Become a charity trustee
Charity trustees are volunteers who direct how a charity is run. They help make sure it does what it was set up to do.
Trustees can also be known as:
- directors
- board members
- governors
- committee members
If you want to create your own charity, read guidance on setting up a charity instead.
There’s separate guidance if you want to be a trustee in Scotland or a trustee in Northern Ireland.
What trustees do
Trustees make sure their charity:
- has clear priorities and future plans
- follows its charitable mission
- has the money it needs
- spends that money responsibly on the activities it was raised for
- runs its activities effectively, sometimes by providing practical help
- follows the law and does not break its own rules
Other than those duties, the exact role of a trustee will depend on the charity.
In small charities, trustees may be expected to essentially run the charity.
In larger charities, staff take on the day-to-day work and trustees have a more strategic role.
Trustees are almost always unpaid, but they can get expenses to cover things like travel or childcare costs.
Who can become a trustee
You must be aged:
- 18 or over
- 16 or over, if the charity is set up as a charitable company or a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO)
Some people cannot legally be trustees. For example, you cannot be a trustee if you:
- have an unspent criminal conviction involving dishonesty or deception
- are currently declared bankrupt
- have been banned from serving as a company director
Charities may require their trustees to have certain skills or experience.
Find vacancies for trustees
You can find vacancies by:
- looking for adverts in the press
- searching for vacancies on the Do It website
- approaching charities directly
- using an organisation like Reach Volunteering or Trustees Unlimited, which match skilled volunteers to trustee roles
- asking at your local volunteer centre
- getting more contacts and information on the Trustees’ Week website