Being a trustee at The Vegan Society

In this blog, the Supporter Services team ask some of our existing trustees about their experiences.

Annual General Meeting – Member power

The 2026 Annual General Meeting takes place on Saturday 16 May, and we look forward to welcoming as many members as possible on the day. The Vegan Society is a membership organisation, and our members can influence the direction of the charity by bringing a motion to the AGM and voting on motions either by proxy, ahead of the AGM or at the AGM itself. The AGM is a very good opportunity to meet our board of trustees and the CEO and help us celebrate our work and future plans!

We look for new trustee applications every year. Key qualities for all trustees are commitment, enthusiasm and the ability to consider issues thoughtfully, communicate effectively and work well with others. To ensure effectiveness and diversity, members from a wide range of backgrounds and with a broad base of skills and experience are sought. You can find out more about applying at the end of this blog.

What is a trustee?

Charity trustees are volunteers who share responsibility for governing a charity and directing how it is managed and run. Central to this is ensuring a charity is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit and planning and reviewing its work on a regular basis.

The role involves overseeing the operating principles (how an organisation is managed and run) set out in The Articles of Association. The Vegan Society is both a charity and a company limited by guarantee.

Who's on our board of trustees?

You can view our trustees and their full profiles on The Vegan Society Council of Trustees page. 

As a member, you can access the minutes from the regular Council meetings if you are interested in looking at what is discussed.

The Supporter Services team met some of our existing trustees (David Gore, Jacob Warn and Chris McLaren) and asked them some questions about their experiences.

What was your motivation in applying to be a trustee?

I was motivated to stand for election to ensure members' rights at The Vegan Society remained protected.
This arose after proposals to alter these were presented to the membership at an AGM.
I, along with many other members, did not wish to see those changes made so I stood for election to ensure that case remained until this day. David

Chris: My highest passion is to help stop the exploitation and consequent abuses of other animals and thus TVS, being a globally influencing, and the first vegan charity, as well as such a large organisation, appealed to me.

The motivation to become a trustee came from already having been a trustee on two local charity boards and knowing that this aspect of an organisation can help its full and improved functioning; having a team of people with an overview seems to improve practice. Additionally, being a board member generally, but especially with TVS being such a trusted and respected organisation, helps to be heard in some external conversations and situations.

Jacob: I've spent my whole working life working with charities and social initiatives trying to change the world for the better. Yet I felt like I wasn't bringing my experience to the vegan movement professionally. I felt that becoming a Trustee for The Vegan Society was the perfect way of engaging more in the veganism by bringing my skills and energy.

What would you say to someone who is interested in applying?

David: I would say to any member that they should always consider applying, even if they do not actually end up submitting the paperwork. The application process alone will encourage a deeper affinity and understanding of what The Vegan Society is for and how important it is for members. If candidates do apply and get voted on to Council they will be able to use their skills to help the society keep going long into the future to ensure it will be useful for the many generations of vegans yet to come.

Chris: If unfamiliar with being on a board, then it will be a life skill that travels with you, or if you already know this way of 'being' then you will still be doing what you can to help the other animals, planet and of course people; I believe you will benefit in ways yet unknown.

I'd say to definitely apply if there's the space and time. For me, there was a lot to learn. Often the language at the meetings and the general functioning was very different to my previous experiences but one learns, is supported and trained, as well as meeting some very brilliant people who have the same philosophical outlook as one's own (on these matters, at least).

Jacob: Go for it! You have nothing to lose and much to gain! The Trustee Council is a wonderful group of people. It's exciting, yes it's also intense, but you're at the forefront of the conversations and strategic thinking that drives the Society forwards. 

What do you find rewarding about the role?

The most rewarding part of being a Trustee is ensuring the policies and programmes we undertake as a Society stay true to the meaning of veganism.
I like to imagine the early pioneers of veganism would be happy with how the Society remains today. David

Chris: The sense of being part of a worldwide movement and having an effect give a sense of actually being able to 'do something more'. The pleasure of learning how TVS functions and its policies and procedures, as well as meeting some of the extremely talented staff and exploring the organisation's structure has been interesting.

The face-to-face meeting, with most of the other trustees, was a highlight and really lovely; resultant work felt rewarding. TVS has a voice that is heard in halls of power as well as on the ground; therefore, as an animal rights activist, in other ways, this added another string to my bow. 

Jacob: For me, it's about playing a small part in the shape of the society. It's a big charity with a long and rich history. Getting to help steward the organisation today so that it's in a stronger, more impactful position in the future is what drives me!

Why might a member wish to attend the AGM?

David: Members should definitely attend the AGM so they can see for themselves that the society they are member of is being run in ways they think are suitable. Without this feedback and engagement, neither the Council nor the Charity as a whole can be sure we are representing all the views of the people who are part of the oldest society dedicated to vegans on the planet.

Chris: It is a members’ organisation, and the more in attendance the better. The board must rightfully be open and held to account but also feel supported by the members showing an additional interest in the work. This is a space for questions and resolutions to be considered and voted upon by all those that have a 'buy in' to TVS.

In other words, I feel that it's the best place as a member to 'have your say'. Even though the members can vote before the AGM, there is something exciting about the 'live' results and being part of the whole; simply being there is thus a positive contribution.

At the end of the day, The Vegan Society is special because it is a member-run organisation. it's one of the things that really sets us apart. You can follow our news on social media, the magazine or by email, but there's nothing like meeting the charity's staff and Trustees face-to-face. It's also just a fab moment to take stock of the previous year and hear about TVS' plans for the following one! Jacob

Can you provide examples of times when members have positively influenced the direction of the society?

David: Yes. Members influence the society all the time, be that volunteering their time to staff stalls at events, contributing to the research network, a letter into the editor of The Vegan magazine, or to Council via the Chair or at the AGM. Members are also able to submit motions to the AGM for consideration by all, should they feel a change to our work is warranted. Members can take a look at our most recent Volunteer Impact Report to find out more. I think many of our members do have something really useful to offer the society.

Jacob: I'm pretty new to the Society so not sure if I have the best answer here! I know of course that members play a really pivotal role in boosting the society’s impact, by volunteering, supporting, donating. This is incredibly important and not to be forgotten! Members make an incredibly important decision every year when they review and vote for the following year's Council. 

Can I be a trustee?

Yes! We welcome applications from members of the society for membership of the governing Council (board of directors) of The Vegan Society for 2027.

Candidates for trustee roles must have been full members of the society for at least a year and be aged 16 or over on the date of appointment. Candidates should support the society’s objectives and mission and be committed to a vegan lifestyle. Experience in finance/accounting, audit/risk management, charity law or acting as a treasurer is particularly welcome. 

The role is voluntary, but reasonable expenses can be claimed. Currently, the time commitment is monthly meetings usually lasting three hours. However, this may change if it's deemed sensible to return to office meetings, which would be less frequent but longer. Relevant guidance is provided, and training would be approximately one and a half days per year. Emails may sometimes take a few hours per week, particularly in approaching a Council meeting or Annual General Meeting. 

Further information

For further information about becoming a trustee, please contact the Chair chair[at]vegansociety[dot]com by email or by post (Donald Watson House, 21 Hylton Street, Birmingham, B18 6HJ).  The candidate pack can also be downloaded from vegansociety.com/candidate-pack.