Foreword
Charities play a crucial role in addressing social needs and driving positive change. A central part of a charity’s success is its trustees.
Trustees are the guardians of a charity’s mission. They oversee its strategic direction, financial management, and legal compliance. Trustees bring a diverse range of experiences and perspectives. This helps charities make better decisions and have a bigger impact.
Trustees are volunteers who give their time and effort and take on big responsibilities. Their work helps charities support communities across the country.
Being a trustee is a rewarding experience. It allows people to learn new skills, meet new people, and gain experience. Most importantly, trustees get to give back to a cause or a community they care about.
Trustees play a sophisticated role in governance, compliance, and strategic decision-making. The role is becoming more complex as charities navigate an ever-evolving landscape. Tackling issues such as social justice, environmental sustainability, and global health crises requires trustees with more diverse skills.
According to the Charity Commission’s Breath of Fresh Air report, anywhere between one in three and one in two charities have a trustee vacancy. This means charities are missing out on the skills and knowledge they need to deliver the biggest impact possible. And it’s making the job harder for trustees who already give so much to their communities.
To address this issue, we must first understand it.
That’s why we’re proud to launch this report as part of Trustees’ Week 2024. We hope the report will help charities take action to support trustees, reduce barriers and help our sector flourish.
You can download a printable PDF version of the report below.
