This is Haslemere are thrilled to welcome Colin Short to our team. A trustee for over a decade for a charity helping women and girls in India, Colin is no stranger to volunteering. We found his approach incredibly inspiring and are delighted that he has shared this as his first article for  This is Haslemere. You'll be hearing much more from Colin in the future. Like our existing volunteers, he will be sharing local stories with you, and shining the spotlight on local charities, organisations and voluntary groups. 

But for now, over to Colin....

One of my first memories as a child was going to a local pond with my grandfather, throwing little stones in and being fascinated by the ripples that spread out from the splash. I would stand on the edge and feel thrilled as that one little action made the water lap over my toes a few seconds afterwards. It was later, in my teens, that I began to realise that life is just the same. Our actions have consequences and what we say or do causes ripples around us.

Nearly thirty years ago, my late wife went on a study trip with Tearfund, a charity that we supported, and which invests in projects around the world to enable disadvantaged people to support themselves without handouts. In Chennai, India she came across a charity called Christian Missions Charitable Trust which ran an orphanage and school which rescued young girls abandoned in the slums. When she got home, she spoke to many groups, churches and organisations to raise awareness and from her efforts many new supporters were found to help the work grow and diversify. It now runs soup kitchens, a hospital and funds handicrafts for elderly ladies. Thousands of those girls have become doctors, nurses and teachers. That is more than just a few ripples.

About ten years ago I was asked to be a trustee of the UK charity which raises money to send to Chennai. Then, four years ago, I became chair. As I’ve progressed through life I have come to understand that what I do still causes ripples around me. I’ve just chosen to throw bigger stones and create a bigger impact.

Like I was at the time, many people are cautious of becoming a trustee of an entity such as a charity because of the responsibility and workload that they think might be involved. Of course being a trustee is a responsible role but the most important skills to bring to bear are life experience and common sense.

A trustee’s main duties are to ensure that the charity adheres to its stated objectives, is governed well and manages its resources, financial or otherwise, in a prudent manner. Really, that’s not much different from running our own lives and households. But being a trustee is a great opportunity to throw your own little stones into the pond of life and watch the ripples spread out, making life better for someone or sharing the workload of other trustees who need more help and support.

Our wonderful town of Haslemere wouldn’t be the same without the hundreds of people who volunteer to serve as trustees on the many charities that support our community. And yet there is always a need for more people to come forward as trustees to continue the good work. The more people who are involved means the workload is lessened for everyone. If there is a particular charity that you support or you have been the beneficiary of the work of a charity in the town, think about offering your own support as a volunteer or as a trustee. You will find that the other trustees are not blessed with superpowers- they’re just ordinary people like you who have decided to make some positive ripples in Haslemere and help change the lives of people around them.

So, if you have time on your hands or feel that you want to give something back to the community that has given you so much, look for opportunities on the This is Haslemere website or just talk to the people already involved in a charity to see how you can help as a trustee. You will be welcomed with open arms. And you will be amazed and thrilled to see the ripples spread out from that one offer of help.