Becoming a Trustee
Trustees can be a fantastic asset to the work of Christian charities of all types.1
Trustees are the people in charge of a charity. They play a vital role, volunteering their time and working together to make important decisions about the charity's work. They may be called trustees, the board, the management committee, governors, directors or something else.
The needs vary from one charity to another, but those working in finance, HR, law, property, strategy, organisational development, marketing or communications are highly valued. But it isn't just technical skills - it’s about a close identification with the vision and mission of the organization, and a belief that God can use your experience and strategic overview to help the team stay on course as they maintain their focus and priorities. Don't discount yourself as not being right for it or miss the value you could add.
Why become a Trustee?
- to use your skills, experience, knowledge and ideas to make a lasting difference to a cause or organisation you care about
- to develop new and transferable skills
- to widen your horizons and broad your experience
- to learn about corporate governance
- to work with new people who share your passion
- to learn how other organisations do things, which could benefit you in your own employed role
- to enhance your CV and possibly open your eyes to other career paths
- and it's the perfect volunteering opportunity for busier people
Where can I get training and support as a trustee?
The Global Connections and Evangelical Alliance Governance Hub.
Stewardship - for trustee support materials, training for trustees and more individual services.
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations.
Links to a whole range of training and resources for trustees from Trustees Week.
What are the responsibilities of a Charity Trustee?
Trustees have six main duties, outlined in Charity Trustee - what's involved.
How can I find Trustee vacancies?
Search the Christian Vocations UK voluntary page or on Evangelical Alliance easilyfound for current vacancies.
Downloads
In the Thick of It - Helen Calder, former Executive Director of Finance and Services at the Evangelical Alliance, talks about the need for trustees and how you might benefit from becoming a trustee of a Christian organisation.
Other resources
NCVO resources - some excellent information and free resources from NCVO, including a new governance wheel diagnostic, link to the new Charity Governance Code, online resources, templates and guidance.
What makes a good trustee? Take the behaviour quiz to discover what type of trustee you are, or what skills you’ll bring to a charity trustee role!
The essential trustee: what you need to know, what you need to do - really helpful information from gov.uk.
Understanding Communications - a brief guide for charity trustees from Charity Comms.
1 Much of the information on this page comes from In the Thick of It by Helen Calder, EA.