Trustees Week 2026 – Chris At Fareham Men’s Shed

Trustees play an important role in keeping charities running, helping them make decisions, plan for the future and continue supporting the people who need them. But what does being a trustee actually involve, and what difference can it make?

For Chris Hodgson, Chairman of Fareham Men’s Shed, it means helping to guide an organisation that has grown from a small local group into a charity with 87 members, supporting 42 voluntary groups across Fareham, including 11 schools.

As Trustees Week celebrates the contribution trustees make to charities and communities, Chris shares what the role involves and why good leadership matters.

From treasurer to chairman

Chris has been involved with Fareham Men’s Shed since it began in 2016. Having taken early retirement, he was looking for something to keep him busy when someone he knew mentioned that Community Action Fareham was setting up a Men’s Shed and needed a treasurer.

“I went along to find out more about it, volunteered to be treasurer, and the rest is history!”

Chris had already spent 12 years as a Scout leader and was treasurer of an angling club, so he was no stranger to volunteering. He spent five years as treasurer of the Shed, followed by a couple of years looking after PR, before becoming chairman.

Today, he oversees the charity’s 10 trustees, who each have their own responsibilities. They meet monthly to discuss how the organisation is running, its priorities and plans for the future.

“I’m very hands-on and like to lead by example,” says Chris. “You have to make sure things get done, but you also need to give each trustee the space and responsibility to do their job.”

For Chris, being a trustee is about taking responsibility for the organisation as a whole, making sure it responds to opportunities and requests, and helping it remain in a position to support its members and the wider community.

“We want people to take on the role of a trustee because they want to, not for the title or prestige. The trustees are there to guide the ship.”

Helping the Shed make a difference

Open five days a week, Fareham Men’s Shed gives men the opportunity to meet others, share their skills, learn something new and enjoy time together. Members can take part in activities such as woodturning, wood carving, robotics, laser cutting and 3D printing, or just come along for a chat over tea and biscuits.

For some, that regular contact is particularly important.

“A couple of our members say that, without the Shed, they could go all week without talking to anyone. It’s good for men’s health and wellbeing, and we do specialist talks on men’s health because men aren’t always very good at opening up.”

The charity also puts its members’ skills to use helping other organisations. Its projects include making bird boxes, bug houses and planters for a local school, assembling a bike shed for Asda in Fareham and carrying out regular work for the Rainbow Centre.

Last year, the Shed raised £1,500 to help build a new bridge and fence for the Rainbow Centre.

“They’ve only got to pick up the phone and we’re there,” says Chris.

The difference the Shed makes can be seen in the experiences of its members, too. Chris recalls one man who joined after being referred by Citizens Advice because he was lonely. After his first morning, he was so pleased with the experience that he went back to thank the organisation for recommending it.

Another member joined following a stroke. Through learning woodturning and spending time with others, he gradually rebuilt his confidence and developed new skills.

“It’s really rewarding to see. I think just being there for people to talk to can give them a new lease of life.”

As chairman, Chris helps make sure the charity can continue providing these opportunities, from keeping its activities running to finding the resources and funding it needs.

Planning for the future

One of the biggest challenges facing Fareham Men’s Shed is finding a permanent home. The charity has been based at Titchfield Festival Theatre since it started, but with the theatre closing, it needs to find a new space where members can continue to meet and carry out their projects.

Chris has been working with Community First to update the Shed’s business plan and explore its options. The charity has also been fundraising towards the cost of securing its own premises, building up £74,000 in savings and receiving offers of interest-free loans from members totalling £225,000.

The response from members shows just how much the Shed means to them, but finding suitable premises and securing the organisation’s future requires careful planning and decision-making.

This is where the work of trustees is particularly important. Alongside supporting the day-to-day running of a charity, they need to think ahead and make decisions that will help the organisation remain sustainable.

Chris also values the support Fareham Men’s Shed receives from Community First, which began life as Community Action Fareham and helped the Shed get started in the first place.

“They’ve been very useful. We’ve attended their courses, and Lisa has supported us with our business plan. I think the membership offers very good value for money.”

Could you become a trustee?

Chris hopes more people will consider becoming trustees and getting involved in the charities and community groups that matter to them. At Fareham Men’s Shed, members are encouraged to put themselves forward when positions become available.

For Chris, the reward is seeing what the Shed has become over the past 10 years and knowing that its work is helping people feel less isolated, learn new skills and support other groups in the community.

“It’s about helping the organisation move forward and making sure we’re doing what we can to help people.”

If you are interested in becoming a trustee, we can offer advice and support to help you explore opportunities.

You can also find trustee and other volunteering opportunities through Volunteer First.