Trustees are an essential part of the voluntary and charity sector. They ensure that a charity is doing what it was set up to do and decide how they are run. All charities need trustees and without their essential commitment many charities could not carry on. Read on to find out more about how you could become a trustee. If you are looking for your next trustee role then click below…

What is a trustee of a charity?

Depending on what the charity does, a trustee could be making a difference to their local community or to the wider society. Essentially, trustees have overall control of a charity, are responsible for making sure it’s doing what it was set up to do and decide how a charity is run.

Trustees can go by many names such as directors, board members, governors and committee members. Whatever name they go by, trustees have six main duties which include:

1. Ensure the charity is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit
2. Comply with the charity’s governing document and the law
3. Act in the charity’s best interest
4. Manage the charity’s resources responsibly
5. Act with reasonable care and skill
6. Ensure the charity is accountable

Can anyone be a trustee of a charity?

There are certain criteria that all trustees have to adhere to be eligible such as:

• Anyone applying to be a trustee must be a minimum of 16 years old to be a trustee of a charity that is a company or a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO)
• Trustees must be 18 years + to be a trustee of any other sort of charity.
• Trustees must be appointed following the procedures and any restrictions in the charity’s governing document.

A trustee cannot be appointed if they:

• Are bankrupt or have an individual voluntary arrangement (IVA)
• Have an unspent conviction for certain offences (including any that involve dishonesty or deception)
• Being on the sex offenders’ register