The "Research with Trustees 2024" report published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales provides valuable insights into the experiences, perceptions, and needs of charity trustees. The study focused on understanding trustees' roles, confidence levels, interactions with the Charity Commission, and the challenges they face, particularly in governance and banking.
Trustees’ Confidence and Knowledge:
- Overall confidence among trustees is high, particularly among those with more experience or frequent interactions with the Charity Commission.
- Trustees feel confident in core areas such as managing finances (87%), safeguarding (92%), and making decisions (98%). Confidence slightly dips among new trustees.
- Trustees who engage with Charity Commission resources at least once a year demonstrate better knowledge of their responsibilities.
Trustees' Role and Decision-Making:
- Trustees understand what they should always do, such as understanding costs and listening to diverse views, but are less sure about avoiding personal biases or recognizing conflicts of interest.
- Trustees generally feel capable of protecting their charity and beneficiaries from harm, although the percentage feeling very confident has dropped slightly over the years (from 62% in 2021 to 56% in 2024).
Charity Commission’s Role and Interaction:
- The majority of trustees believe the Charity Commission is effective in uncovering wrongdoing (85%) and dealing with it appropriately (92%).
- However, trustees expressed the desire for the Commission to adopt a more partnership-style relationship and provide clearer signposting to support resources.
- Trustees often rely on colleagues or other trustees for guidance more than the Charity Commission.
- While the Commission's guidance is valued, trustees believe there are gaps, particularly in accessibility and relevance to smaller charities.
- The 5-minute guides by the Commission are appreciated for their conciseness and practical advice, although usage remains low (9% used them in the past year).
Public Trust and Charity Standards:
- Trustees recognize that public perception can be influenced by the actions of individual charities. They believe that charities should hold themselves to higher standards due to their registered status.
- There is a strong sense of collective responsibility among trustees to uphold the sector’s reputation, acknowledging that negative media coverage can impact public trust in all charities.
- Around 42% of trustees reported banking issues in the past year, such as difficulties in updating contact details or opening new accounts.
- Trustees suggest the Commission could play a role in advocating for better banking services for charities, possibly in collaboration with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Technology and Social Media:
- Usage of AI in operations is low among charities, mainly limited to drafting web content and communications. Larger charities are more likely to use AI.
- Social media is seen as a valuable tool for marketing and engagement, but the lack of skills among trustees often limits its effective use.
The Charity Commission should consider enhancing its support by providing more tailored guidance and facilitating forums for trustee collaboration.
- Increasing awareness and usage of existing resources, like the 5-minute guides, through better promotion could be beneficial.
- Addressing banking issues faced by charities could improve operational efficiency and trust in financial institutions.
- Continued focus on upholding high standards and transparency is crucial to maintaining public trust.
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