What is a charity trustee and how can I find a trustee role that suits me?

Charity Trustees are those responsible for the running of a charity, giving direction and making strategic decisions. It’s a responsible role, but people from all walks of life are needed, as if trustees are all from the same socio-economic background with similar experiences, a board will be lacking in different perspectives and innovation.

Here’s a brief guide to what it means to be a trustee and how to find a trustee role that suits you.

What is a trustee?

Trustees are responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of a charity. They make sure that the charity is well run, financially stable and fulfilling its identified purpose.

Who can be a trustee?

Most people! With some organisations, you can be a trustee from 16 years of age. You may be disqualified if you have ever been declared bankrupt or with certain unspent criminal convictions. If the charity works with children or vulnerable adults, you will likely need a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Why would I want to be a trustee?

As with any voluntary role, everyone has their own reasons! It may be a charity that you want to support, one where you have relatable experiences to contribute, or it could be that you want to gain some experience and new skills to support your professional career – there are all perfectly valid reasons!

How do I find a trustee role?

Think about the type of charity that you would like to be a trustee for. You might be passionate about the environment, have experience of a particular medical condition or want to really support your local community. You’ll be a better fit if the charity is one you have an interest in and are potentially knowledgeable about the issues they may be facing. Think about the skills that you will being to the table – some charities will be looking for new trustees to fill particular roles. You may also want to ask about meeting frequency and times (daytime or evening) and location, to ensure that you would be able to attend.

At GoVolHerts, we have a dedicated page where you can find all of the current trustee vacancies from our organisations in one place: https://www.govolherts.org.uk/trustee-opportunities

Other considerations:

If you’re not sure if this is a role for you, or if a charity you particularly want to support doesn’t currently have a trustee vacancy, it’s still worth making contact. Let them know you’re interested and ask if you could attend a board meeting as an observer to get a feel for what is required. Trustees serve for a fixed term – often 3 years – so board will be looking for new members at some point. If a particular project is coming online within the organisation, they may also be looking for different skills, perhaps in IT or HR.

For more detail on the role of a trustee, NCVO have produced guidance: What is a trustee? | NCVO