary.
I have secretary experience within the Services to the Community and Media and Publicity subgroups as part of my trustee role, where I have been responsible for organising meetings, taking minutes and circulating important documents. I have also stepped into the role during board meetings when the current secretary has been unavailable. My role as project coordinator for School Daze has been admin heavy, allowing me to enhance my organisational skills, and better understand how to communicate effectively with volunteers, which I believe will really benefit me in this role. I have volunteered for other charities in Swansea, and work part time within the university, and in the wider community, which informs my perspective, and has provided me with great ideas and initiatives to bring back to Discovery, but has also emphasized to me how incredible the charity and the impact of their work is.
I am incredibly passionate about Discovery and the opportunities they provide for students, as they are invaluable. The organisation has helped me develop my skills, confidence and employability, as well as providing the opportunity to learn more about myself and create connections with amazing people across the university and beyond. Becoming the secretary for the board of trustees would be an honour, and a responsibility I would dedicate a lot of time and energy towards, however, I am also running for non-portfolio student trustee again, as I believe I can add a lot of value to the trustee board through my experiences, and would love to continue to be a small part of Discovery.