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SAFE Trustee case Study

CHRIS COLLIER is a Trustee and Chair of SAFE (Stop Abuse for Everyone) an organisation that works with all those affected by domestic violence and abuse.

"I joined SAFE, formerly Exeter Women's Aid, because I am a feminist and wanted to join a group of like-minded women. Although I am not myself, a survivor of domestic violence,

I have always felt an abhorrence of it and been aware of its consequences.

I know that the range of services SAFE delivers is very good and the feedback tells me that we do change people's lives and that our work is respected. This is what I wanted to achieve. I feel proud to have seen the work develop and been a part of it and I am now excited about new services we will offer.

There are, of course, challenges in being a trustee, you have to take a step back from the day to day work and start to think strategically about the organisation. You are responsible with others for keeping the work going and finding funding is always a challenge. We do need to challenge practice and find new ways of thinking, which can be hard.

I would encourage people to become trustees, to support something they really believe in, to work with like-minded people. I am never bored, it is stimulating and the work gives me a sense of purpose and I am always learning."