What is a trustee? A discussion with Andrea Waugh

What is a trustee? A discussion with Andrea Waugh on starting early, learning at pace and enabling change

The Bridge Group’s Research Officer, Jennifer Thorpe, speaks with trustee Andrea about her journey into trusteeship and what makes being a trustee at the Bridge Group uniquely rewarding.

**Starting out aged 22: “What is a trustee? ”**

Andrea, originally from Leith in Edinburgh (“think Sunshine On Leith by The Proclaimers”, she jokes), works as an IP litigator at a city law firm. She now has a solid understanding of what it means to be a trustee but when she made the application she recalls “back then I did not really understand what the role of a trustee is!”

How did you hear about the Bridge Group?

Andrea happened upon the Bridge Group by chance through a law scholarship programme. She notes that “reference was made to research conducted by the charity and it piqued my interest so much that I went on to read about the charity’s work and found it to be both relevant and inspiring”.

Andrea explains that “in an attempt to escape cluelessness, I looked further into the role of a trustee, made the decision to apply and the rest is history!”

She has now served on the board for around four years.

Breadth of perspective: how did age shape your experience?

Andrea was appointed aged 22 and admits that “it was a little intimidating at first. Here I was, a 22‑year‑old student surrounded by senior civil servants, lawyers, HR professionals and CEOs.”

But she soon realised that her age and career stage wasn’t a drawback.

“I quickly realised that everyone on the board brought something unique to the table, and the intimidation faded once I saw how genuinely supportive and welcoming everyone was (and still are). I was able to offer a different perspective as someone closer to the graduate recruitment cycle.”

That breadth of experience, she believes, is part of what makes the Bridge Group’s board so effective.

A day in the life of a Bridge Group trustee

Andrea describes that, as a trustee, her role is to “act as a guardian of the Bridge Group’s mission while safeguarding the charity’s financial and reputational health.”

For her, trusteeship has been “deeply rewarding” both personally and professionally.

“The experience of being a trustee has been deeply rewarding because it’s provided me with an invaluable learning opportunity to develop skills, particularly in the areas of management and leadership. Ultimately, as a trustee, you are afforded comprehensive oversight of the charity’s aims and outputs, allowing you to see exactly how intentions and ideas translate into tangible action and social progress.”

Andrea also describes how inspiring it is to see the charity’s impact take shape.

“Every discussion and decision we make is ultimately about opening doors for people from all communities and ensuring that opportunities are based on talent, not background.”

The challenges … and why they become opportunities

“For me, the financial responsibilities were initially the most intimidating. I vividly remember how overwhelmed I first felt when reviewing the charity’s accounts. In hindsight, I had no need to worry as our Head of Operations, Bonita, makes everything so accessible and clear that this quickly became manageable.”

Andrea sees the challenge as part of the reward.

“Trustees are involved in a wide range of areas, and that variety keeps you learning. It’s also incredibly valuable for your professional development as it sharpens the skills you might not use every day in your job.”

She also notes that trusteeship takes time investment.

“It would be unrealistic to say that it doesn’t take up time, but it ultimately saves you time as you develop skills that make you more efficient, effective, and creative in your day‑to‑day life.”

Advice for aspiring trustees: believe in the value you can bring

Above all, Andrea emphasises the importance of believing in oneself.

“Believe in yourself and in the value that you can bring to the role. Anyone can excel as a trustee if they have the right motivations and mind set. There is no one trustee”

Why the Bridge Group, specifically?

Andrea describes her role as a trustee of the Bridge Group as being “uniquely rewarding”.

“We combine rigorous research, produced by incredibly talented people, with meaningful partnerships that influence decisions, policy, and genuine change.”

She also highlights the close relationship between trustees and staff.

“We have a full team meeting among trustees and staff each year. It is so inspiring to meet the talent behind the charity who deliver the impact day to day.”