Trustees Week 2021: What do Trustees Actually Do?

The role of a charity trustee is necessary for the smooth running of every single charity in Hackney. But lots of people don’t even know what a trustee is, and definitely wouldn’t think about applying to become one.

This means most charity boards suffer from a lack of diversity. And that’s a problem. Because if you want to make good decisions, you need the widest possible range of perspectives.

This #TrusteesWeek, we’re sharing some of our knowledge to try and demystify the role of charity trustee so more people are encouraged to give it a go.

1. A group of usually 5-10 trustees have overall responsibility for a charity, and their role is to make sure that everything the charity does and spends money on helps its beneficiaries.
2. Most people over 18 can be trustees, and trustees for charitable companies or CIOs (charitable incorporated organisations) can be 16. However, only 3% of trustees are under 30!
3. Knowledge of finance, HR, law, management, communications or fundraising are all useful skills for trustees to have. However, a charity’s volunteers or service-users can also bring valuable insight to its board.
4. Trustees are required to attend board meetings – typically between 4-8 per year – and to read documents ahead of each. Many give more of their time, especially in smaller charities, so it’s important to understand the time commitment before joining a specific board.
5. Being a trustee can be good for personal and professional development, gaining strategy and leadership skills, a CV boost, and it’s a chance for you to make a real difference to a local cause you care about!