Trustees
Becoming a trustee of a voluntary or community sector organisation is a great way to make a difference to causes that you care about. It can also help you gain experience, develop new skills and meet new people. Below are a few frequently asked questions with answers provided from NCVO's trustee advice and support webpages. We have also included a few videos from trustees themseleves so you can here directly about their own views. To view more details advice from NCVO on becoming a trustee please visit their website.
What is a trustee?
Trustees have the overall legal responsibility for a charity. The law describes charity trustees as 'the persons having the general control and management of the administration of a charity' (Charities Act 1993, section 97).
Sometimes the charity's trustees are given other titles, such as governors, councilors, management committee members or directors, because of a title in the charity's governing document. What matters is the role, not the title.
The trustees are the individuals who take decisions at the governing body of the charity, regardless of their actual title. This means that the company directors of a charitable company are its charity trustees.
Trustees must act collectively to govern the charity and take decisions. Together, the trustees are described as the trustee board. Trustees have no authority to act on their own as a trustee unless this has been authorised by the trustee board as a whole.
Trustees are elected or appointed in many different ways, depending on the charity's governing document. They might be elected by members or appointed by the other trustees, or even appointed by an outside body such as a local authority or church.
Hear from a trustee in their own words about the benefits of the role;
Who can become a trustee?
Most people can become trustees. Trustees generally need to be over the age of 18. They cannot have been previously disqualified as a trustee or company director, be an undischarged bankrupt or have certain unspent criminal convictions. The Charity Commission have published details covering all eligibility requirements. Further information on becoming a trustee can be found on the charity commission's website
Some organisations have restrictions over who can be a trustee. Trustees of charities working with children or vulnerable adults generally need to be CRB checked. Some organisations only elect trustees from a formal membership.
Trustees need not be professional people. They come from all walks of life. Knowledge of a charity's field of work or good people skills are just as important as technical knowledge or professional expertise. Trustees can and indeed should supplement their own skills with professional advice. Indeed, an effective trustee board should draw on a range of skills, knowledge, experiences and attributes. But no-one should accept a trusteeship if they are unable to make appropriate judgements about the charity's affairs.
Trustees come from all walks of life. There are very few restrictions on who can be a trustee.
All trustees should be able to demonstrate values such as honesty and integrity. They should be committed to the charity's aims and values.
Hear from a trustee in their own words about the benefits of the role;
What about trustee liability?
It is very rare for a charity trustee who acts reasonably and in good faith to be held personally financially liable for their actions.
Trustees who act prudently, lawfully and in accordance with the charity's governing document can generally seek reimbursement of any personal liabilities out of the charity's resources.
However, liability is a concern and it is important for all trustees to be aware of the situation.
Trustees can potentially be held liable for breaches of their duties - for example, if they act outside the governing document or fail to follow a statutory or legal requirement.
Trustees can also potentially be liable to third parties and, in some cases, for the debts of the charity. A trustee's liability for the charity's debts depends mainly on the legal structure of the charity - whether it is incorporated or unincorporated.
There are a range of methods available to minimise personal liability. The most effective way of minimising liability is to use an incorporated structure and to insure and follow good governance practice and ensure trustees are following their duties and responsibilities.
If you have concerns about your liability before you become a trustee then please speak to the organisation you are interested in, it is likely they have already taking steps to limit trustee liability.
Hear from a trustee in their own words about the benefits of the role;
How do I find the right trustee position for me?
There are a number of ways you can identify the right trustee opportunity for you. If there is an organisation that inspires you then you could approach them directly to see how you can become a volunteer.
Alternatively your local volunteer centre often advertises trustee opportunities in your area and can provide advice and guidance in choosing the right opportunity for you a list of the volunteer centres in the North East can be found here: [link to volunteer centre]
Hear from a trustee in their own words about the benefits of the role;
Getting on Board encourages people to develop board-level volunteering careers alongside their professional careers. For information on how you, your employees and colleagues can find voluntary sector trustee roles and Get on Board, contact info@gettingonboard.org or call 01449 744166. www.gettingonboard.org
There are also a number of national websites which advertise trustee opportunities these are:
And
If you want to register for specific trustee opportunities you can also register with Trustees Unlimited who will contact you directly when the right opportunity for you arises. To register with Trustees Unlimited please go to their website.
If you are interested in School Governor positions School Governors' One-Stop Shop (SGOSS) is a small charity dedicated to recruiting school governor volunteers across England. They offer a FREE service for volunteers, schools, Local Authorities and employers. They can help anyone who wants to find out more about volunteering OR any school that has vacancies on their Governing Body.
Visit www.sgoss.org.uk for more information and to apply online today
Further information
Other information, advice and guidance on becoming a trustee can be found from
