What is Trustees' Week?
Trustees' Week runs from Monday 6th - Friday 10th November 2023.
This year's theme is: 'Many voices. Working together. With purpose.' It will celebrate the individual talents, viewpoints and experiences each trustee brings to their board and their collective decision making and how diversity can help make a charity stronger.
What is a Trustee?
Trustees are adults who collectively make decisions on behalf of a charity. They are elected or appointed to the position, and in most cases are volunteers (not paid).
Trustees should be able to demonstrate values such as honesty and integrity, and may also be required to have some specific technical skills.
If you are a Trustee, or are considering becoming a Trustee, please take a look at the 5-minute guides for Trustees put together by the Charity Commission (click the buttons below).
Trustee Chat
We welcomed de Havilland Aircraft Museum for an informal chat about what it means to be a Trustee. Click the button below to watch it!
Our Trustees' Week Event
Event: Sourcing and Recruiting Trustees.
Date: Thursday 9th November, 1.30 - 2.30pm, online.
Register: click here to book your free place.
Join us for a discussion on the challenges and opportunities around sourcing and recruiting new Trustees. This is the perfect opportunity for both organisations and individuals to:
- Find out what a Trustee role involves.
- Hear from local community groups that are actively seeking to recruit Trustees.
- Gain insight into how to successfully source and recruit new Trustees.
- Share experiences and learn from other organisations about strategies to source new Trustees.
A Discussion about Recruiting Trustees
Recruiting Trustees can be challenging; often individuals don't understand what is involved, so organisations must be able to create adverts that are easy to understand.
Trustees Mike and Lesley from de Havilland Aircraft Museum recently joined Rob from our Partnerships team to discuss problems faced by organisations recruiting trustees. These included:
- The understanding of what a trustee is, including time commitments and practicalities.
- Support available.
- Equality, diversity and inclusion.
If you would like to find out more about de Havilland Aircraft Museum, or learn about what volunteering roles are available, click the button below to visit their website.
Trustees: what, where, and how often?
Both Lesley and Mike became Trustees after volunteering in various roles at the museum.
Lesley has found that she will work on average five to six hours more per week than she did when she was a volunteer, and may need to go into the museum more frequently, because issues and things relating to her role (Diversity and Inclusion) will arise that need looking into. She has found her role very rewarding, especially knowing that she's making a difference. She also discovered that being able to see 'behind the scenes' and understand each part that constitutes the organisation to be very interesting.
Lesley described how the museum's Trustees have informal meetings each week and a general board meeting once a month. The meetings are generally held during the day as this fits in with everyone, but there scope for flexibility with members allowed to join online, and if necessary the time or day of the meeting may be altered.
"It makes sense to help everybody."
Support available to Trustees
Outside of the weekly and monthly Board meetings, there are opportunities to speak to other Trustees and the Chairman for advice on all matters. Lesley explained:
"We've all pretty much got each others' backs... There's always someone to ask and there's always a back up, so you're never on your own."
Organisations interested in recruiting
Both Mike and Lesley agreed that individuals interested in becoming Trustees should approach organisations to find out more about the roles and what is involved. Usually there will be a structured role, but if individuals speak to the organisation, there may be scope for a role to be tailored to them and their skillset.
Organisations may find that they already have someone volunteering who could be perfect for a Trustee role. Mike recommended that organsiations should seize recruitment opportunities by saying:
"'Hold on, let's get this person involved!'"
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Rob, Mike and Lesley discussed how it is important that organisations understand that they don't have to be at the end of their journey to equality, diversity and inclusion, but that they should be moving towards it. de Havilland has been making conscious decisions to improve this by trying to recruit Trustees from diverse backgrounds. Mike says:
"There needs to be new skills and new viewpoints coming into the Board."
Lesley feels this helps bring more balance to the Board.
Volunteer as a Trustee
Click the organisation names below for information about their available Trustee roles.
Citizens Advice East Herts
Citizens Advice East Herts is recruiting three trustees who can give time and commitment to helping run the charity, develop services, and secure vital resources.
- Click here for more information and to view the full advert.
Mind in Mid Herts
Mind in Mid Herts is recruiting a Company Secretary Trustee to perform a key role in keeping all trustees informed of key matters relating to legal responsibilities, as well as signposting trustees to training courses and knowledge sources, among other duties.
- Click here for more information and to view the full advert.
RSPCA Stort Valley Branch
To return their branch to local control by the end of 2023, the RSPCA Stort Valley Branch is recruiting a new committee who are passionate about animal welfare in their local area.
There are specific roles available within the committee which one Trustee will lead on, including: animal welfare, income generation, strategic planning, retail, and governance and compliance.
- Click here for more information and to view the full advert.
Contact Us
If you would like to discuss your options for volunteering as a Trustee or recruiting Trustees, please contact our Partnerships team by emailing memberservices@communities1st.org.uk or calling 01727 649940.