Core Responsibilities of Trustees

 

1. Governance and Strategy: Trustees collectively ensure the charity operates in line with its purposes. They must ensure the charity complies with its governing document and relevant laws.

2. Acting in the Charity’s Best Interests: Trustees must make decisions solely based on what benefits the charity, avoiding conflicts of interest and personal gain. They are accountable for the charity’s actions and decisions, even if tasks are delegated to staff or volunteers

3. Managing Resources Responsibly: Trustees oversee the charity’s finances, assets, and volunteers, ensuring resources are used effectively and only for charitable purposes.

4. Care, Skill, and Accountability: Trustees are expected to act with reasonable care, skill, and diligence, using any relevant expertise they posses. They must maintain proper records, report to regulators (e.g., the Charity Commission in England and Wales), and demonstrate that the charity is well-run and effective.

 

Legal and Practical Duties

• Ensure the charity is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit.

• Comply with the charity’s governing document and the law.

• Act in the charity’s best interests and manage conflicts of interest.

• Manage resources responsibly.

• Act with reasonable care, skill, and diligence.

• Ensure accountability through proper reporting, record-keeping, and transparency.

 

Additional Roles

• Promotion and Advocacy: Trustees act as ambassadors for the charity, helping to raise its profile and support its mission.

• Risk Management: Trustees should identify and mitigate risks to the charity’s operations, finances, and reputation.

• Committee Collaboration: Decisions are made collectively; trustees should not act alone but work as part of the committee.

Source: What is a charity trustee? - GOV.UK

 

Our Trustees are volunteers, and give their time and experience freely, without any personal gain.