Our governance is special. It’s made up of the most talented, passionate individuals, who do their best to make sure GFS is the place girls and women need it to be, even at the highest levels of the organisation.
But such a fantastic governance didn’t come out of thin air, we worked very hard to build it. We’ve even been nominated for awards for the work we’ve done to make our Board and Committees more inclusive!
We owe a tremendous amount of thanks to our Chair of Trustees, Leanne Massey, for all the work she’s done to help us make the Boards and Committees a place where all voices are valued. And after three years of loyal dedicated leadership, Leanne is stepping down from her role.
In her farewell message to our volunteers, Leanne said:
I walk out of the Charity a better person and feel my contribution has helped to drive charity forward. The team is in a strong place, supported by an incredible governance team of dedicate talented and ambitious professionals. I must also take this opportunity to recognise the contribution of our CEO Laura.
The Charity is in a very different place as a result of her strong leadership over the last three years. The transformation of the charity under her leadership in such a short period has been outstanding.
Leanne has steered GFS through a very difficult period and our time together will always be an important part of modern GFS history.
We want to thank her for everything she’s done, and we want her successor to know what exactly how fantastic the Board waiting for them on the other side of the recruitment process is.
So, we had to ask Leanne what her personal highlights of her time with GFS were:
I most enjoy seeing the annual board reports, which show the huge difference and impact the organisation has had in 12 months. Three years ago they were very different and in a snapshot, you can see how far the organisation has developed and how much better are are seeing our impact.
-Leanne
If you’re starting to have a lightbulb moment about GFS, don’t question it! There are many reasons why people apply to join Boards and Committees, what’s important is that you find the one that’s right for you.
Our mission, values and the inspiration of ours girls are our biggest selling points as an organisation. But no one can give better insight and inspiration as to why you should apply for Chair of the Board than the current Chair herself.
We asked Leanne what first inspired her to apply to be the GFS Chair of Trustees:
I was looking to increase my involvement with GFS at a more strategic level. I could see the challenges the organisation faced and wanted to be part of the solution.
-Leanne
As with anything in life, there are always hurdles to overcome. But the ability to overcome them and work together shows our girls that we do our best to live and work with the same model we teach them.
When asked about her biggest hurdles at GFS and how she overcome them, Leanne said:
As with all organisations, difficult decisions need to be made. For me its about getting the right balance of experience around the table. Diversity of thought and a culture where everyone feelings comfortable challenging and asking those tough questions of each other.
-Leanne
Leanne’s support as Chair has contributed hugely to a positive culture for everyone from governance to girls. While being Chair of a small charity brings it’s own set of challenges, it also brings a unique sense of reward you won’t find anywhere else.
Many of the women who come to GFS as staff, volunteers or even parents, often say they wish they had GFS when they were girls. That’s part of what makes GFS so special – GFS is timeless, and means so much to all of us in different ways.
In her farewell message, Leanne also said:
Looking back, I was like one of the girls we support. The quirky one finding it hard to make friends, who didn’t have the confidence to believe she could. GFS believed in me, gave me the courage to step out of my comfort zone and supported my growth.
The ability to empathise with the girls and young women we support is a powerful tool, and helps keep them in the centre of our minds in everything we do. If you feel passionate about making a change for the better for girls and young women, you’re already at a great starting point to support GFS.
If you’re finding yourself wondering whether or not you have what it takes to follow in Leanne’s footsteps, we think you do. We even asked Leanne for a bit of advice to help encourage her successor:
It’s not so much about your experience, it’s about bringing together an experience and diverse team and getting the best out of them.
Strike the right balance with Laura and the SLT of challenge and support at a strategic level, and leave them to deal with the operational aspects of running the charity. Be ambitious, yet conscious of the resource that’s available to deliver.
-Leanne
The connections and relationships we build with those who become a part of our community go so far beyond time served in our roles. Whenever someone steps down from a role with us, we welcome them with open arms to remain a part of our community in some way.
When we asked Leanne what she would miss most after stepping down, her answer was incredibly positive, showing her intention to remain a part of the GFS community even after she takes her hands off the wheel.
I’ve enjoyed watching the journey the charity has come on and what’s great is that I can still watch it from a distance.
-Leanne
With girls as young as six tell us they cannot be themselves, we know the work GFS does is more important than ever. To make the change we dream of seeing for our girls, we need a Trustee to help steer our governance. If you think that could be you, read our recruitment pack and get in touch with our CEO, laura@girlsfriendlysociety.org.uk
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