In Conversation with Trustees Ruth & Rosema

Bradford District and Craven Mind is run by a dedicated group of volunteer trustees who guide the charity’s direction and make sure the management team stay on track.

We spoke to Ruth Mulryne, Chair of the Board of Trustees at Bradford District and Craven Mind.

Transcript of interview below:

How do trustees provide support to a mental health charity?

We have 11 trustees, and everyone is a volunteer. A trustee initially joins the board for three years and can stay for up to nine years. Our trustees bring expertise in the field of mental health, legal matters, safeguarding, digital, finance, governance of organisations and more. But what is equally important is many have their own experience of mental health issues or the experience of supporting family and friends.

A board does the very best job when we have diversity of age, culture and life experience, and this is what we always aim for as our board keeps developing. Every trustee is passionate and committed to playing our part in driving positive change within mental health and wellbeing support.

What role does a board of trustees have in the running of the charity?

We share the overall legal responsibility and accountability for everything the charity does. We must ensure the charity is doing what it was set up to do, and that all the decisions ultimately put the needs of the people who access our services first day today.

Our wonderful Chief Executive, Helen and the brilliant staff team and volunteers from the charity work hard to ensure that no one in our area has to face a mental health issue alone.

What happens at a trustee meeting?

The Board of Trustees meet five times a year and provide support and guidance to staff between meetings. At a meeting, for example, we could be talking with someone who’s used one of our services to hear about their experience, then making decisions about the strategy for the organisation, which is our plan of action to achieve the charity’s goals.

Then we might be looking at our finances, ensuring we have sufficient funds and we manage them effectively. Other discussions include reviewing policies and procedures so the organisation operates to the best and safest standards.

Staff members could be updating the board on new services or fundraising initiatives, and we might be discussing partnership work with other organisations. We regularly review what is going on in the area around us to ensure that Bradford District and Craven Mind retains its excellent reputation and is key to the mental health support provided locally. We feel incredibly proud to be part of the fabulous team here.

We are all committed to ensuring the charity brings life changing mental health and wellbeing support when people need it most.

We also spoke with Rosema who joined as a Trustee in 2024.  

Transcript of interview below:

What made you decide to volunteer as a trustee at BDC Mind?

As someone who has lived and grew up in Keighley and worked with people from all across Bradford District, I bring their perspective to the work I do on the board. I look at the work we do through the lens of the diverse communities in Bradford and the District. Within some of these communities in Bradford, there is a stigma on mental health and it is often hard to engage the communities. This makes it hard for people to seek the support they need when they need it.

I chose to be a volunteer because I love the work that we do, and I am passionate about supporting this work in any way I can, both the environment created for those who access the services we offer here and for those who work with us is something so special and I’m incredibly proud to be a part of. I have grown up seeing friends struggle with their mental health, not often knowing where to go, or feeling that they can’t speak about what they’re going through. This has often led to some really difficult situations that have left a lasting imprint on me.

I want to do what I can to support Bradford District and Craven mind to reach all the people of our amazing city and district.

Posted on: 7th March 2025