Research and analysis

Public trust in charities and trustees' experience of their role

Annual Charity Commission research on public trust in charities and what trustees think about their duties and public expectations.

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

Public trust in charities 2021

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Charity trustee research 2021

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Details

Public trust headlines

For the second year running, public trust in charities in England and Wales is on the rise.

Public perception of the relevance of charities has also risen.

Public expectations of charities have not changed.

Trustee research headlines

The impact of the pandemic on charities has varied, depending on their size and way of working.

Trustees are confident in their role and mostly understand their responsibilities.

Trustees often do not take a formal approach to measuring activities.

Most trustees recognise the importance of taking public expectations into account and feel a collective responsibility to uphold the sector’s reputation.

Trustees who use the Commission’s guidance find it helpful but it could be more accessible.

About the reports

This research was conducted on behalf of the Charity Commission by our research partner, Yonder.

The research was conducted in Spring 2021. The reports bring together the quantitative and qualitative results from surveys and interviews with trustees and the public.

Updates to this page

Published 15 July 2021

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