Taylor Root UK Trustee Network: An interview with Fran Forsyth, Indigo Volunteers

As part of the Taylor Root UK Trustee Network, a pro-bono initiative we created to help our networks and communities, we are always looking to speak to legal professionals who want to develop themselves personally and professionally.

Here, Sarah Ingwersen, Partner and Global Head of In-house Legal, sat down with Fran Forsyth, Global General Counsel at Arcadis to learn more about her role at Indigo Volunteers.

What does your trustee organisation do?

Indigo Volunteers directly and efficiently connects volunteers with humanitarian organisations. Indigo helps hundreds of humanitarians put their boots on the ground each year. This means that dozens of projects have the vital support necessary to keep their programmes running and increase their activities. 

Why were you interested in becoming a Trustee?

Having been involved in fundraising for refugee charities, I realised that I could provide additional, much needed support by volunteering my time in support of a small charity where specialist skills are needed. Indigo Volunteers focuses on organisations supporting refugees and migrants which is a cause I was keen to support. Having spotted an advert for Trustees for Indigo, I realised that my legal skills could be applied to support them. 

Briefly describe your role as a Trustee and what involvement you have in your organisation?

I am one of five Trustees and act as Secretary to the Board. We meet quarterly for Board meetings and more regularly where required. Each Trustee is also involved in other aspects of the Charity’s organisation whether it’s fundraising, finance or supporting the CEO with strategy planning. As a lawyer, I get involved in employment matters; insurance arrangements, policy documents and governance. It has been a learning curve since I had no prior experience of how charities are run but there is so much information available through the Charity Commission and elsewhere and we work closely with an excellent and committed management team.

What are the benefits to a General Counsel being a Trustee?

Feeling a part of an organisation that is really making a difference to peoples’ lives at a grass roots level is very inspiring. Lawyers have many skills that they may take for granted that are of a great help to a small charity in providing additional support in areas which may be outside business as usual for the charity’s team. I would encourage anyone who is interested in becoming a Trustee to give it a go!