Highlighting the role of Trustees at VSS

Our board of Trustees provides strategic leadership, governance, direction and overall accountability. They provide a crucial contribution to our ability to support people impacted by crime and advocate for change on their behalf.

We sat down with Gillian Imery, one of our trustees, to chat about the role she plays, why she decided to get involved with VSS, and how her skills and experience enrich our charity.

Why did you decide to become a Trustee of Victim Support Scotland? 

“The purpose and values of the organisation align with my own personal and professional values. Victim Support Scotland is unique in providing support to everyone affected by any type of crime, no matter where or when it took place, or whether it was reported to the police. I wanted to contribute to making a positive difference to people’s experience of the criminal justice system.”

How does your experience and skills contribute to VSS as an organisation?

“I have 38 years of experience in criminal justice related roles aimed at improving outcomes for communities and individuals impacted by crime.  During my police career (32 years) I accrued experience of dealing with and supporting victims and witnesses of crime and have seen how traumatic and wide-ranging the impact of crime can be.

“I have also seen how the criminal justice system can re-traumatise people. After my police career, I became the head of the organisation that provides independent scrutiny of policing in Scotland. In that role I gained skills and knowledge about audit and governance, making sure inspections of policing were focused on improving the quality of service provided to the public.

“At the end of my tenure (4 years), I took on a role to oversee the implementation of recommendations of a review into deaths in prisons. This involved engaging with families bereaved by a death in prison and ensuring they were included in work to achieve improvements. I was able to use my experience of working with Scottish Government and elected politicians at the Scottish Parliament to push for change.

“The experience and skills gathered over my career are relevant to Victim Support Scotland. I understand the criminal justice system, which means I can see where the work of Victim Support Scotland fits into the wider picture – I bring strategic perspective. I also bring experience of working in the best interests of the organisation, independent from political or personal interests.”

How have you contributed in your role as Trustee? 

“Along with the VSS Chief Executive Kate Wallace, I delivered a training and awareness session on the criminal justice system to other Trustees (October 2023). I am an active member of VSS’s two sub-committees as well as the Board, reading the papers in advance and raising questions before the meeting. I have been part of an interview panel for a senior management post at VSS as well as part of the interview process for new Trustees. I contributed to the information events for potential new Trustees and I worked with other Trustees to revise the competency framework for Trustees.”

What has been your experience of being a Trustee at VSS and why are Trustees important for charities?  

“Being a Trustee at Victim Support Scotland is a privilege and provides a real opportunity to make a positive difference.

“It is so important to have people with different perspectives who are not involved in the day-to-day running of the organisation.”

 Click here to find out more about our board of trustees and how they contribute to achieving Victim Support Scotland’s strategic efforts and goals.