Name: Rachel Covey

Role: Trustee

Please provide a little bit of background information about yourself

The charity sector has played an important role in my career to date. I worked in a number of large charities within the business development and marketing teams for over 10 years and more recently I have been involved in recruiting for senior leadership roles within charities. I relocated back to the northwest around the same time that I had the opportunity to join CANW’s board of directors.

How long have you been a trustee of CANW?

About 18 months. I became a CANW trustee in early 2024.

What inspired you to get involved with CANW?

I have always enjoyed ‘hands-on’ volunteering and spent some time cooking dinners at a local homeless charity. However, when the company I was working for encouraged the team to look for volunteering opportunities, the chance to join a board and make a strategic difference really appealed. I met with senior leaders at CANW. I was blown away by the work that the charity does – and excited by the change that was happening within the organisation. I felt that it was somewhere that I could really make a difference.

What skills do you think you bring to this role?

I naturally bring my fundraising and volunteering experience to the board, but my mentor advised me to also lean harder into areas where I had less experience and use it as an opportunity to grow. Taking this advice on board, I have got more involved in the safeguarding and financial side of board activities, learning and offering a different perspective.

How do you think CANW makes a difference?

CANW cares and this becomes very clear as soon as you start talking to the heads of the services that CANW offers. From the leadership level through to service delivery, first and foremost, CANW is there for the families it supports.

What do you enjoy about your role?

I have a deep-seated commitment to life-long learning and being a trustee provides me with an opportunity to learn more and flex my intellect in a different way. I feel that the CANW board is on a journey together. It is fascinating to start to understand how differently everyone sees a situation, but by building trust – and the importance of trust – you can speak up safely if you support something, and perhaps more importantly, you can speak up if you don’t. You learn to become comfortable with each other in agreement and disagreement. The CANW board values diversity of experience, thought and background.

What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a CANW Trustee?

As a first-time board member, I was initially nervous about joining a board, but the CANW board has been welcoming and inclusive from the start. If you are interested, it is a great opportunity to contribute to something really important in a meaningful way. Your insight and experience will be valued in a totally different way than it is by your family or workplace. But do consider the level of commitment required – it is important to have a genuine interest in what the charity does and prepare to give the role the attention that is needed as a board leader. Having said all that, it is definitely worth it!

How would you sum CANW up in three words?

Warm and welcoming, professional and trusted.