Environmental campaigning experts Waterwise has announced their participation in the brand new Pathways to Trusteeship programme. As part of this innovative pilot, Waterwise has been matched with a very talented young professional – Jordan Wylde – who will shadow its Board over the next 10 months.
Board Racial Diversity UK designed the Pathways to Trusteeship programme to increase awareness, understanding, and representation of trusteeship among young people from Black, Asian, and minoritised ethnic communities.
The programme pairs 18-35 year olds with host organisations, providing practical experience, mentoring, and leadership training to prepare them for governance roles.
Waterwise Chair Diane McCrea said:
“I am really proud that Waterwise has been selected for the first cohort of this important new programme. At Waterwise we work hard to drive equity, diversity and inclusion. We recruit anonymously to our Board, and target specific groups, and this has improved our own diversity. But young people and not-for-profit and charity Board members are under-represented in charity trusteeship as a whole. We know that there is so much more to do to drive diversity on Boards, and we really hope that by participating in this programme, we will help drive that change. Jordan is also going to be a huge asset to our Board during this time, and I am looking forward to us all learning from each other.”
Waterwise CEO Nicci Russell said:
“At Waterwise, our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion runs through everything we do. We try to be trailblazers and proactive allies – we know that EDI is never ‘done’ and as a Board and staff team we are committed to continuous improvement in this space. We are thrilled that Jordan is shadowing our Board, and hope that we can help drive meaningful change – not just for Jordan and for Waterwise but to increase Trusteeship amongst young people and people of colour across the sector. We are always keen to measure our impact and are looking forward to the data that will come out of this programme. As the UK’s conscience on water efficiency, our core purpose is to lead and inspire change so that water is never wasted. We know Jordan is going to help us with that!”
Waterwise Participant in the Pathways programme Jordan Wylde said:
“As a passionate advocate of blue health, sustainability, and inclusion, I’m especially excited to be partnering with Waterwise on the Pathways to Trusteeship Programme and having the opportunity to learn from so many water efficiency leaders! I look forward to working with the Board, and my mentor Jane, to further develop my skills in governance, thought leadership, and environmental education.”
Board Racial Diversity UK said:
“Only 8% of trustees of UK charities are from Black and Asian backgrounds, despite making up 14% of the population in England and Wales, and less than 3% of all charity trustees are under 30. Boards will never be truly diverse and inclusive until the face of their leadership changes and the people at the top – trustees, governors and particularly Chairs – are more representative of the people they support and can bring their diverse experiences and perspectives to the table.”
Under the Pathways programme, Waterwise will facilitate:
- Firsthand insights into the role of Board members and the responsibilities of governing a not-for-profit organisation
- The opportunity to observe and engage in all Board meetings and activities
- The support of a designated Board Mentor who will share their expertise and experiences
Board Racial Diversity UK will additionally take the participants through a series of training sessions to help develop their leadership skills and their understanding of governance.