Could you be a trustee?
Trustees have overall control of a charity and are responsible for making sure it’s doing what it was set up to do. They make sure the charity meets its goals and responsibilities; and is fit for purpose. They may be known by other titles, such as directors, board members, governors or committee members. Whatever they are called, trustees are the people who lead the charity and decide how it is run.
Trustees don’t usually do the day-to-day running of the charity. They delegate this to the staff, led by the Chief Executive. However, in smaller charities and community groups with few or no staff, trustees may take hands-on roles too.
Most trustee boards meet four to eight times a year. Many boards have sub-committees that focus on particular areas of work or projects giving trustees the chance to get involved in specific areas of interest.
You can find out more about what’s involved in The Essential Trustee - a guide from the Charity Commission.
Being a trustee can be very rewarding. You have the chance to support and shape the work and strategic direction of an organisation, and you can make a significant difference to a cause that matters to you. Depending on what the charity does, you will be making a difference to your local community or to society as a whole.
You may choose to get involved with a charity focused on a cause or an issue you are passionate about or because your life has been touched by the work of that voluntary organisation. It is also a great way to get involved in a community or find out more about the not-for-profit sector.
Being a trustee offers the opportunity for professional and personal development. It will give you experience of being a non-executive director, such as setting a strategic vision, influencing and negotiation, and managing risk. If you already have significant experience in these areas, it can be stimulating to use it in a different and potentially challenging context.
Trustees don’t get paid for their role but you can claim reasonable expenses, such as the fare for travelling to meetings.
Anyone over 16 can be a trustee (with a few exceptions - see Eligibility for trusteeship). Diversity is really important to the effectiveness of boards. So, all kinds of people, of all ages and characteristics are encouraged to become charity trustees. You don’t need to have sat on a board before. You don’t need to have a specialist professional skill (although such skills are always welcomed) – your value might be your life experience and a connection with the charity’s cause. And you don’t need to have years of experience behind you. Young trustees (18-35 year olds) are especially encouraged.
The time commitment varies depending on the charity. The only way to find out is to ask.
It is important to be realistic about how much time you can commit, and when you’re available. The charity’s needs are likely to be made up of a range of activities that may occur at different times of the day and vary across the year. Questions you should ask include:
- How many trustee meetings are there each year?
- How long are the meetings, where and at what time of day?
- Are trustees expected to serve on committees?
- What opportunities are there to spend time with the organisation observing its work?
- What contact is there in between trustee meetings and how does this usually take place?
- Are there any one-off events or annual occasions that trustees are expected to attend?
- What induction and training will the organisation provide, and how much time will that take?
A selection of current vacancies in our area is listed on the right. To find out more, click on a role. If you’d like to apply for any of these roles, press the ‘register your interest’ button at the top of the page for that role. If you don’t see anything here that interests you, please get in touch as we may be able to point you towards vacancies advertised elsewhere.
If you have any questions about becoming a trustee or help with finding a suitable role please email volunteercentre@bhcommunityworks.org.uk or call us on 01273 234826
Two Trustees (voluntary)
The Museum of Ordinary People (MOOP)
MOOP’s board of trustees volunteer their time, skills and expertise to help inform the museum’s stra...
City wide
Secretary: Laughton Greenwood
Laughton Greenwood Limited CBS
What can you expect with the Role of the Secretary? The Secretary is crucial to the smooth runn...
Chair Person: Laughton Greenwood
Laughton Greenwood Limited CBS
Over the last five years significant progress has been made to restore and improve this site of anci...
Looking for new Trustees
Robin Hood Health Foundation
The Robin Hood Health Foundation is looking for new trustees who share our commitment to creativity,...
Working from home
Addressing financial exclusion in East Sussex and Brighton
East Sussex Credit Union Foundation
Do you have experience of working with individuals and families in Brighton & Hove and East Sussex f...
Working from home
Trustee - with care experience
Crossroads Care East Sussex Brighton & Hove
Do you have experience of being an unpaid carer? Do you have professional or management skills? Woul...
Brighton and Hove
Trustee
Old Boat Corner Community Association
Are you thinking about becoming a Trustee? This is an opportunity to gain experience of Trusteeship....
City wide
Trustee/Treasurer at The Somerset Centre Brighton
Somerset Centre
The Somerset Centre, Brighton is a registered charity situated in Kemptown, Brighton. It has six pa...
62 St James's Street Kemptown, Brighton, BN2 1PR
Treasurer
MenWalkTalk
Do you have some finance, accounting or bookkeeping experience? Perhaps you're working towards your...
Working from home
Trustee - retail experience
Worthing Samaritans
Do you have retail management experience? Would you be able to oversee our charity shop in Worthing...
Durrington, Worthing
Trustee - fundraising
Sussex MS Centre
Are you an experienced charity fundraiser? Do you have about one day a month available to help a sma...
Croft Avenue , Southwick Recreation Ground , Southwick , BN42 4AB
Treasurer
Broadwater Community Association
Do you have some finance, accounting or bookkeeping experience? Perhaps you're working towards your...
Worthing
Marketing & PR Trustee
Sussex MS Centre
Are you an experienced marketing & PR professional? Do you have about one day a month available to h...
Southwick Recreation Ground , Croft Avenue , Southwick, BN42 4AB
Trustees
CYCALL
Are you looking to get involved in a local charity which makes a positive difference to people's liv...
Adur and Worthing
Board Secretary
The Treasure Basket Association
Do you enjoy admin? Are you well organised? Are you concerned about the impact the COVID-19 lockdown...
Worthing
Trustee
The Treasure Basket Association
Are you an experienced charity trustee? Are you concerned about the impact the COVID-19 lockdown has...
Worthing
Volunteer Trustee
BMECP (Black and Minority Ethnic Community Partnership)
BMECP is a multipurpose organisation providing infrastructure support to diverse BAME community grou...
Working from home
Finance Trustee (Assistant Treasurer)
Safe in Sussex
Do you have some accountancy experience? Perhaps you're working towards your qualifications and are...
Worthing
Chair of Trustees
West Sussex Parent Carer Forum
West Sussex Parent Carer Forum (WSPCF) is a local charity run by and for families of children and yo...
West Sussex
Partnership member
Sompting Big Local
Sompting Big Local is a long-term innovative programme that aims to achieve lasting change in Sompti...
Sompting
Trustee Treasurer
West Sussex Mediation Service
Do you have financial skills and experience? Do you have 6-8 hours a month to offer? Would you like...
Working from home
Financial Director (volunteer)
TotRockinBeats CIC
Do you have financial skills and experience? Do you have a couple of hours a week to offer? Would yo...
Worthing
Treasurer
Freedom Powerchairs
Are you interested in supporting disabled people? Do you have a background in finance? Do you have 3...
Worthing
Trustee
Adur Special Needs Project
Adur Special Needs Project is a Shoreham and Adur based charity providing play for children and youn...
Adur
ADHD Aware - Voluntary Committee members and session drop-in Support Volunteers
The Trust for Developing Communities (TDC)
If you are interested in helping out, we have a variety of projects and administrative work that our...
The Brighthelm Centre, North Road, Brighton and Hove, BN1 1YD
Trustees
Sussex MS Centre
The Centre has a Board of Trustees to guide and help make good decisions: offering advice, expertise...
Southwick, BN42 4AB
Trustee
Care for the Carers
We wish to recruit new members to join our Board of Trustees Care for the Carers’ vision is...
Trustee
Livestock (Mothers Uncovered/Soulfood)
Are you looking to make a real difference to a local community charily? Do you have good business sk...
City wide
Trustee
Independent Lives
Independent Lives is looking to grow our Board and are now recruiting people with experience and pas...
Worthing
Meeting Representative
Healthwatch Brighton and Hove
Healthwatch Brighton and Hove needs to be represented at a large number of health and social care...
Board of Trustees Role
Possability People
Possability People is a user led organisation that promotes independent living for all. We work towa...
Montague House, Montague Place, Brighton, BN2 1JE