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My favourite (and, I think, the most awesome) #charity @Love_plants is recruiting for several new trustees: https://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/jobs . But what does being a #trustee actually involve?
It was a question I asked myself when I saw the ad I ended up responding to. No-one I knew was a trustee, so there was no-one I could ask for help. This is my attempt to demystify trusteeship for newbies - I'll also point to some useful online resources for more info.
First, the serious stuff...
Trustees have overall control of a charity & are responsible for making sure it’s doing what it was set up to do. For larger charities, the Board (voluntary trustees) scrutinises & supports the Executive (the senior staff who run the charity)
Trustees have overall control of a charity & are responsible for making sure it’s doing what it was set up to do. For larger charities, the Board (voluntary trustees) scrutinises & supports the Executive (the senior staff who run the charity)
It means that together with the other trustees on the charity's Board, including the Chair, Vice-Chair, and Treasurer, you'll be making sure:
1. your charity is carrying out its purposes (as set out in its governing document, e.g. https://tinyurl.com/plantlifememarts) for the public benefit
1. your charity is carrying out its purposes (as set out in its governing document, e.g. https://tinyurl.com/plantlifememarts) for the public benefit
2. your charity is accountable & complying with its governing document & the law (e.g. it may be subject to both charity & company law)
3. you help your charity manage its resources responsibly
4. you always act in your charity’s best interests, and with reasonable care & skill
3. you help your charity manage its resources responsibly
4. you always act in your charity’s best interests, and with reasonable care & skill
Ok, but what does that mean in practice? Every charity's different, but when I started out, I attended 4 Board meetings a year (3 hours each). These require 2-3 hours the weekend before to read & make notes on the Board papers. This is the most time-consuming part...
...but it's really interesting! You'll be looking at the charity's achievements since the last meeting (always inspirational), understanding challenges, and thinking up ways to overcome them. You'll also scrutinise the accounts and act as a sounding board for the Executive.
I also attend an annual trustee 'Away Day' - usually in a beautiful nature reserve - seeing conservation on the ground and getting to know my fellow trustees and the Executive.
This may sound complicated (and sometimes it can be!) but as a new trustee, your fellow trustees will answer your questions and provide advice. You'll just need to spend some time getting yourself up to speed, using the many helpful resources out there...
Like...
The Charity Commission's 'The Essential Trustee': https://tinyurl.com/ln9q9dh
The Charity Governance Code: https://www.charitygovernancecode.org/en
@GettingonBoard: https://www.gettingonboard.org/be-a-trustee
@NCVO: https://knowhow.ncvo.org.uk/governance
The Charity Commission's 'The Essential Trustee': https://tinyurl.com/ln9q9dh
The Charity Governance Code: https://www.charitygovernancecode.org/en
@GettingonBoard: https://www.gettingonboard.org/be-a-trustee
@NCVO: https://knowhow.ncvo.org.uk/governance
Now here's why you should consider becoming a trustee (based entirely on my own experience and in no particular order)...
1. If you like a learning curve, this one's a doozy! It's so satisfying once you start understanding how your charity & the charity sector work.
1. If you like a learning curve, this one's a doozy! It's so satisfying once you start understanding how your charity & the charity sector work.
2. You get to make a difference! Don't panic if it's not from Day 1 but, as you grow in knowledge & confidence, you'll share your ideas in Board meetings. You'll help improve things for staff & help the charity to better meet its aims.
3. You'll meet extraordinary people. I was so lucky to join a Board with some incredibly experienced, kind & helpful trustees. They helped me feel like my contributions were worthwhile, answered my many, many(!) questions, & helped expand my horizons #teamwork
4a. You'll grow - personally & professionally. Trusteeship is great for the CV but, for me, the best part has been increasing my confidence. I'm not afraid to ask seemingly obvious/silly questions - they can raise issues that need addressing, and I've taken that into my day-job.
4b. You can 'progress' in your career as a trustee just as much as you can in a paid job. If you love finance & accounting, think about becoming a Treasurer. If you love building an effective team, aim for Vice-Chair / Chair. You can also join sub-committees for more experience!
There are legal restrictions on who can be a trustee ( https://tinyurl.com/y9lckfwb ), but if you meet the requirements & you're:
1. enthusiastic about the charity's purpose
2. committed to putting in the time & work, &
3. have ideas for improving the charity,
then go for it!
1. enthusiastic about the charity's purpose
2. committed to putting in the time & work, &
3. have ideas for improving the charity,
then go for it!
Finally, one last plug for applying to be a Plantlife #trustee: https://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/jobs , especially if you're young (18-35), LGBTQ+, BAME, have a disability, and/or don't have a 'traditional' career. @CharitySoWhite @DisabledStem @MinoritySTEM @EMWomensForum @BlackLGBTQplus
