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This week is National Trustee Week in the UK. According to the Charity Commission there are 923,876 trustees in England and Wales and a further 184,000 in Scotland.
Unfortunately, it is estimated that there are around 100,000 vacancies*.

As Head of Charities and Philanthropy, I am regularly asked by whether I know of anyone who would be interested in becoming a charity trustee. I actively encourage friends and colleagues at work to get involved becoming a charity trustee or school governor. Selecting a charity you’re passionate about, and supporting their efforts in giving back to society through voluntary work, running marathons or for a particular cause, can be immensely satisfying. Joining a board of trustees allows you to take a more formal role and add to the charity’s range of expertise and experience.

Becoming a trustee provides an opportunity to meet new people, who are often passionate about their involvement, and every day in the role is an education in itself.

Getting started

There is a wealth of information available on the Charity Commission about what is involved in becoming a trustee, and they sum it up as – “trustees have independent control over, and legal responsibility for a charity’s management and administration”. For those of you who have not yet gone down this route I can ensure you that it is not as frightening as it sounds. For those considering becoming a trustee, the 5-minute Guides for Charity Trustees, recently released by Charity Commission can be a great place to start.

Seek expert advice

As someone with two trustee roles, I am pleased to support two very different causes when it comes to their needs and objectives. Both roles are based outside of London, and both have one common denominator in that they have asked me to help the trustee board to provide financial oversight of the organisation. In both cases, each required further expertise in this area. It is vital that trustees understand their responsibilities, as outlined in the Charity Commissions’ CC14 guidance. This may involve seeking investment advice or reviewing your charity’s current investments. An external professional may be able to provide a more objective view, and support in your charities long-term goals.

My fellow trustees at both organisations have knowledge elsewhere (such as fundraising, networking, marketing and legal) and as a result we are a “broad church”, which makes perfect sense when it comes to the board.

Staying up to date

EFG Harris Allday provides frequent trustee training to help to educate our clients and prospects and enhance their confidence in their role as a trustee. These involve updates on investment matters, governorship changes, investment guidance, sustainability, and ethics, but without doubt the best part of these sessions is where the trustees and representatives of the charities share their experiences with others across the table.

If you have any further queries about managing your charity finance and investments, please contact Rupert Cecil at [email protected].

Our dates for 2025 Trustee Training are soon to be announced, keep an eye on our events page, or contact us at [email protected]
 

*Charity Commission & OSCR 31 October 2024.