By Lan Nguyen, former Voscur Trustee:

Before becoming a Trustee at Voscur, I was a PhD student in Accounting at the University of Bristol. My research focuses on not-for-profit organisations: their values, their missions, and how they create meaningful alignment between what they stand for and the people who work within them. I have always been drawn to organisations that exist for purpose rather than profit.  

When I first considered becoming a Trustee, I was hoping to move beyond theory and into a lived experience. I wanted to see, first-hand, how an important organisation in Bristol’s VCSE sector operates in practice. Voscur, as the local support and development agency for Bristol’s Voluntary, Community & Social Enterprise sector, plays such a vital role. As a charity for charities, its work strengthens the very infrastructure that allows other organisations to thrive.

Providing vision, leadership, development and support to the local sector is not abstract work – it has real consequences for communities across Bristol. I wanted to understand the realities behind strategy papers and financial statements: the challenges, the trade-offs, the resilience required, and the human stories behind decision-making. 

Over the past two years, what I have enjoyed most is the deeply supportive environment of the Board. I joined feeling new and, at times, unsure of how much I could contribute. Yet all the Trustees welcomed me with generosity and patience.

I learned so much from their clarity of thought, their professional expertise, and their strong sense of humanity. They modelled what good governance looks like – thoughtful, robust, but always rooted in values. 

I particularly remember my first catch-up with one of the other Trustees, Ed. He sat down with me and carefully walked through Voscur’s budgets and financial statements, even sharing examples from his own charity where he is CEO. He explained everything step by step. Studying accounting and practising it in the real world are very different experiences. Through joining the Finance Committee, I began to appreciate the nuance behind numbers – how financial decisions reflect priorities, risks and responsibilities. I am incredibly grateful for the patience, encouragement, and the belief others had in me. That trust helped me grow in confidence as a Trustee. 

Working with the Voscur staff team has also been a privilege. Rebecca, Victoria, Ian, Dani and the wider team demonstrated daily what commitment to the sector truly means. Their hard work, resilience, and collaborative spirit helped me understand the complexity of the projects underway and the challenges faced by VCSE organisations, particularly in uncertain times. Seeing their dedication strengthened my respect for the sector and reinforced why infrastructure organisations like Voscur matter so deeply.

Now, as I am preparing to move to Melbourne to begin a Lectureship at Monash University, I carry out these experiences with me. I will continue researching not-for-profit organisations, exploring how they create and sustain value in their communities. This work is not only an academic interest for me; it is personal. Serving as a Trustee has grounded my research in reality and reminded me that behind every framework or model are people working tirelessly for social good. 

To anyone considering becoming a Trustee as part of their development, I would wholeheartedly recommend it. It is an opportunity to learn in ways that no textbook can offer – to understand governance, strategy and finance in context, and to contribute meaningfully to a cause larger than yourself. It challenges you to think critically, listen carefully, and act responsibly. Most importantly, it connects you with people who inspire you. 

I feel deeply grateful for my time at Voscur. It has shaped me both professionally and personally. As I take this next step in my career, I remain committed to contributing to the communities that have made me who I am today. 

Thank you, Voscur, from the bottom of my heart.