Become a trustee

What is a trustee?

For some, the word ‘Trustee‘ conjures up images of executives sitting around a conference room table, and may sound daunting. In reality, a Trustee is anyone who cares about a charity and wants to help guide it in the right direction.

Trustees are people who lead charities and, together with other board members, decide how they are run.

The trustee’s role in a charity is to be the ‘guardians of purpose’, making sure that the organisation is run effectively, in line with their charitable aims and that decisions put the needs of the beneficiaries first.

Trustees ensure their charity has a clear strategy, and that its work and goals are in line with its vision. They safeguard the charity’s assets – both physical assets, including property, and intangible ones, such as its reputation. They make sure these are used well and that the charity is run sustainably.

What does a Trustee do?

Trustees aren’t usually involved in the day-to-day running of their charity. They delegate this to staff, usually led by a Chief Executive. Instead, they play the role of a ‘critical friend’ to the Chief Executive by giving support and by challenging – in a supportive way – to help them manage effectively. However, in smaller charities with few staff, trustees may take hands-on roles too.

Trustees are expected to attend board meetings. The frequency of board meetings is individual to every organisation, but many trustee boards meet around four to eight times a year. Some boards also have subcommittees that focus on particular areas of work or projects. Where they do, trustees may be expected to get involved with one or more sub-committees, as well as having a good understanding of their charity’s work overall.

Why become a trustee?

If you have been thinking about becoming a trustee, we'd encourage you to give it a go. Your skills and experience are of value - it is estimated that almost half of all charities are looking for trustees at any time, so you will be filling a vital role in the voluntary sector. Read more about the voluntary sector here.

Being a trustee can be very rewarding.

As a trustee you have the chance to support and shape the work and strategic direction of an organisation, and make a significant difference to a cause that matters to you.

You may choose to get involved with a charity focused on a cause or an issue you are passionate about, or because your life has been touched by the work of that voluntary organisation. It is also a great way to get involved in a community or find out more about the not for profit sector.

An opportunity for professional development.

Trusteeship can help you gain experience of strategy and leadership, and boost your CV. It will give you experience of setting a strategic vision, influencing and negotiation, and managing risk. If you already have significant experience in these areas, it can be stimulating to use it in a different and potentially challenging context. Trustees often say that being a board member has been one the richest sources of learning in their professional lives.

Read about the five career benefits of trusteeship

Being part of a team

As a trustee, you are part of a team and will have the opportunity to apply your unique skills and experience while learning from others. Working closely with a passionate team of people who have different perspectives is often one of the most enjoyable aspects of the role.

Can I use my lived experience as a trustee?

Yes, absolutely. People with first-hand experience of the issues or the services that a charity provides can bring powerful perspectives to a board, and play an important role in shaping an organisation's strategy. If you want to bring your life experiences to the table, or combine these with your skill sets, we would encourage you to do so: it is important that your voice is heard.

How much time does being a trustee take?

Each organisation will expect its trustees to spend a different amount of time on the role.

It is important to be realistic about how much time you can commit, and choose a board role that will work practically for you. The charity’s needs are likely to be made up of a range of activities that may occur at different times of the day and vary across the year. We’d recommend discussing this with a charity when you’re considering joining their board. Questions you should ask include:

How many trustee meetings are there each year?
How long are the meetings, where and at what time of day?
Are trustees expected to serve on committees?
What opportunities are there to spend time with the organisation observing its work, both when joining and on an ongoing basis?
What contact is there in between trustee meetings and how does this usually take place?
Are there any one-off events or annual occasions that trustees are expected, or will have the opportunity, to attend?
What induction and training will the organisation provide, and how much time will that take?

Find charity trustee vacancies

You can join Reach to find a charity trustee role. We have hundreds of trustee vacancies across the UK, in all sorts of charities working for different causes.

Still not sure if being a trustee is right for you? Read some of the stories of trustees who've found their role through Reach.