How to Become a Trustee

Trustees play a critical role in steering a charity and ensuring operational effectiveness. Traditionally, trustees have been seasoned professionals, with years of experience, but there is a growing recognition that people of all ages and from all backgrounds can have something equally valid to contribute to trustee boards. Bringing younger people into your charity can be a positive move for all concerned! Currently, less that 3% of charity trustees are under the age of 30, making it difficult for boards to be truly representative. Fresh perspectives & Innovation: Young trustees can bring fresh perspectives to your board – looking at things in ways that may not have occurred to existing members. If your board is a safe, welcoming and inclusive place, they can challenge the status quo and introduce innovative ideas. Different age groups tend to have different interests and use different websites and social media channels. Younger people are likely to have a different perspective on contemporary issues, technologies and cultural trends, allowing them to spot opportunities and threats that may not be evident to others. In the rapidly changing world we live in, this can help you stay relevant and responsive. Digital competence: These days, like it or not, technology is everywhere! Schools have well-equipped multi-media suites – a long way from the single BBC Basic computer at my Junior School! Put simply, younger trustees will have grown up with technology being very much a part of everyday life and are likely to possess a high degree of digital competence, understanding social media, digital marketing and the importance of data analytics. Digital expertise can really help charities looking to modernise operations, improve communication strategies and engage a wider audience. Young trustees can lead initiatives to upgrade your charity’s digital infrastructure. Inclusive boards: Young trustees will help in making your board more diverse and better represent the community you are serving. Young people are often under-represented in decision-making roles, but can frequently be beneficiaries or key stakeholders of many charitable initiatives. Younger trustees will offer a lot to any board, but particularly to those of charities working with younger people. They can provide first-hand insights, helping to develop more relevant and impactful programmes. Succession planning & Sustainability: Having younger trustees on your board can also be a strategic move for long term sustainability; as existing trustees retire or step down, having some younger, yet experienced, trustees waiting in the wings can be a real asset and ensure continuity and stability. Increased engagement and energy: Young trustees can be great role models and advocates, encouraging other younger people to get involved as future trustees and volunteers. They can bring an infectious energy and enthusiasm to their roles. Want to know more? Take a look at the Young Trustees Movement: Young Trustees Movement Search for a Trustee role on GoVolHerts: https://www.govolherts.org.uk/trustee-opportunities

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

So, you’ve just been accepted as a trustee on the board of a charity, or maybe you’ve been a trustee for a little while already. What can you do to ensure that you’re not just a trustee, but a great trustee? Here are our top tips to give you some food for thought! Be clear on your responsibilities: As a trustee, you do have legal duties to act in the best interest of the charity. Understanding relevant laws and regulations will help you make the best decisions possible. Embrace the Mission and Values! A clear understanding of the mission and values of your charity is fundamental in helping move forwards and being able to successfully advocate for its interests and contribute meaningfully to its objectives. Education, Education, Education! Take advantage of any opportunity to expand your knowledge and skills as a trustee – training sessions, workshops, seminars, networking events – all worth looking into to keep yourself informed and up to date. Active Engagement Ensure that you are an active participant in trustee meetings, discussions and decision-making processes. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and challenge accepted thinking in a positive and constructive way. Ensure transparency and accountability Maintain open communications, adhere to ethical standards and ensure prudent financial management. Invest in relationships Cultivate positive relationships with follow trustees, but also with staff members and volunteers. They can give you valuable perspectives and insights. You may also have donors and external stakeholders that it would be beneficial to foster good relations with. Exercise Strategic Leadership Help set goals, develop plans and monitor progress towards achieving the organisation’s mission. Ensure decisions are made based on data, evidence and input from stakeholders. Advocate for Diversity & Inclusion We know that diverse boards are better for your organisation (NCVO – The Importance of Diversity in your Trustee Board - The importance of diversity in your trustee board | NCVO ). Support and promote diversity and inclusion within your organisation and decision-making processes – it benefits everyone! Seek feedback and evaluation: Regular feedback can be really helpful – embrace constructive criticism to help grow and improve! GoVolHerts, in partnership with Hertfordshire Community Foundation, run an annual Trustee Conference in November each year, during Trustees’ Week – keep an eye open for updates about the next event!