A big thank you to every trustee who took part in Trustees Week this year. The week celebrates trustees and their leadership in changing times, and we were honoured to be joined by over 800 trustees at our series of lunchtime learning webinars.
We were joined by experts from Withers LLP and Trustees Unlimited, our sponsors for the week, as well as from our trusted supplier Atkinson HR. Our talks covered a range of topics including;
- the technicalities of being a trustee in the current climate
- how to set a meaningful direction even in changing times
- tips for trustees on leading difficult conversations with staff and volunteers
- assessing skills on your board and finding the right people to join
We closed off our week with lessons from an expert panel on how to make sure learning is part of every trustee journey.
As we come away from Trustees Week a few key lessons stand out.
Planning and preparation are key – whether you are joining a new board, creating a new strategic plan, or setting out the framework for a challenging conversation, making a clear plan will go a long way. It is worth taking the time to set out a structure and do the research before diving in.
Think strategically – not only when you write your long-term strategy, but in everything you do. During changing times, it is tempting to get bogged down in the details, so trustees should remember to get their heads out of the weeds and invest in big picture thinking.
Don’t worry! – our world is not an easy place, and there are a lot of factors to contend with. Charity trustees can take a breath, knowing they are well supported by our regulators and by all the resources and help available. That includes everything from our own help & guidance pages and practical support, through to the resources put out by the Charity Commission.