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The Digitally Informed Trustee - Wednesday 4th February

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The Digitally Informed Trustee - Wednesday 4th February

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Trustees play a vital role in providing strategic leadership, financial oversight, risk management, and ensuring legal and regulatory compliance. Yet many trustees feel underprepared, especially when it comes to digital tools and technology, from managing cybersecurity risks to interpreting data dashboards or understanding AI-driven systems.

Lead your charity with assurance and foresight

This series is designed to equip trustees with the confidence and competence to navigate the digital tools and technologies essential for modern governance. Through interactive sessions led by expert facilitators, respected organisations, and thought leaders, you’ll gain the skills, insights, and support needed to be an effective, ethical, and digitally-savvy trustee.

In this event, we will explore:

Building digital confidence

Embracing innovation, AI, and digital transformation

Communication and advocacy

Tickets cost just £20 + VAT.

Takes place online on Wednesday 4th February from 17:30-19:00

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Join us for the first event of the series:
The Digitally Informed Trustee: ‘Tools to lead with confidence’

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Good governance ensures that a charity is not only run in line with its charitable purpose but is  run effectively and responsibly. Read Charity Digital's guide to the art of governance for trustees.

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Good governance ensures that a charity is not only run in line with its charitable purpose but is run effectively and responsibly. Read our guide to the art of governance for trustees

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Board Boost - Sponsored six month trustee accelerator programme places for young people aged 30 and under 

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Board Boost - Sponsored six month trustee accelerator programme places for young people aged 30 and under 

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Board Boost supports young people who are already trustees or looking to join a board soon. It offers a values-driven, peer-learning environment designed to build confidence, strengthen governance knowledge and remove the barriers young people often face in decision-making spaces.

Through a blend of online modules and an in-person training session, Board Boost helps young trustees step into their roles with clarity, connection and real support behind them.

If you are a young person or a charity for whom cost is a barrier, you can now apply for a sponsored place.

Applications open: Thursday 20 November

Applications close: Sunday 30 November, midnight

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Join a 1 hour training session to understand the power of young trustees, have a framework to understand how to approach board diversity and take practical next steps. New dates are added every month.

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Apply now for a sponsored place on Board Boost 2026 | Blog

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We are pleased to confirm that we can now offer a limited number of sponsored places on Board Boost 2026.

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Taking inspiration from charity campaigns - Trustees’ Week 2025

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Taking inspiration from charity campaigns - Trustees’ Week 2025

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Andrew Purkis, DSC Policy Trustee on howTrustees must take courage from charity campaigns of the past.

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Taking inspiration from charity campaigns - Trustees’ Week 2025 - Directory of Social Change

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This Trustees’ Week takes place in a discouraging world out there. There are horrible wars in Sudan and Ukraine, deaths of tens of thousands of civilians in Gaza, dreadful infringements of women’s rights in Afghanistan, a resurgence of authoritarianism, and long-term environmental devastation. At home, there is disillusion with democratic politics, a stirring of reactionary […]

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Ruth Davison from C& E Advisory Services draws from her experience on charity Boards, offering advice on how to not to be a prat.

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How not to be a prat on a Board - Directory of Social Change

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Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to sit on a range of charity Boards – some brilliant, some less so. Along the way, I’ve witnessed the full spectrum of Trustee behaviour: inspiring leadership, thoughtful challenge, and, occasionally, the odd bit of prat-ishness. Those experiences have taught me a lot about what makes a Board […]

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Supporting Volunteers Guide for smaller organisations

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Supporting Volunteers Guide for smaller organisations

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Do you experience challenges in recruiting and retaining volunteers? Are you finding that the traditional ways of doing things are less effective than they were? Could you do with some ‘easy wins’ and fresh ideas to help inspire you?

Over the last few months members of Norfolk & Waveney Vision for Volunteering have been meeting to address what best practice looks like, and how organisations may need to change their ways of recruiting and recognising volunteers.  This partnership of local delivery and support organisations from the voluntary and community sector, community-focused local government officers and other volunteer involving organisations have researched and developed Supporting Volunteers – a guide for smaller organisations. The process has been supported by Voluntary Norfolk and Norfolk County Council.

Free copies of the guide are now available from Health Information Leaflet Service where you can order multiple copies and they will be delivered to a convenient location. An accessible pdf is attached for you to send out to colleagues.

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Having a clear picture of your charity’s financial position is the first step in managing its finances well. It’s an area trustees can feel less confident about, but is an essential part of your role.

Listed are some resources on financial topics to help your charity plan and manage its finances, including tools and guidance to give you practical support.

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Advice and guidance for charity trustees

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Explore financial resources for charity trustees from the Charity Commission. Helping you plan and manage your charity’s finances.

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Board paperwork: How to move from clutter to clarity

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Board paperwork: How to move from clutter to clarity

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Debra Allcock Tyler waves the flag for dependable and intentional board paperwork.

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Board paperwork: How to move from clutter to clarity - Directory of Social Change

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Good governance is not a paper chase. It is a purpose chase. If your board packs feel like a haystack and the truth is the needle, DSC’s Good Governance Conference is designed to help you find the needle fast. And this article is to give you a flavour of the sorts of things I’ll be […]

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What Makes a Great Trustee? 5 Traits You Should Be Developing

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What Makes a Great Trustee? 5 Traits You Should Be Developing

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Ben Wittenberg, Director of Development and Delivery at DSC, gives you some great tips on traits you should be developing to be a great trustee.

"As a charity trustee it can sometimes feel like you’re there to be an expert. That your role is to impart wisdom, share your expertise, and have answers to all of the big questions – especially when you’ve been recruited on the basis of specific professional skills or experience.

"But what actually makes a great trustee? Spoiler: it’s not simply being an expert in your field, or knowing every single thing about your beneficiaries or cause. The best trustees develop a knack for working at the right strategic level, giving their executive team wings (instead of headaches), and making board meetings something people don’t dread."

Read the full article on DSC

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ByBen Wittenberg, Director of Development and Delivery, DSC

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What Makes a Great Trustee? 5 Traits You Should Be Developing - Directory of Social Change

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As a charity trustee it can sometimes feel like you’re there to be an expert. That your role is to impart wisdom, share your expertise, and have answers to all of the big questions – especially when you’ve been recruited on the basis of specific professional skills or experience. But what actually makes a great trustee? […]

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What Makes a Great Trustee? 5 Traits You Should Be Developing

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What Makes a Great Trustee? 5 Traits You Should Be Developing

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Ben Wittenberg, Director of Development and Delivery at DSC, gives you some great tips on traits you should be developing to be a great trustee.

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As a charity trustee it can sometimes feel like you're there to be an expert. That your role is to impart wisdom, share your expertise, and have answers to all of the big questions - especially when you've been recruited on the basis of specific professional skills or experience.

But what actually makes a great trustee? Spoiler: it's not simply being an expert in your field, or knowing every single thing about your beneficiaries or cause. The best trustees develop a knack for working at the right strategic level, giving their executive team wings (instead of headaches), and making board meetings something people don't dread.

Here are five traits every board member should cultivate...

1. Big-Picture Thinking (with Optional Binoculars)

A great trustee should be thinking from a great height: more focused on spotting trends or far off dangers than getting tangled in the weeds. Boards do their finest work by setting direction, reviewing strategy, and asking "are we making a difference?"-not by picking napkin colours for the AGM or re-writing the staff handbook for the umpteenth time.

So when your CEO proposes a brave new fundraising strategy. Instead of obsessing over which colour font is used in the pamphlet, ask: "How will this help us reach more beneficiaries...and how will we know?"

2. Supportive Curiosity (Being Helpfully Nosy)

Trustees should be curious-about impact, finances, opportunities, and risks-but always with the aim of being helpful, not obstructive. Imagine yourself as the favourite (read: less-annoying) relative at Christmas dinner: probing, but never interrogating; supportive, but not hovering.

So when your Head of Programmes shares that an initiative is running behind. Instead of bringing out the verbal flamethrower, you ask, "How can we as trustees help unblock things, or adapt our expectations?"

3. Healthy Challenge (Preferably Minus the Drama)

Nobody benefits from boards where everyone just nods along. A great trustee asks the awkward questions-but in a way that helps the exec learn and grow, not want to join a witness protection scheme. It's about challenging ideas, not individuals, and knowing when to let things drop - especially the things you are passionate about that (if you're honest with yourself) are not strategically important.

When a decision looms, don't dive into how you would do it differently, say, "That's an interesting approach-what risks have we considered, and how will we monitor progress?" Cue supportive debate that encourages different views and input.

4. Relationship Building (Bring Biscuits...Metaphorically or Otherwise)

Productive boards are built on trust and relationships. This means investing time to get to know your fellow trustees and exec team outside the boardroom. And, shock horror, it means disagreeing sometimes-respectfully. That's so much easier when there's a solid relationship and you understand each other's motivations, tendencies and preferred ways of communicating.

Time together is critical for building relationships, so why not arrange 121s with you fellow trustees once a year, and always arrive early for meetings and plan to not have to dash off straight away afterwards, and you'll be amazed how quickly you get to know your fellow trustees better in those tiny chunks of time.

5. Knowing When to Let Go (The Anti-Helicopter Approach)

The greatest gift a trustee board can give its exec team is trust-backed up by the right level of scrutiny, of course. Once decisions are made, step back and let your team deliver. If you find yourself wanting to micro-manage, it's time for a cup of tea and a re-read of the governance code.

So when you've agreed on next year's budget, instead of checking every purchase order, stay focused on outcomes-and show you've got the team's back (not looking over their shoulder).

In Summary...

Being a great trustee isn't about being the expert, or always having the right answer-it's about keeping things strategic, bringing challenge with kindness, supporting your team, and making the boardroom a place for positive, purposeful work. That's what makes the difference, and why your charity (and your team) needs you at your best.

So, next time you're prepping for a meeting, pack your big-picture mindset, your best questions, and plan to spend some time chatting with your fellow trustees outside of the agenda.

If you and your fellow trustees want to boost your individual and collective effectiveness, and play an even more positive role in the work your charity is delivering, attend DSC's amazing governance conference It's a Battle on the Board: Good Governance Matters conference online on Thursday 23 October.

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What Makes a Great Trustee? 5 Traits You Should Be Developing - Directory of Social Change

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As a charity trustee it can sometimes feel like you're there to be an expert. That your role is to impart wisdom, share your expertise, and have answers to all of the big questions - especially when you've been recruited on the basis of specific professional skills or experience.

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Advice and guidance for charity trustees

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5-minute guides

Refresh your knowledge

Whether you're a new or experienced trustee, our guidance and support will help you be sure of your responsibilities and confident you're doing the right thing for your charity.

Our 5-minute guides have been designed to support you as you manage the demands of running a charity and cover the topics you need to increase your knowledge and understanding of your essential trustee duties.

They give simple and clear advice, designed with real trustees and real situations in mind. The guides all signpost to more detailed information and advice should you need it.

Delivering purpose

Could you be drifting into activities that your charity is not set up to do? Be sure your charity's activities help to deliver its purpose and comply with its governing document and the law.

Managing conflicts of interest

How would you identify and manage a conflict of interest? Make sure every decision made is in the best interests of your charity.

Reporting information

Is your charity reporting the right things at the right time? Find out what information you need to send to the Commission and the support available to help.

Safeguarding people

Is your charity keeping everyone safe from harm? Safeguarding applies to every charity, not just those dealing with children and adults at risk.

Making decisions

How do you make effective decisions? Trustees need to work together to make the best decisions for your charity.

Managing finances

All trustees have responsibility for ensuring their charity's money is safe, properly used and accounted for.

Ready to test your knowledge?

96% of trustees who used guidance from the Charity Commission found it to be helpful.
Trustee research conducted on behalf of the Charity Commission by Yonder - March 2023

About the Charity Commission

We are the Charity Commission. We register and regulate charities in England and Wales.
Find out more

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All the information you need to be an effective trustee and run your charity, so it delivers on its purpose.

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Charity Trustee Induction and Refresher Training

Welcome to our free Charity Trustee Induction and Refresher Training course.

This course provides charity trustees (both new and experienced) with essential legal training to enable them to comply with law and best practice in fulfilling their duties and furthering the success of your charity.

We have designed the course in response to your feedback so that it is as flexible and user-friendly as possible and can be incorporated into your charity's trustee induction programme. The training is delivered as a series of bitesize webinar modules to allow you to dip in and out of the course in your own time at your convenience. You can also revisit modules from time to time if needed.

We hope you find the training useful. We also deliver a rolling programme of webinars throughout the year on a variety of topics. To view our previous webinars, please visit the Charity Law Playlist on our Birketts YouTube channel.

To access the training, please enter your details below. After watching the webinar modules you will see that there is the option to get in touch with the Charities Team if you would like to suggest topics for future webinars in our rolling programme, to leave us feedback or a testimonial on the training course, or if you have any questions or issues on which you require advice and would like to request a call-back from a member of the team.

Suggest a future topic

The Charities Team publish regular insights on this site and social media. If you have a topic in mind for a future update, let us know here.

Leave a testimonial

If you have benefitted from the advice of our Charities and not-for-Profit Team, you can leave feedback on your experience here.

Adding value for our charity and not for profit clients

Suggest a future topic

The Charities Team publish regular insights on this site and social media. If you have a topic in mind for a future update, let us know here.

Leave a testimonial

If you have benefitted from the advice of our Charities and not-for-Profit Team, you can leave feedback on your experience here.

Contact us

Ask a question, leave feedback on these videos, suggest future topics for discussion and leave a testimonial for use in our marketing materials.

Complete your name and email to read the content.

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Charity Trustee Induction and Refresher Training

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Access Birketts' comprehensive videos for new and existing trustees, ensuring confidence and compliance in your charity governance role.

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Guidance on how to find and welcome new charity trustees

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This guidance sets out the steps you might want to take when a new trustee joins the board of your charity. New trustees need support to get up to speed with the charity’s governance, projects, operations, stakeholders and impact. This support is offered through an induction process.

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1. Get to know your charity

The first thing that you should do is to get to know your charity well.

1.1 Understand the charity's purposes

You should know all about what makes it a charity and why it exists:

Clarity on these is essential to making a successful contribution to the charity as a trustee. They're also at the heart of how the charity promotes itself and accounts to the public.

1.2 Read your charity's governing document and understand the rules

You will find your charity's purposes and the rules for how it must operate in its governing document. Make sure you know and understand yours, as it's one of the most important bits of information you will need.

1.3 Meet your fellow trustees

Get to know them, because you are all collectively responsible and accountable for the overall management of the charity, including areas where you may not be directly involved. This relationship will be key to the charity's success; even in times of challenge, encourage and respect each other and the time and effort you are all prepared to give.

1.4 Find out how it operates

Pay particular attention to the charity's finances:

It is also important that you get to:

know what savings, property or investments it holds

know what commitments, contracts or debts it may have

visit premises and talk to beneficiaries, volunteers and staff

ask for copies of any strategies, plans and policies

Make sure you are well informed about any key policies on areas such as risk, safeguarding and fundraising. Safeguarding is a priority for all charities, not just those working with groups traditionally considered at risk. As a new trustee you should take the time to read your safeguarding duties.

2. Expect to do these things soon

2.1 Attend trustee meetings

Meetings will be a necessary and consistent call on your time as a trustee. It's important to prepare for them and use them to contribute your views and ideas. Use these occasions to make sure that the charity is on track, and expect to be able to monitor its performance against plans and any key risks.

Be prepared to ask questions, particularly on things you are unclear about to increase your knowledge.

Find out more about trustee meetings.

2.2 Make decisions

This is such an important part of your role. Some decisions will be straightforward, others more complex. Use our guidance to help you make sure your decisions are properly made, particularly when you are taking those more difficult strategic decisions, such as those affecting the charity's beneficiaries, assets or future direction.

You should ensure that you have the information you need and that decisions are considered as a group. While some trustees may have specialist knowledge that you will want to rely on, be careful not to let any one individual dominate the actual decision making process.

Find out more about decision making.

2.3 Put your charity's interests first

At meetings and when making decisions - and in everything else you do for the charity - you must always put the charity's interests first. Be alert to those matters affecting the charity in which you personally may also have an interest - this could be a direct financial interest but also be more broadly a loyalty or commitment to another organisation or person.

Where such conflicts of interest exist, they can be relatively straightforward to manage. Good awareness and having a system in place to handle them are crucial.

You will need to:

identify conflicts of interest when they arise

prevent them from affecting any decision

record how they are handled

Find out more about conflicts of interests

Getting this right is not just a matter of meeting legal requirements, it also shows integrity, honesty and openness about what your charity does and how it does it. These values influence the public's willingness to support charities, and their trust and confidence that charities are run for public benefit, not private interests.

3. Get to know your 6 main trustee duties

It's important that you know these. In almost any trustee activity or decision at least one of the 6 main duties will be relevant. We've summarised these in our infographic and in our short guide CC3a charity trustee: what's involved

Here's practical action you can take, for each of the 6 duties, in your day to day role as a trustee.

Always:

be clear that what your charity does supports its purposes and benefits the public

check that decisions you make are within the rules for your charity

ask yourself what's best for the charity and who it helps

satisfy yourself that the charity's funds, people and reputation are used sensibly and are protected from undue risk

be prepared. Have the information you need, in the format you need, and set aside time to read it prior to meetings

get your charity's accounts and reports to us on time. Make sure they are to the standard required, and clear about the charity's achievements

We expect all trustees to read our detailed guide on trustee duties and if, at any stage, you are unsure of how to act this is the guidance that you should come back to.

Understanding the 6 duties is essential to your role, they set out the main responsibilities that you have. The Charity Governance Code can help you put these into practice - it will help you understand what you can do to meet your main duties on a daily basis and what good governance looks like.

4. What you need to send us

All registered charities must by law keep their register entry up-to-date. Many charities also have to send us financial information each year. You and the other trustees are all responsible for getting this right, so you'll need to know what your charity has to send us, when and how it needs to be sent, and that its records are accurate.

To start, check your charity's income level and type (is it a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO), company, trust or other structure?). The charity details on our register entry will help with this, as should your fellow trustees.

These are the 3 filing requirements that you have with us:

charity register details must be up-to-date at all times. These include details of trustees, the charity name and the contact. If there are inaccuracies your charity contact must let us know. This information is public and can be a valuable tool for presenting information about the charity. Use our charity details service to update your information

annual return - all CIOs must send us an annual return. All other charities must do so if their income is over £10,000; below this figure charities should use the annual return to update their income and expenditure details on the register

accounts - does your charity need to file its accounts with us every year? There are different requirements for different types of charities. All CIOs must send us their accounts and trustees' annual report. Any other charity must do so if its yearly income is over £25,000 and all other registered charities must have their accounts available to send to us or anyone else on request.

You will also need to know how to send information to us. You can send information, update details and access our online forms here. To do this your charity will need an online password. This password is important; it is sent to the registered contact for your charity. Check who has the password; if your charity doesn't have one, the charity contact can request a new or replacement one. You don't need to know the password unless you are responsible for submitting information to us, but you should know whether the charity has one and who has it.

5. How we can help you

We're here to help you understand your role and duties as a trustee; how to avoid mistakes and get it right. Use our website to:

look through our guidance - you'll find here our extensive library of advice and guidance to match the many queries that can arise, including shorter 'how to' guides covering topics such as fundraising, managing your charity, and staff and volunteers

help you if you need to change your charity's name or rules - you should use our online services to make these changes or to get our permission for other actions

keep yourself informed - we will send you a quarterly newsletter (CC News) with information for trustees on key matters for your role. So, please keep your email details up to date

You can also keep up-to-date by following us on Twitter and by reading our Blogs.

6. If things go wrong

As a trustee you are not expected to be perfect; we know things can go wrong. While it is rare for trustees to be held personally liable, understanding your potential liabilities will help you protect yourself. This is explained in more detail in our guidance the essential trustee (CC3). If something goes wrong make sure that you and the other trustees:

act quickly to prevent further loss or damage

communicate and plan what you want to say

review the situation and learn how to stop it happening again

let the right people know, for example contact the police if there's been a crime

You will need to let us know when there has been a serious incident. Find out more about reporting serious incidents.

So, over to you....

We've outlined the basics for you here, so that you can check your understanding of the role and the responsibilities that you have. Getting to know your duties from the outset will help you run an effective charity that will have a positive impact for the good of others.

Keep this guide handy, there is more information and help available from our website if you need it. There are also many other advisory and support organisations that can help and we have listed some of these in our contact book.

We hope that you can use this opportunity to play an active part in helping your charity, using your life skills and experience. Your commitment and the time and effort you are prepared to give are part of what makes charities so valued by the public.

We wish you success in your role.

There are a number of organisations that can provide information or assistance to trustees. These include:

Charity Commission for England and Wales the regulator of charities in England and Wales

Association of Chairs (AoC) - offers resources and support to chairs and vice-chairs of charities and non-profit organisations

Charity Finance Group (CFG) - champions best practice in finance management in the voluntary sector

Directory of Social Change (DSC) - provides trustee training courses, publications and several free resources

Ethical Property Foundation (EPA) UK charity which offers voluntary organisations free property guidance, advice and workshops and a wide range of expert advice on legal issues and premises management

The Foundation for Social Improvement (FSI) - provides strategic support for small charities

Fundraising Regulator the independent regulator of charitable fundraising

ICSA: the Governance Institute - trains, informs and represents the interests of governance professionals across all sectors and offers free to access guidance notes specific to the charity sector

Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) UK's independent body set up to uphold information rights

National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA) - England's largest network of local charities and community groups

National Council of Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) - champions the voluntary sector and volunteering. Connects, represents and supports voluntary organisations, from the smallest community groups to the largest charities

Reach Volunteering - provides a trustee recruitment service and useful resources for charities and people interested in joining trustee boards

Small Charities Coalition (SCC) - helps trustees, staff and volunteers of small charities (those with an income of less than £1 million) access the skills, tools and information they may need

Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) - supporting and representing the third sector and volunteering across Wales

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The first thing that you should do is to get to know your charity well. You should know all about what makes it a charity and why it exists: Clarity on these is essential to making a successful contribution to the charity as a trustee.

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This section outlines the steps you need to take to ensure that the information OSCR holds is accurate and that the charity trustee has the knowledge they need to carry out their role effectively.

Every charity trustee should be fully informed of their duties and responsibilities. They should also receive appropriate support and guidance throughout their term. An induction process does not need to be complex, it should be appropriate and relevant to your charity.

You should ensure that all new charity trustees receive a copy of the charity's governing document. They should also be given the opportunity to meet with current trustees to help them fully understand both the role and the work of the charity.

Where possible, new trustees should be offered the chance to undertake training that is appropriate to their role and relevant to the charity's activities.

All charity trustees should read OSCR's Guidance and Good Practice for charity trustees.

Please click on the sections below to read more:

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This section outlines the steps you need to take to ensure that the information OSCR holds is accurate and that the charity trustee has the knowledge they need to carry out their role effectively. Every charity trustee should be fully informed of their duties and responsibilities.

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How to succeed as a small charity trustee

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How to succeed as a small charity trustee

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This article explores challenges facing trustees at small charities, the main skills the role requires, and the best ways for trustees to support small charities.

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How to succeed as a small charity trustee

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We explore challenges facing trustees at small charities, the main skills the role requires, and the best ways for trustees to support small charities

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Some practical steps for trustees to be more adaptive to improve the running of charities

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We look at the practical steps for trustees to be more adaptive to improve the running of charities

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Looking for a new trustee(s) to join your board?

Trustees Unlimited's hassle-free matching service ‘SNAP’ enables you to advertise your role and discover diverse talent for your charity board straight to your inbox.

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We develop trustees, strengthen boards and drive change for a better society.We are Trustees Unlimited Looking for a new trustee(s) to join your board? Our…

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ICAEW’s free online training modules provide an overview of charity trustees’ legal and financial responsibilities and their strategic and operational considerations.

This course includes six modules:

Legal responsibilities

Managing Board Dynamics

Financial Responsibilities

Planning for Success and Impact

Risk Management

Managing Relationships

This self-directed programme provides a learning space where you can explore the knowledge and skills required to be an effective charity trustee through a range of reading materials, video recordings, reflective activities, and an optional assessment at the end of the training. The estimated learning time is 4-6 hours depending on prior knowledge and existing trustee experience.

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ICAEW’s online training modules provide an overview of charity trustees’ legal and financial responsibilities and their strategic and operational considerations.

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What every trustee should know about investing for charities

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What every trustee should know about investing for charities

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In his book, Investing for Charities (2024), James Brooke Turner presents a distinct and perhaps provocative perspective on how charitable organisations should manage their investments, fundamentally challenging traditional approaches that often prioritise capital preservation above all else.

The central premise that sets this book apart from any other on charity investing is its argument that a constantly growing investment portfolio, while seemingly a marker of success, can in fact signify a failure - specifically, a failure to spend money on the charity’s core mission and beneficiaries.

Read the full article on DSC

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ByJames Brooke Turner, Investment Director at the Nuffield Foundation and co-founder of Yoke and Company

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What every trustee should know about investing for charities - Directory of Social Change

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In my book, Investing for Charities (2024), I try to present a distinct and perhaps provocative perspective on how charitable organisations should manage their investments, fundamentally challenging traditional approaches that often prioritise capital preservation above all else. The central premise that sets this book apart from any other on charity investing is its argument that […]

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The Future of Corporate Charity Support 

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The Future of Corporate Charity Support 

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Corporate giving in the UK is evolving, and it’s not just about cash. According to DSC’s latest research, a growing trend is blending financial support with in-kind contributions - like free training, specialist expertise, and access to networks. One example is Benefact Group’s Charity Support Programme, which combines grants with resources tailored to small charities’ needs, from social media support to wellbeing tools.

A new impact study shows this blended model works: 98% of charities want more than just funding, and 88% say they gained training they couldn’t otherwise afford. Benefact’s approach also generated £37.50 in value for every £1 spent on non-financial support. The takeaway? Corporate support is most effective when it’s responsive, tailored, and multifaceted - offering real expertise alongside funding. The future of giving may well lie in this kind of collaboration.

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The future of corporate charity support - Directory of Social Change

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What does the future of corporate charity support look like? After over 50 years of exploring funders, has DSC’s Research Team switched to developing time travel? Well, no… but we have been researching corporate giving, and we may have seen the future! According to DSC’s latest Guide to UK Company Giving, corporate giving in […]

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ICAEW has developed a free CPD course tailored specifically for charity trustees, designed to help members stay up to date with their responsibilities. In line with ICAEW’s Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Regulations, trustees are expected to complete training relevant to their role each year. This course helps meet that requirement while also contributing to your verifiable CPD hours if applicable.

Included in ICAEW membership, the course is delivered through two recorded sessions (each around 40 minutes) and offers practical guidance to help trustees feel confident in their role. It also includes an annual update to reflect key developments affecting charity governance, helping trustees stay informed in an evolving regulatory landscape. A useful resource for anyone volunteering on a board and looking to improve their impact.

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Under ICAEW’s Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Regulations, members who volunteer as charity trustees should complete training each year that is specific to those duties. To support members meet their requirements ICAEW has created this training course.

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How to Be a Good Trustee: A Practical Guide

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How to Be a Good Trustee: A Practical Guide

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At the Big Trustee Breakfast in March 2025, Debra Allcock Tyler, Chief Executive of the Directory of Social Change, shared eight insightful and grounded tips for effective trusteeship, drawn from her experience as a chair, trustee and CEO.

Good governance starts with asking questions early and clearly - there’s no benefit in waiting if something’s unclear. Trustees must always keep the charity’s purpose at the centre, recognising that legal and financial structures are there to serve the mission, not distract from it. Fundraising is part of that mission too - asking for money is not begging, it’s inviting support.

Today’s trusteeship is demanding but rewarding, requiring strategic engagement without crossing into operational delivery. Building trust with the executive team is essential - ask thoughtful questions about compliance, strategy, and alignment with the charity’s goals. Use constructive tone and language when probing decisions, and make board papers digestible and decision-focused.

Read the full article on ICAEW

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How to be a good trustee: a practical guide

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At our Big Trustee Breakfast event in March 2025, Debra Allcock Tyler, Chief Executive of the Directory of Social Change, offered a powerful and practical reflection on what makes a good trustee and board. Her insights, grounded in lived experience as a chair, trustee and executive leader, offer a valuable roadmap for anyone volunteering on a charity board.

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NFP Course: Charity Trustee Duties - Wednesday 26th November 

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NFP Course: Charity Trustee Duties - Wednesday 26th November 

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Charity Trustee Duties

Wed 26th Nov 2025 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM BST Online, Zoom

An introduction to the duties and responsibilities of charity trustees. Cost £95.

TOPICS COVERED

What Trustees Do - Boards of Trustees - Knowing Your Charity - Understanding Staff - Understanding Supporters - Understanding Volunteers - Interpreting Finances - Management Accounts - Annual Accounts - Securing Resources - Managing Fundraising - Assisting with Fundraising - Accountability - Liability - Committees - Organising Meetings - Performance - Effectiveness - Codes of Conduct - Good Governance - Governance Problems

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Atkinson HR Managing Volunteers and Staff - Finding the right balance 

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Atkinson HR Managing Volunteers and Staff - Finding the right balance 

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A recording of an online event that took place in June 2025.

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Managing Volunteers & Staff Finding the Right Balance 2025-06-02

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How can you make your board of trustees more adaptive and systemic? - NPC Blog 

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How can you make your board of trustees more adaptive and systemic? - NPC Blog 

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Here are 3 top tips from the event on practical steps you can take to creating a more strategic board: expect change, make sure trustees are getting a range of information, and work to create an open culture.

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How can you make your board of trustees more adaptive and systemic? - NPC

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Expect change, make sure trustees are getting a range of information, and work to create an open culture.

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Free tool to help you manage your Environmental, Social and Governance activities - Opens May 25th 

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Free tool to help you manage your Environmental, Social and Governance activities - Opens May 25th 

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To help and encourage better charity management, the Charity Commission updated its guidance for trustees in its latest ' Charity Annual Return: question guide'. Trustees of charities of all sizes are encouraged to report and explain how their charity is responding to and managing key issues including:

Governance structures and management: how decisions are made, managed, and reviewed to ensure transparency and accountability

The handling of your environmental impact including sustainability and carbon footprint reduction

Management of social impact including community engagement, diversity, and inclusion.

In addition, the proposed new Charity SORP (Statement of Recommended Practice), currently under consultation and expected to take effect from January 2026, introduces several changes to how charities report on these matters.

Last year, in partnership with ACEVO, we launched an innovative, free on-line tool that enabled charities and not-for-profit organisations to analyse and report on their organisation's Environmental, Social and Governance maturity in support of annual reporting requirements and delivery of best practice operations. Using our free tool to analyse and report on your organisation's ESG maturity could help you fulfil reporting obligations and also gain new insights.

Everyone who completes the survey receives a tailored confidential report for their organisation with benchmark data and an action plan to strengthen their own activities.

If you are interested in completing the survey this time round, you can register here and we will send you a link to log-in when the tool re-opens for completions between 27th May 2025 and 25th July 2025.

Information provided by Eastside People

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Free tool to help you manage your Environmental, Social and Governance activities opens on 25th May 2025

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To help and encourage better charity management, the Charity Commission updated its guidance for trustees in its latest ' Charity Annual Return: question guide '.

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What do Charity Trustees need to know about AI? 

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What do Charity Trustees need to know about AI? 

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AI is being described as both a major opportunity and a potential existential risk, making it a key area of interest for charity trustees responsible for navigating short- and long-term challenges. With support from the Clothworkers’ Company, NPC hosted a discussion exploring what trustees need to know about AI, featuring insights from experts at NPC, Mishcon de Reya, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, and Parkinson’s UK.

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What do charity trustees need to know about AI? - NPC

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Amid all the hype, what do trustees need to know? Thanks to the support of the Clothworkers Company, we recently held a discussion on this question.

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What trustees need to know about AI - Clothworkers seminar 

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What trustees need to know about AI - Clothworkers seminar 

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AI is rapidly becoming part of everyday life, including in the charity sector. As funders begin encouraging AI use in applications, charities must adapt. Yet, only 22% feel prepared. This free one-hour webinar will help trustees understand AI’s relevance, explore opportunities and risks, and promote inclusive, responsible AI adoption.

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What trustees need to know about AI - Clothworkers seminar

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Charity Reserves - From Basics to Best Practice webinar

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Charity Reserves - From Basics to Best Practice webinar

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Join this charity webinar to learn best practice when dealing with charity reserves!

ICAEW Charity Community membership is free - sign up here https://www.icaew.com/groups-and-networks/communities/join-charity-community 😊

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Charity Reserves - from basics to best practice

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If you are stumped by charity reserves, or know the basics but want to move on to best practices, this session is for you.

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What is a Trustee or Non-Executive Director? Is this a role for someone like me?

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What is a Trustee or Non-Executive Director? Is this a role for someone like me?

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Signposting leaflet for aspiring trustees

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Safeguarding Adults and Mental Capacity Act training in Norfolk

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Safeguarding Adults and Mental Capacity Act training in Norfolk

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St Thomas Training is the official provider of training in Safeguarding Adults and in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 on behalf of Norfolk County Council and the Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board.

Please note: this training is available to employees of Norfolk County Council, and to employees and volunteers of partner organisations (ie other health and social care organisations) in the county of Norfolk.

Courses are free for staff who work in Norfolk County Council Adult Social Services, and for unpaid volunteers. There is a small charge for paid employees of partner organisations (from 1st April 2025 – £30.00 including VAT for half days, £60.00 including VAT for full days, and £120.00 including VAT for 2-day courses.)

And if you book two places at the same time you get a third free. Free for unpaid volunteers

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Our contracts with Norfolk County Council

St Thomas Training is the official provider of training in Safeguarding Adults and in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 on behalf of Norfolk County Council and the Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board.
Please note: this training is available to employees of Norfolk County Council, and to employees and volunteers of partner organisations (ie other health and social care organisations) in the county of Norfolk. There is no charge for NCC employees, nor for unpaid volunteers, but on most of the training there is a small charge for paid employees of partner organisations (£25.00 including VAT for half days, £50.00 including VAT for full days, and £100.00 including VAT for 2-day courses.) And if you book two places at the same time you get a third free. From 1st October 2023 the "Safeguarding Adults from Exploitation" training sessions are FREE to attend for all staff.
How to book

Please click on the "More info" button next to your chosen topic below and use our automated booking system. You will be emailed a confirmation of your booking with a unique 5- digit reference code (eg AB123). Please quote that reference code if you need to contact us about your booking. And if you have any questions or problems, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Norfolk County Council employees should consult this document to see which Safeguarding Adults training is appropriate for different job roles.

In the table below, an asterisk * indicates that the training is restricted to Norfolk County Council employees only.

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Training Services for Health & Social Care Professionals

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St Thomas Training is the official provider of training in Safeguarding Adults and the Mental Capacity Act for Norfolk County Council...

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ICAEW Article - Trustee skills key to tackling charity governance challenges

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ICAEW Article - Trustee skills key to tackling charity governance challenges

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Contents

Key skills for trustees

Useful resources

Training is key

Formalising expected behaviours

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Ensuring your charity's trustees have the right balance of skills and experience will go a long way towards bolstering governance.

The Captain Tom Foundation, Fashion for Relief, Mermaids - three charities that hit the headlines, but sadly for the wrong reasons after governance issues were flagged as contributing to scandals surrounding mismanagement.

Charity governance is the process by which a charity's board of trustees manages the organisation to achieve its goals, fulfill its purpose and comply with the law. The importance of charity governance and whether it's fit for purpose in today's world is a subject being tackled by ICAEW's Big Trustee Breakfast on 19 March.

While the largest charities have established governance structures in place, smaller charities may underestimate the governance challenges they face, experts warn. "From a trustee perspective, it is about having the right people with the right skills," says Stephen Dean, a director in Grant Thornton's not-for-profit audit team.

Dean says there is a balance to be struck between trustees stepping back and letting management get on with implementing the strategy, and being sufficiently involved that they can challenge management. " If trustees are too involved, they may not see the big picture. At the other end of the spectrum, there may not be enough scrutiny from trustees of what management is doing and they're left to get on with it. If you're not getting that challenge at whatever level, don't be afraid to make changes," Dean says.

Key skills for trustees

What's key for trustees is a sufficient understanding of the sector, Dean says, supplemented by more in-depth understanding depending on any subcommittee they may sit on, and a grasp of the role of trustees in ensuring good governance. "For example, having people on a finance, audit or investment committee without experience of those areas might mean they miss the questions that come from a deep knowledge."

Training is, arguably, the easy bit. In contrast, understanding what you don't know can be harder, Dean says. "If you're a new trustee, you should make sure you're familiar with all that guidance, understand what your responsibilities are and, when you identify gaps in knowledge and skill, work with the rest of your board and management to get upskilled sufficiently."

Useful resources

The Charity Commission produces many useful resources for trustees, including five-minute guides on a range of governance issues. Meanwhile, ICAEW's Charity Community provides a raft of guidance, reports and practical information for those working with or volunteering in the charity sector. A session at ICAEW's recent Charity Conference, co-presented by Dean, focused on key aspects of the governance environment of modern charities.

With the best intentions in the world, there is almost always scope for improvement in governance, Dean says: "Nothing is perfect, and you always need to think about how you can tighten up controls and procedures and whether boards are giving enough oversight. Trustee skills aside, it's a challenge encouraging people to become trustees, especially the younger generations, and encouraging a diverse mix of people."

Dean's advice to addressing governance challenges is to recognise that procedures alone aren't enough to avoid problems: "In addition to having the right people, it's also making sure that at the bottom of the governance chain, management is in the thick of it. You need written policies and procedures, and the senior leadership team is there to oversee that and make sure these things are in place and are implemented."

Training is key

Joe Saxton, chair of the Association of Chairs, says the biggest single factors that could raise governance standards at charities is education and training, and developing more of a learning culture for trustees with better training resources aimed specifically at them.

"Over the last few decades, charity sector staff - including fundraisers, communications teams and service delivery people - have become increasingly professional," he says. "My worry is that trustees are not keeping up with that and therefore there's an imbalance in those two relationships."

It matters, Saxton says, because of the 170,000 or so charities in England and Wales, only about

20,000 of them have staff, highlighting the reliance of the charity sector on trustees to keep its governance house in order.

"A lot of trustees may go through an entire period and have no external training at all. There's also a question about the value of trustee qualifications. Our members tell us succession planning is a nightmare. Nobody wants to be a chair and that's partly because we don't have programmes for aspiring chairs. Some people might be daunted by that training, whereas it would give others the confidence to step up."

Formalising expected behaviours

Saxton also wonders whether formalising expected behaviours for those sitting on charity boards - akin to the Nolan Principles that guide the behaviour of people in public office - could help to set the bar for governance standards: "People who are on a charity board should be prepared to challenge and be challenged. They should be prepared to learn about the organisation, the governance, the processes and so on. Perhaps we should have a set of principles that outline what good looks like. The Charity Governance Code offers guidance about how the board as a whole should behave, but not necessarily about the individual."

ICAEW's Trustee Training Modules help trustees explore the knowledge and skills required to be effective in their board role and are free for members and non-members.

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Trustee skills key to tackling charity governance challenges

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Ensuring your charity's trustees have the right balance of skills and experience will go a long way towards bolstering governance.

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10 Safeguarding Actions for Charity Trustees

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10 Safeguarding Actions for Charity Trustees

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Easy-to-navigate 5 minute guides on topics like "safeguarding people", "managing conflicts of interest" & "managing finance"

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Advice and guidance for charity trustees

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5-minute guides

Refresh your knowledge

Whether you're a new or experienced trustee, our guidance and support will help you be sure of your responsibilities and confident you're doing the right thing for your charity.

Our 5-minute guides have been designed to support you as you manage the demands of running a charity and cover the topics you need to increase your knowledge and understanding of your essential trustee duties.

They give simple and clear advice, designed with real trustees and real situations in mind. The guides all signpost to more detailed information and advice should you need it.

Delivering purpose

Could you be drifting into activities that your charity is not set up to do? Be sure your charity's activities help to deliver its purpose and comply with its governing document and the law.

Managing conflicts of interest

How would you identify and manage a conflict of interest? Make sure every decision made is in the best interests of your charity.

Reporting information

Is your charity reporting the right things at the right time? Find out what information you need to send to the Commission and the support available to help.

Safeguarding people

Is your charity keeping everyone safe from harm? Safeguarding applies to every charity, not just those dealing with children and adults at risk.

Making decisions

How do you make effective decisions? Trustees need to work together to make the best decisions for your charity.

Managing finances

All trustees have responsibility for ensuring their charity's money is safe, properly used and accounted for.

Ready to test your knowledge?

96% of trustees who used guidance from the Charity Commission found it to be helpful.
Trustee research conducted on behalf of the Charity Commission by Yonder - March 2023

About the Charity Commission

We are the Charity Commission. We register and regulate charities in England and Wales.
Find out more

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All the information you need to be an effective trustee and run your charity, so it delivers on its purpose.

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Being a Trustee in an Age of Perma-Crisis

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Being a Trustee in an Age of Perma-Crisis

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Guide for charity trustees on how to govern in a crisis, developed from NPC's season of seminars for trustees. In the seminars, many organisations shared how they have been navigating ongoing crises such as Brexit, Covid, cost of living. This guide brings together these learnings, collating key ideas & information for trustees to use.

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Being a trustee in an age of permacrisis - NPC

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A guide for charity trustees on how to govern in a crisis.

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NPC Blog - How can Trustees evolve and adapt to meet today's challenges?

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NPC Blog - How can Trustees evolve and adapt to meet today's challenges?

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NPC have posted this blog about the three key takeaways from the 2023/24 fevents on Trusteeship they delivered in partnership with The Clothworkers Company.

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How can trustees evolve and adapt to meet today’s challenges?

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How can trustees evolve and adapt in the face of change and increasing complexity?

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Charity HR have shared this downloadable resource with the top 10 questions for a Trustee interview.

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Directory of Social Change resource - How to be the perfect Trustee

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Directory of Social Change resource - How to be the perfect Trustee

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This resource gives some good hints and tips on how to be an effective Trustee.

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How to be the perfect Trustee - Directory of Social Change

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If you’ve ever applied for a Trustee position, you’re likely familiar with the emphasis on time commitment during the recruitment interview. You’ll hear about the number of Board meetings each year and some additional committee meetings you’re expected to attend. However, if that’s all the panel shares, run for the hills. As a Trustee, you […]

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The best books and resources for charity trustees

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The best books and resources for charity trustees

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Whether you’re a new trustee and want to build your confidence in a particular area, like finance, or brush up on your knowledge, reading is useful for all trustees.

There’s plenty to learn about being a trustee, from understanding your legal responsibilities to working effectively with the rest of the board and the CEO.

Charity Digital pick out five good reads for aspiring, new, and experienced trustees.

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The best books and resources for charity trustees

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We pick out five good reads for aspiring, new, and experienced trustees just in time for Book Lovers Day

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Code of conduct for board members of public bodies

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Code of conduct for board members of public bodies

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Standards expected from those on boards of government departments, non-ministerial departments, executive agencies, NDPBs, and national public corporations.

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Code of conduct for board members of public bodies

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Standards expected from those on boards of government departments, non-ministerial departments, executive agencies, NDPBs, and national public corporations.

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Resolving disputes between charity trustees

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Resolving disputes between charity trustees

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Resolving disputes between charity trustees

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Our expert charity team discuss resolving disputes between charity trustees.

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What If Trustees Can’t Agree? | Stephens Scown

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A recent dispute is a salutary lesson in just how damaging rows between trustees can be. What if trustees can’t agree?

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Charity trustee disputes and the importance of resilient governance

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Charity trustee disputes and the importance of resilient governance

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Charity trustee disputes and the importance of resilient governance

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Disagreement between charity trustees can be beneficial where it is constructive and generates important debate.

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Settle disputes between your charity's trustees, staff or members to avoid putting your charity’s funds and users at risk.

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Why internal disputes are a problem

Charity trustees, staff and members can sometimes disagree with each other over decisions about the charity.

A serious disagreement within a charity may cause the charity problems and damage its reputation.

It is your responsibility as trustees to try to resolve a disagreement or dispute. The Charity Commission can only get involved in exceptional circumstances.

How to resolve a dispute yourself

Your charity's governing document may include a 'disputes clause' with procedures for dealing with a dispute. Even if it doesn't, you should do everything you can to reach an agreement yourselves.

When to get external help

Charity trustees and members need to work together to settle any differences they have. If your trustees can't reach an agreement and follow the directions in your governing document, you may need to look for some independent external help.

An independent third party will look at both sides and come up with some fresh ways to resolve the dispute.

If the dispute is about the way your charity is run, you could:

approach the charity's national or umbrella body, if it has one

contact an organisation like the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service "ACAS"

ask a local church leader or community elder for help, if it is a religious dispute

Mediation is a more formal way to settle disputes. It is a private and confidential process in which an independent person meets with both sides, helping them to reach a solution that everyone finds acceptable.

Mediation can be quick and cost-effective. Through mediation, both sides must agree to any solution, so it is more likely to be a lasting agreement.

If your dispute is taken to court, you will be expected to have tried mediation first.

When to involve the Commission

The Commission can only get involved in internal disputes when:

there are no trustees (or correctly appointed trustees) in place, and

you can show that all attempts to resolve the dispute have failed

Any trustees must have been appointed following the directions laid out in your charity's governing document. If you don't have any properly appointed trustees, the Commission may step in to help you get a full body of trustees.

If the Commission finds evidence of misconduct or mismanagement that put your charity's funds and users at risk, it will step in and provide advice and guidance.

Even after the Commission gets involved, your trustees need to work together to come up with a solution. If the Commission thinks a solution will not be reached, it may withdraw its help or even instruct your charity to cease operating and wind up.

When the Commission won't get involved

The Commission will not get involved if your dispute is about trustees' decisions or policies. Trustees are free to make decisions for their charity, so long as they are acting within the law and within the rules of the charity's governing document.

There may be other organisations that are better placed to get involved in certain disputes. For example, apply to an employment tribunal for employment issues including unfair dismissal.

Only contact the Commission if all your attempts to reach a solution have failed and you have no properly appointed trustees. You'll need to provide written evidence about the dispute.

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Settle disputes between your charity's trustees, staff or members to avoid putting your charity's funds and users at risk.

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Dealing with problems and disputes between trustees

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Dealing with problems and disputes between trustees

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Use this page to learn about how to broadly encourage positive trustee relationships and manage disputes.

As a collective group of decision-makers, it’s important that trustees develop positive relationships and work well together.

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Dealing with problems and disputes between trustees

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Let’s champion the remarkable role of charities and volunteers

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Use this page to learn about the rules around decision-making and how to go about the process of making decisions effectively.

Decision-making is one of the fundamental roles of the trustee board. To make strong decisions, your board will need to work together, often holding discussions which may be challenging.

To demonstrate good governance on decision making, you’ll need to follow the rules set out in your governing document that state how the decision-making process works.

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Let’s champion the remarkable role of charities and volunteers

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It’s good practice to have role descriptions for trustees.

Trustees with specific roles are often called ‘honorary officers’. Honorary officers can only carry out aspects of the charity’s business if they're authorised to do so. They generally include the chair, vice chair, secretary and treasurer. You must follow any rules in your governing document about honorary officers.

Role descriptions for trustees and honorary officers should include:

their responsibilities

a person specification that sets out the skills, experience and qualities that you need.

Log in or sign up to access sample trustee role descriptions

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Sample role descriptions for a range of trustee roles

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Helping your board meet their responsibilities

Recruiting and inducting trustees

Removing trustees

The legal duties of trustees

Trustee disqualification

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Let’s champion the remarkable role of charities and volunteers

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Inclusive Boards: How to Recruit Better - Inclusive Boards

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Business leaders agree that mixed teams are more representative of customers; offer a variety of viewpoints and a wider range of experience, which improves decision-making and problem-solving.

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Free Resources for Charitable Bodies | Getting on Board

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Free resources for charitable bodies Use these free resources to set your recruitment process up for success. For additional guidance and information, you can join one of our affordable monthly webinars, led by expert trainers and packed with invaluable advice on how to openly recruit and diversify your board.

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How to Recruit Diverse Trustees for your Charity

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How to Recruit Diverse Trustees for your Charity

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How to Recruit Diverse Trustees | Getting on Board

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Getting on Board produce and provide a free guide on How to Become a Charity Trustee to help you in your journey to becoming a trustee.Trustees are changemakers. They lead the way in areas which include social justice, heritage, the environment, arts, and cultural, sports and youth services to name but a few. Becoming a charity trustee is the one of the most significant ways you can give your strategic input to a charity, cause or community you care about.

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How to Recruit Trustees to your Charity | Getting on Board

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Getting on Board produce and provide a free guide on How to Become a Charity Trustee to help you in your journey to becoming a trustee.Trustees are changemakers. They lead the way in areas which include social justice, heritage, the environment, arts, and cultural, sports and youth services to name but a few. Becoming a charity trustee is the one of the most significant ways you can give your strategic input to a charity, cause or community you care about.

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NCVO E-Learning course on Roles & Duties of Trustees

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NCVO E-Learning course on Roles & Duties of Trustees

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NCVO offer a flexible course you can study in your own time to equip you with the basics of being a trustee.

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to:

identify what charity status, liability and legal form means

review the six main duties set out in the Charity Commission’s essential trustee guidance

confidently apply your trustee duties in real life

consider common difficulties faced by trustees

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This flexible, interactive course will help you understand your duties as a trustee and support you to run your charity effectively so you can make a bigger difference.

Trustees play an important role in making sure charities are well-managed and can achieve their aims.

This accessible, interactive trustee eLearning course lets you study in your own time and at your own pace so you can fit around your schedule and priorities.

Book your place

This NCVO eLearning course is hosted by the FSI's learning management system. You'll need to set up a login on the FSI system to book this course.

For any booking queries, please contact the FSI on 020 8142 5147 or  admin@thefsi.org.

Pricing

Our pricing structure is based on your organisation's gross annual income. NCVO members receive a 30% discount on training prices.

Note: The course will initially appear in your basket at the full price (£95, non-members over £1m). Please add the correct discount code at checkout. Discounts will be applied before payment.

If you'd like to take advantage of our membership pricing, learn more about becoming an NCVO member. Organisations with a gross annual income of less than £30,000 can join NCVO for free.

Investec is proud to support this e-learning Trustee Induction course by NCVO. Find out how Investec can help you through their bespoke investment service.

Would you like to offer this course to your board?

You'll receive an extra 30% off the course prices for three or more bookings. The discount will be automatically applied for three or more bookings.

Please follow the correct link below for multiple purchases, based on your organisation's income, to receive the 30% discount.

Outcomes

This course will equip you with the basics of being a trustee. It offers an overview and understanding of the roles and main duties of trustees and can fit around your schedule and priorities.

By the end of the course, you'll be able to:

identify what charity status, liability and legal form means

describe your role and main duties as a trustee

review the six main duties set out in the Charity Commission's essential trustee guidance

confidently apply your trustee duties in real life

consider common difficulties faced by trustees.

Who should complete the course?

This eLearning course has three pathways suitable for:

those thinking of becoming a trustee

those who are new to governance and trusteeship

existing trustees who would benefit from a refresher course.

Trustees looking for a more detailed introduction led by an expert consultant should consider NCVO's open training programme courses.

How will it be delivered?

The course is designed to take approximately half a day to complete in full, including exercises.

You can complete the course at your own pace within your access period (30 days). You can also pause at any point and come back to where you left off as your progress will be saved.

Note: the access period begins on the date of purchase.

Quotes and testimonials

The course helped to consolidate my understanding of my role of trustee.  There is a lot of information out there about the roles and responsibilities of trustees but this course was the first time I've seen them distilled into such an accessible format.

Gwen Seller, Wirral Mencap

As a new trustee I have much to learn and understand. The course made things much clearer to me. I understand better where I need to focus.

David Rayns, Haringey Migrant Support Centre

I found the practical examples very useful.

Petanque England

I like the fact that the course was interactive.

Annyes Laheurte, Funding for All and British Association for Music Therapy

For further information about the course or for booking queries, please contact the FSI on 020 8142 5147 or  admin@thefsi.org.

For more information about NCVO training courses, please email us on  training@ncvo.org.uk.

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This flexible, interactive course will help you understand your duties as a trustee and support you to run your charity effectively so you can make a bigger difference. Trustees play an important role in making sure charities are well-managed and can achieve their aims. This accessible, interactive trustee eLearning course lets you study in your own time and at your own pace so you can fit around your schedule and priorities.

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Young Trustees Movement Champion Training: A FREE 1 hour workshop that will leave you equipped to champion diversity on boards - Various dates, online

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Young Trustees Movement Champion Training: A FREE 1 hour workshop that will leave you equipped to champion diversity on boards - Various dates, online

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When 1/12 trustees are named either John or David and fewer than 3% of trustees are under 30, it’s no secret that board diversity is an issue.

Join Young Trustees Movement in changing that. The first step is attending this workshop.

By the end of our 1 hour workshop you will:

Be able to articulate and understand how young trustees can enable organisations to navigate uncertainty, future proof decisions and reflect the interest of their communities .

Have a framework to understand how to approach diversity on boards.

Be able to run a session with a board to plan practical and achievable next steps.

Optional extra hour:

There will also be an additional hour after the session where you will have access to a non-judgemental space, where you can talk through challenges, concerns and any other barriers to meaningfully recruiting and inducting young trustees.

This event will be held on Zoom and you will receive the login details in a confirmation email.

If you need any support registering for, or accessing, the event please contact grace@youngtrusteesmovement.org.

Book your ticket above!

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When 1/12 trustees are named either John or David and fewer than 3% of trustees are under 30. It's no secret that board diversity is an issue.

Join us in changing that. The first step is attending this workshop.
By the end of our 1 hour workshop you will:

Be able to articulate and understand how young trustees can enable organisations to navigate uncertainty, future proof decisions and reflect the interest of their communities .

Have a framework to understand how to approach diversity on boards.

Be able to run a session with a board to plan practical and achievable next steps.

What attendees have said about the training:

"Excellent training session, bringing together folks from the sector & aspiring young trustees. Something we're very keen prioritise as we expand our board" - Jon Arnold, CEO of Tiny Tickers

"Feeling inspired after joining an amazing training". Ediane de Lima, Consultant at the Social Change Agency

"I just became a Young Trustees Movement Champion! In this role I pledge to ensuring that young people are represented in the decision making of @S4TP_BigIdeas. I highly recommend the training." -Jen Baughan, CEO of Solutions for the Planet

Optional extra hour:
There will also be an additional hour after the session where you will have access to a non-judgemental space, where you can talk through challenges, concerns and any other barriers to meaningfully recruiting and inducting young trustees.

Thanks to our funders we can offer this workshops for free. Please note we cap tickets so that we can make these sessions meaningful - if you book your ticket please be mindful of this.

This event will be held on Zoom and you will receive the login details in a confirmation email. If you need any support registering for, or accessing, the event please contact grace@youngtrusteesmovement.org.

We look forward to meeting you! Together we will double the number of young trustees by 2024.
Website: www.youngtrusteesmovement.org

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young trustees movement champion training

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young trustees movement champion training tickets

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Young Trustees Movement Champion Training

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Eventbrite - Young Trustees Movement presents Young Trustees Movement Champion Training - Thursday, 15 October 2020 | Monday, 8 January 2024 - Find event and ticket information.

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E Learning - Roles and duties of Trustees 

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E Learning - Roles and duties of Trustees 

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This interactive course helps trustees understand their duties and supports them to run a charity effectively to make a bigger difference. The course encourages study fitting around other priorities.

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This flexible, interactive course will help you understand your duties as a trustee and support you to run your charity effectively so you can make a bigger difference.

Trustees play an important role in making sure charities are well-managed and can achieve their aims.

This accessible, interactive trustee eLearning course lets you study in your own time and at your own pace so you can fit around your schedule and priorities.

Book your place

This NCVO eLearning course is hosted on the accessplanit learning management system. You'll need to set up a login on the accessplanit system to book this course.

For any booking queries, please contact training@ncvo.org.uk.

Pricing

Our pricing structure is based on your organisation's gross annual income. NCVO members receive a 30% discount on training prices.

Note: The course will initially appear in your basket at the full price (£95, non-members over £1m). Please add the correct discount code at checkout. Discounts will be applied before payment.

If you'd like to take advantage of our membership pricing, learn more about becoming an NCVO member. Organisations with a gross annual income of less than £30,000 can join NCVO for free.

Investec is proud to support this e-learning trustee induction course. Find out how Investec can help you through their bespoke investment service.

Would you like to offer this course to your board?

You'll receive an extra 30% off the course prices for three or more bookings. The discount will be automatically applied for three or more bookings.

Please follow the correct link below for multiple purchases, based on your organisation's income, to receive the 30% discount.

Outcomes

This course will equip you with the basics of being a trustee. It offers an overview and understanding of the roles and main duties of trustees and can fit around your schedule and priorities.

By the end of the course, you'll be able to:

identify what charity status, liability and legal form means

describe your role and main duties as a trustee

review the six main duties set out in the Charity Commission's essential trustee guidance

confidently apply your trustee duties in real life

consider common difficulties faced by trustees.

Who should complete the course?

This eLearning course has three pathways suitable for:

those thinking of becoming a trustee

those who are new to governance and trusteeship

existing trustees who would benefit from a refresher course.

We also run training for trustees looking for a more detailed introduction.

How will it be delivered?

The course is designed to take approximately half a day to complete in full, including exercises.

You can complete the course at your own pace within your access period (30 days). You can also pause at any point and come back to where you left off as your progress will be saved.

Note: the access period begins on the date of purchase.

Quotes and testimonials

The course helped to consolidate my understanding of my role of trustee.  There is a lot of information out there about the roles and responsibilities of trustees but this course was the first time I've seen them distilled into such an accessible format.

Gwen Seller, Wirral Mencap

As a new trustee I have much to learn and understand. The course made things much clearer to me. I understand better where I need to focus.

David Rayns, Haringey Migrant Support Centre

I found the practical examples very useful.

Petanque England

I like the fact that the course was interactive.

Annyes Laheurte, Funding for All and British Association for Music Therapy

For further information about the course or for booking queries, please email training@ncvo.org.uk.

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This flexible, interactive course will help you understand your duties as a trustee and support you to run your charity effectively so you can make a bigger difference. Trustees play an important role in making sure charities are well-managed and can achieve their aims. This accessible, interactive trustee eLearning course lets you study in your own time and at your own pace so you can fit around your schedule and priorities.

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Charity specialist Sally Knight takes you through the legal responsibilities associated with the role of charity trustee.

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Under ICAEW’s Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Regulations, members who volunteer as charity trustees should complete training each year that is specific to those duties. To support members meet their requirements ICAEW has created this hour-long training course.

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Book Recommendation - The Fish Rots From The Head by Bob Garratt

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Book Recommendation - The Fish Rots From The Head by Bob Garratt

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This new edition builds on the Learning Board model developed by the author and now widely used internationally by corporations and public sector organisations such as the NHS. The result is a thought-provoking and highly practical book that will be invaluable to all those with responsibility for corporate governance - and also those who subject them to scrutiny.

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The Fish Rots From The Head Summary
The Fish Rots From The Head by Bob Garratt
As a Chinese proverb says 'The fish rots from the head' and so it is with businesses and other organisations - the buck starts and stops in the boardroom. This third edition of Bob Garratt's bestselling book that highlights the importance of effective corporate governance has been extensively updated following the corporate scandals of the early 2000s - Enron, WorldCom, Tyco - and the abysmal boardroom standards that the credit crunch and ensuing global financial crisis brought to light. This new edition builds on the Learning Board model developed by the author and now widely used internationally by corporations and public sector organisations such as the NHS. The result is a thought-provoking and highly practical book that will be invaluable to all those with responsibility for corporate governance - and also those who subject them to scrutiny. What Sir Adrian Cadbury, whose committee's groundbreaking report on corporate governance was published nearly twenty years ago, said about the first edition remains as true today as ever: 'No director can afford to ignore this book'.

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As a Chinese proverb says 'The fish rots from the head' and so it is with businesses and other organisations - the buck starts and stops in the boardroom.

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A diversity audit can help you understand how diverse your current board is and spot the gaps.

Diversity audits can be revealing because not all difference is visible, for example class, sexuality or invisible disability. Some trustees may not want to disclose this information about themselves in a way that makes them identifiable, but they might be happy to do so anonymously, at the level of the whole board.

The results can help to focus attention and prompt action. Use a diversity audit as one tool in a wider discussion about the kinds of diversity that are important to your board, and how to build an inclusive culture.

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Our service team will be taking a break from 4pm on 24 December, returning on Monday 6 January. During this time, organisations and volunteers already registered with us can contact each other through Reach but we won’t be approving any new roles or volunteers until after 6 January. Find out more about Reach over the festive period.

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How to Recruit Diverse Trustees for your Charity

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How to Recruit Diverse Trustees for your Charity

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How to Recruit Diverse Trustees | Getting on Board

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Getting on Board produce and provide a free guide on How to Become a Charity Trustee to help you in your journey to becoming a trustee.Trustees are changemakers. They lead the way in areas which include social justice, heritage, the environment, arts, and cultural, sports and youth services to name but a few. Becoming a charity trustee is the one of the most significant ways you can give your strategic input to a charity, cause or community you care about.

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A skills audit is a useful way of identifying what trustees bring, and the gaps in skills and knowledge on your board. It can be useful when you’re looking to recruit new trustees.

You will need to log in or sign up to use this tool.

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Let’s champion the remarkable role of charities and volunteers

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The structure and composition of a board is set out in a charity’s governing document. If you’re currently setting up your charity, find out more about what your governing document should include.

If your board’s already established, you should still take time to review your structure regularly to make sure it's still fit for purpose.

Use this page to learn about what the structure of the board looks like and what to consider when reviewing.

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Use this page to learn about what the structure of the board looks like and what to consider when reviewing.

The structure and composition of a board is set out in a charity's governing document. If you're currently setting up your charity, find out more about what your governing document should include.

If your board's already established, you should still take time to review your structure regularly to make sure it's still fit for purpose.

The structure of the board will include:

Size: The maximum and minimum size of the board.

Composition: How trustees are elected or appointed, including those appointed by other bodies.

Roles: Trustees with specific roles, such as Chair or Treasurer.

Terms of office: The 'term of office' or length of service of trustees. This sometimes differs between Honorary Officers and trustees.

Other attendees: Individuals who attend board meetings in an advisory capacity.

Trustee board size

The trustee board should be the right size to govern effectively.

The Charity Governance Code suggests a board of at least five but no more than twelve trustees is typically considered good practice.

A board should be large enough that there are enough skilled people to carry out the board's work. It should also be small enough to make sure trustees can work together as a team with each fully participating in decision-making.

A review of trustee board size might lead some charities to change their governing document. Any changes to your governing document and accompanying rules must be carried out in agreement with the provisions in it and current law.

The composition of the board

The composition of the board should support effective decision-making.

The composition of your board is likely to depend on the nature of your organisation, and the beneficiaries that you serve.

Example

A membership charity decides they need elected trustees who reflect the needs of the membership at board level. The board is made up of mostly elected trustees who are appointed through a democratic election process.

The board includes a number of co-opted trustees who are selected to bring additional skills to the board and who can be truly independent. This combination ensures the boards decision making is connected with members but also balanced with independent judgement and expertise.

Board composition should be regularly reviewed to make sure the structure still supports decision-making that's in the charity's best interest.

Example

In seeking to reflect all the different interests of members through the board, the membership charity finds that it's become too large to govern effectively.

They choose to change the structure and create a larger, elected advisory council that has the right to appoint some board members.

When deciding your board composition you should think about the points mentioned below when recruiting trustees.

For their specialist skills or knowledge. The charity will benefit from individuals who are highly skilled in relevant areas

Because they have lived experience or a connection to those with a stake or interest in the charity's work. This will help the board to be in tune with the needs of the charity's beneficiaries.

Because they differ from your current board members. Their varying experiences and perspectives will help promote diversity and inclusivity in your organisation.

For their status, influence, contacts or public standing. The charity will benefit from committed and influential people to fundraise and raise its profile.

An effective trustee board should draw on all of these elements. In recruitment, it is important to remember that these four areas are not always mutually exclusive and candidates may cover more than one area.

The important thing is to make sure there are a range of skills, knowledge, qualities, attributes and backgrounds.

Charities can also use these principles when thinking about wider governance structures.

For example, an advisory council or forum could be created to represent stakeholder interests and a separate trustee board recruited for their skills and qualities in governance. Many charities use influential or well-known people in the roles of patron or president rather than as trustees.

Roles on the board

Trustees share formal responsibility for the charity and must act in its best interests, regardless of how they're elected or appointed.

Some trustees may take on specific roles on the board, such as chair, vice-chair, secretary and treasurer. These are sometimes known as honorary officer roles, and the word 'honorary' is usually included if a staff member handles some of the typical duties of the role (for example if they take meeting minutes rather than the secretary).

Many trustee boards find it useful to have officers to:

help prepare board meetings

take on specific roles at meetings or

deal with matters in between board meetings (for example, acting as a link between board and staff).

Officers might be appointed by the board, elected by the charity's membership or appointed in some other way.

Officers can only carry out specific aspects of the charity's business if they're authorised to do so. This authorisation might be given by the other trustees and/or set out in the governing document. Unless officers have explicit decision-making powers, they must act collectively with other trustees in making decisions.

Find out more about trustee roles on the board.

Defining terms of office

There's no legal requirement to define the term of office (the length of time a trustee is in a role for) for trustees, but many charities choose to include a term limit in their governing document. Limiting the term for trustees helps the board remain current and allows skills and knowledge to be reviewed over time.

The Charity Governance Code recommends that if a trustee will serve more than a nine-year term this should be subject to rigorous review, and should be explained in the trustees' annual report.

Other attendees at the board

Some charities invite individuals other than trustees to attend trustee board meetings: for example, staff (where employed) or advisers.

It's important to distinguish between the trustees and other individuals who attend to avoid any confusion. Trustees are the only people entitled to make decisions at a board meeting.

Top tip

It's good practice to review your governance and structures regularly. You can follow our governance review process.

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Let’s champion the remarkable role of charities and volunteers

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Decision-making is one of the fundamental roles of the trustee board. To make strong decisions, your board will need to work together, often holding discussions which may be challenging.

To demonstrate good governance on decision making, you’ll need to follow the rules set out in your governing document that state how the decision-making process works.

Use this page to learn about the rules around decision-making and how to go about the process of making decisions effectively.

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Let’s champion the remarkable role of charities and volunteers

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Use this column to ask and respond to questions!

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Use this column to ask and respond to questions!