To mark Trustees Week, we interviewed one of our newest trustee, Carmen Orr.

How did you come to know about Gloucestershire Young Carers?
I moved to Tewkesbury in 2012 and at that time I cared for my brother, my Gran, and my dad - my mum found out about young carers and asked if I would like to join. So, I joined and attended the weekly Tewkesbury group, and then later I became part of the forum, I helped with the twilight conference events and went on trips - then I became a young adult carer when I turned 16.

How did you feel when you were first approached about the possibility of becoming a trustee for the organisation?
It is quite an exciting prospect. I love meeting new people and talking to new people about different things and to have the chance to make a difference and make a change to something, especially for a topic that is very close to my heart.

What were your expectations about being a trustee?
My expectations were that I would be given a chance to have a positive influence on the organisation. Give me a chance to meet like-minded people that have similar values and that want to ensure young carers are supported as well as they can be.  

And how has it been for you to be one of the charities trustees?
It's been brilliant to meet the trustees and some of the other staff who I hadn't already met in this new position, and I am just looking forward to what's to come. There is plenty more that you know we can do and I've lots upcoming in the diary - so that will be great to see.

And how important do you think it is for charities like GYC to have a diverse board, including those trustees like you, who have relevant lived experience?
Yeah, it is so, so important to have a diverse board, especially considering young carers come from diverse backgrounds. Having trustees who understand the young carers themselves, who have lived experience and are therefore able to appreciate what young carers lives are like in a meaningful way is so important.

The average of a UK charity trustee is 62 – and you are in your early twenties. So how has it been for you as a younger person in that environment?
I'm really passionate about younger people getting involved in things like volunteering. I think it's a valuable experience, not only for your CV, but just for your life skills as well. So, I would encourage any other young person to get involved with volunteering, whether that is through becoming a trustee or just volunteering for an organisation that you particularly have a passion for or something that you enjoy.  As young people, we need to get our voice heard and that is what Gloucestershire young carers is trying to do. I really appreciate that they were able to bring us on board and have some a younger than usual members of a board.