PEOPLE in Oxfordshire are being urged to get on board with one of the county’s charities by volunteering their skills.

Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action (OCVA) is calling for people to play their part in Trustees’ Week 2012, which runs from Monday, November 5, to Sunday, November 11.

The event is a celebration of the volunteers who sit on the governing bodies of charitable organisations and direct business.

Charities need trustees to make decisions about finances, activities and future plans and volunteering can provide a great opportunity for people to develop personal and social lives.

Julie Baker, 49, from East Hagbourne near Didcot, has been a trustee with OCVA for just over a year. She balances the volunteering with her work as a marketing consultant for Petroc College in Devon.

Mrs Baker said: “I am in a career-focused phase of my life, so trusteeship is an excellent addition to my CV and you can manage trusteeship with a working life.

“You’re also tasked with making a difference in the community which is really rewarding. Trustees are expected to ensure that the charity operates with the mission and the values it was set up with.

“However, it is rewarding me in other ways too. Volunteering introduces you to new people, which has been helpful to me when I moved to a new part of the country.”

Lindsay Watts, Volunteer Centre Oxfordshire manager, added: “People of all ages are trustees, it’s not just retired folk. Volunteering as a trustee is a great development opportunity if you’re looking to gain more managerial experience, and the role can fit around full-time work.”

lFor more information about the role of trustees and volunteering roles across Oxfordshire call 01865 251946, email vol@ocva.org.uk or visit www.do-itrg.uk