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As a trustee, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Senior Broadcast Journalist Joan Cummins brings her journalistic prowess to shape the direction of the not-for-profit organisation, ‘ Safeline’.

Safeline works with survivors of sexual abuse, and through a large team of counsellors and therapists it offers free counselling and services to adults and children aged over 11 who were sexually abused.

‘The most important thing always is the survivor they are supporting’

What do you do when an elderly woman weeps as she relives her teenage years and tells you how she was repeatedly abused and raped by someone she should have been able to trust? Someone who then forced her out of the house aged 14 when she became pregnant for bringing shame on the family... at the time it was the 1960s and the woman was too ashamed to speak out. Forty years later and she finally had the courage to seek help to work out what she had done wrong. She told me that the counselling staff at ‘ had literally saved her life, teaching her that she hadn't done anything wrong at all.

I first came across ‘Safeline’ on a story I was working on. I'm a senior broadcast journalist with ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Midlands Today and whilst I report on all sorts, from tragedy to the wonderful, on this particular day I was trying to track down a self-appointed paedophile hunter.

The Warwickshire-based charity ‘had been quietly helping those that society found too uncomfortable to acknowledge, even though the statistics scream out for attention. One in four women are abused or raped, one in six men are abused or raped.

The charity mentioned they were looking for trustees with different life experiences to help shape the direction of the not-for-profit organisation. Initially I thought, what can I do? I'm not a counsellor or an accountant, I'd never sat on a board - I'm just a journalist. But after a chat with a very supportive Editor I wrote a letter of interest, and was invited to meet the Board of Trustees. I was terrified, totally out of my comfort zone, but they couldn't have been more welcoming, and I was officially elected.

Trustee meetings are held quarterly, and have been re-arranged kindly to suit my shift pattern. I've now become familiar with the various worrying columns of finance spreadsheets, and have an appreciation of non-restricted funding streams and restricted. I live in awe of those who have to battle every year to secure ever decreasing funding streams to ensure their very existence is guaranteed. I've advised the charity on improving social media, websites and making publicity films. I've become frustrated when the board looks in fear at the thought of journalists and publicity. But I've learned to appreciate that the most important thing always is the survivor they're helping.

The charity has just been awarded a national contract to run a male rape support line. At a special ceremony with Timothy Cox, the Lord Lieutenant of the County Warwickshire, the work of the charity was acknowledged with the ‘Queens Award for Voluntary Service’.

Over a cup of tea I met that elderly lady again...she's been so empowered by ‘Safeline’ that she's now fundraising and trying to raise awareness of sexual abuse… I thanked her for all her hard work and with her eyes brimming over she looked at me and said: ‘Thank you for listening’.

Volunteering can make a huge difference to the communities we work with, and give an insight into the wider community. Many ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ staff volunteer their time as Trustees, and being on the board of a charity is an opportunity to decide how a charity is run, and to develop new skills and knowledge such as management, finance and HR. All of these skills can help staff in their day job. You can read about what’s involved in being a charity trustee