Time for you to get councilling?

Epilepsy Action Council member, Richard Chapman, describes his experience of helping to guide the organisation in its support of people with epilepsy

Richard, you have served on the Council of Management for nearly 20 years now. Why did you decide to stand for election in the first place?

Before my involvement on Council, I had been active in what is now our Branch Network. I attended a conference and quizzed one of the then Council members about why we did or didn’t do certain things. At the end of this ‘grilling’, the individual I had approached suggested to me that, if I was so interested in the way the Association was run, perhaps I should consider standing for Council.

Has Council changed very much over the past 20 years?

Yes. Council was twice as big, but met far less frequently until the early 1990s – when we changed the constitution. The Association was also much smaller then and didn’t enjoy the same healthy financial position. As the Association has grown, Council has become much more professional and strategic in its outlook.

Since you joined Council what do you think has been the Association’s most significant achievements?

I think that must be the way in which public perceptions of epilepsy have changed, though I readily accept that there is so much more for us to do.

Do you think more people with epilepsy should be on Council?

I think it’s very important that there are people with epilepsy on Council, so that we are seen to be representative, however I also think that one of the strengths of Council over the years has been its diverse make-up – drawn from parents, carers, people with the condition, doctors, nurses and teachers – all being represented. I don’t think there is any magic formula, or indeed a correct one.

ltimately, I think it’s more important that those on Council should have a real passion for improving the lives of people with epilepsy and be able to contribute to running an organisation with a multi-million pound turnover. But, ultimately, it’s our members who have the right to decide who is on Council.

How much time do you have to give to being a Council member?

There is no simple answer to that. It often depends on whether or not a Council Member becomes involved in the work of Council committees. But the basic requirement is to attend the six meetings of Council each year and to have read and considered the papers for each of these meetings.

Is it difficult being a trustee of a charity?

It may not be everyone’s cup of tea. It can be demanding. It can also be very enjoyable. I think it comes down to the sort of person that you are – some people enjoy the challenge and have the right sort of mindset or skills for the role.

You also need to get something out of doing it at a personal level. The nice bit is when you see something good happen and you know that you’ve played a part in it. I find the hardest part of being a Council member having to decide that we can’t afford to do all the things we would like.

What do you and the other trustees on the Council of management actually do?

Council is responsible for agreeing the long-term direction of the Association, how it uses the money it raises and what the priorities are for spending it. It’s also our job to ensure the Association meets all its legal obligations and is well governed.

What would a person need to be like to serve on Council?

Apart from that passion, it’s important to have a good understanding of what the Association is trying to achieve. You need to be comfortable with budgets, have some understanding of business management and be able to work in a committee setting. And, of course, be able to devote the time needed to fulfil the role properly.

What advice would you give to anyone thinking about standing for election to Council?

Contact Phil Lee, our Chief Executive, and he will send you an information pack telling you more about what is involved. Ask him to put you in touch with me or one of my Council colleagues and we will be glad to talk you through what’s involved.

I and my Council colleagues are proud that we were elected by our members; many larger charities don’t allow members to elect the trustees. Our democratic system only works, however, if good people are prepared to stand for election and if members vote – most don’t !

What three successes would you like to see in the Association’s future?

Only three?! The first has to be success in combating stigma and misunderstanding of epilepsy. The second is achieving what I call ‘social equity’ – good access to health care and modern treatments, decent education, social welfare etc. The third has to be fundraising, since we can’t hope to crack the other two without money to fund our work and campaigns!