We believe that a charity’s leaders, and therefore its trustees and senior managers, are key to its success. And we’re here to help you to develop your leadership.
As a charity you need a minimum of three unconnected people as trustees and most management committees operate with at least a chair, secretary, and treasurer. However, you will need enough trustees with the right skills to ensure that you can run your organisation effectively. Download the NCVO trustee skills audit tool to help.
We recommend that all trustees read the Charity Commission’s Essential trustee: What you need to know, what you need to do. You might also like to do NCVO’s online training on the Roles and Responsibilities of a trustee.
Another helpful document for trustee boards is the Governance Code. If you and your fellow trustees, follow everything in the code then you will be able to exercise good leadership of your organisation.
The Charity Commission has other useful guides for Trustees on aspects of running a charity, and a Charity Trustee Welcome Pack.
The Charity Commission has produced several videos to help trustees and chairs:
The FSI has produced a series of videos called the Essential Trustee. Trustees around the country use the FSI’s video series to help them to learn about their role and responsibilities.
The Honorary Treasurers Forum offers support and networking for those who take the role of Treasurer on non-profit boards. They publish the free Honorary Treasurer’s Handbook.
The Charity Finance Group has put together a guide to Essential Charity Finance for Trustees.
The Association of Chairs has resources for specifically for Chairs and their unique role in a charity.
For help with your trustee roles and how to recruit suitable people visit our Volunteering Page or book a 1-2-1 Advice Session.
