Trustees' Week 2024 - Why Become a Charity Trustee?

To celebrate the first day of Trustees’ Week 2024, an annual week-long celebration showcasing the work of nearly one million charity trustees across the UK, Kirsty McEwen TEP Partner and Head of the Charity & Not for Profit Team at Higgs LLP considers why we should all consider becoming a trustee.

Trustees are the individuals who make decisions on behalf of the charity; they are ultimately responsible for the management and administration of a charity, setting the executive strategy, providing scrutiny and support, and ensuring that the charity and its assets are safeguarded; they are the “guardians of purpose”, putting the needs of both current and future beneficiaries first; they sit at the heart of good governance in a charity.

The latest statistics suggest that there are around 100,000 vacancies for trustees in the UK, with almost half of all charities looking for trustees at any time.?

Whilst most of us give money to charity, what charities also need is for us to give of our time, and of our skills, experience, and expertise, to fulfil a vital role in the voluntary sector.

Becoming a charity trustee can be a rewarding experience, offering personal growth, professional development, and the chance to make a meaningful impact.

So why should you consider becoming one?? Here are just a few reasons: -

1.??? Making a Difference

Trustees have a unique opportunity to pay a crucial role in making a positive difference, to contribute to society, to support a cause they are passionate about, to drive meaningful, impactful change.? It is inherently altruistic.? ?

2.??? Personal and Professional Development

Being a trustee is all about personal and professional development. In return for giving your time and energy, you develop valuable experience in wide range of skills, such as governance, strategy, leadership, risk management, financial management. The list goes on.? It offers a unique opportunity to gain and enhance your skills, expertise and experience.

3.??? Enhancing your Network

Inevitably, as a trustee, you will work alongside professionals from various backgrounds, including your co-trustees, but also sector leaders, donors, and community partners. These relationships will expand your professional networks and enhance your future opportunities.

4.??? Personal Fulfilment and Wellbeing ?

There is without doubt a personal satisfaction which is gained by giving back and contributing to social change.? And whilst volunteering is a difficult concept to align in a culture where time is precious, research has shown that giving your time and energy to others is beneficial for your own mental health and wellbeing.? Being a trustee will make life feel more meaningful and give you a sense of purpose.? ?

5.??? Improving Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion

Sadly, boards of charities are still woefully under representative of wider society.? In 2017, research showed that 75% of trustees were male and 92% were white, older, and educated to an above-average level.

And so, you can be part of the solution. ?You can help diversify a charity’s board.? A diverse board is a more resilient one.? Boards which are more reflective of the communities they serve ultimately have the best chance of fulfilling their purposes and meeting the needs of their beneficiaries.?

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And so, whilst accepting that becoming a charity trustee is a significant commitment, it offers a unique opportunity to do more, to give back, to be part of the solution, whilst also offering real opportunities for personal and professional growth.

If you are interested in learning more, or understanding what the role involves, then organisations such as the NCVO or Directory of Social Change offer resources which can help guide your thinking.?

Alternatively speak to someone you know who is or has been a trustee, regardless of their age, experience, or indeed the size of the charity that they volunteered for and ask why they did it and what they got out of it.

And finally, any one of the Charity & Not for Profit Team Higgs LLP would always be delighted to speak to you about their real-life experiences of being a charity trustee.

As Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”

Tora Pickup Ellie Williams Daniel Woodcock

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