Douglas

On Trustees Week (9-13 November 2026), our Board of Trustees member Douglas shares what inspired him to become a trustee at Cruse Scotland and what volunteering has given him personally.

Has Cruse Scotland personally supported you? If so, in what way did the support help you?

My connection with Cruse Scotland began through the excellent, high-quality training I received as a chaplain. 

The training was extremely relevant to my role and gave me valuable insight into how we can better understand and support people who are bereaved. 

It helped me appreciate the importance of skilled, compassionate support and the difference it can make to people navigating loss.

What inspired you to become a trustee at Cruse Scotland?

My initial contact with Cruse Scotland was through training I received as a chaplain, and I was struck by the quality, relevance, and value of what the organisation offered.

It gave me a real appreciation of Cruse Scotland’s work and the importance of its mission. 

Becoming a trustee felt like an opportunity to give something back, contribute my own skills and experience, and help the organisation continue to support people through some of the most difficult experiences in life in a different way than I do in my employment.

What has volunteering with Cruse Scotland given you personally?

Being a trustee has allowed me to contribute to a cause I care deeply about and to work alongside people who share a commitment to supporting those who are bereaved. 

The team spirit and commitment each person gives makes meetings enjoyable, not something I can say of other board meetings I have been to!

What particularly interests you about Cruse Scotland?

I am particularly interested in how we can improve understanding of bereavement and help create a society where people feel able to talk about grief and access support without stigma. 

Grief affects every part of life, including families, workplaces, and communities, yet people can often feel isolated in their experience. I value Cruse Scotland’s commitment to ensuring that bereaved people are listened to, understood, and supported.

What is your background in terms of skills and experience?

My professional background spans education, leadership, ministry, and prison chaplaincy. 

I have worked as a primary school headteacher, a Church of Scotland minister and, currently, a Facilitating Chaplain with the Scottish Prison Service. These roles have given me experience in strategic leadership, governance, partnership working, and organisational change.

What are your main responsibilities as a trustee?

My responsibilities include helping shape the organisation’s strategic direction, ensuring good governance, scrutinising decisions and contributing to responsible management of resources and risks.

Just as importantly, I see my role as helping ensure that the experiences and needs of bereaved people remain central to the Board’s decisions. 

For me, effective trusteeship means combining strategic oversight and constructive challenge with a clear sense of purpose and compassion. I am part of the Client Voices group listening to the views of service users, and I am also a member of the PG&T subgroup of the board.

What excites you most about being part of Cruse Scotland’s Board and helping shape the organisation’s future?

I am excited by the opportunity to help Cruse Scotland build on its highly respected work and continue to make a meaningful difference to bereaved people across Scotland.

Society has come a long way in handling and supporting grief & bereavement, but there is still scope to improve awareness and understanding. 

Being part of a Board that can help shape that future of the organisation and help shape views nationally on bereavement through our work is something I find genuinely rewarding.

What would you say to someone who is thinking about becoming a trustee at Cruse Scotland?

I would encourage them to find out more and consider what skill or experience they could bring. 

You do not need to have all the answers or come from a particular professional background-a personal commitment to the organisation’s purpose, a willingness to listen and learn, and a readiness to contribute your skills and perspective are what is needed. 

Being a trustee is a considerable responsibility, but it is also a valuable opportunity to make a difference beyond your own day-to-day work. 

For me, it is linked but not the ‘doing’ I do in my day job. If supporting bereaved people matters to you, it is well worth exploring.