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
Trustees & Chair
Creative Future
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Co-opted Governor with Lead Responsibility for HR
Dorothy Stringer School
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City wide
New Trustees!
Carousel
Founded in 1982, Carousel is an award-winning charity supporting learning disabled people to achieve...
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Voluntary Treasurer with ADHD Aware Brighton and Hove
The Trust for Developing Communities (TDC)
ADHD Aware is a member-led group that aims to support adults affected by ADHD. We run monthly drop-i...
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Independent Chair & Directors
Healthwatch Brighton and Hove
It's an exciting time for us, and we're looking to recruit new directors to join our team, including...
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Brighton People's Theatre
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Volunteer Reading Coaches, Team Leader and Literacy Specialist
Read Easy Brighton
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Brighton
Co-opted Governor
Downs Junior School
Downs Junior School, a popular and lively establishment, presently one of the largest junior schools...
Board Secretary
Green Tides
Are you well organised and reliable? Are you able to write short, clear notes and updates? Wou...
Working from home
Events and Sales Volunteer
Smarter Uniforms
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Open Market, Marshalls Row, Brighton, BN1 4JU
Stockroom Volunteer
Smarter Uniforms
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Lovethatstuff Fair Trade, First Floor 8, The Broadwalk, Brighton, BN2 5WA
Trustee for small Youth Mentoring CIC
Pick Your Own
PYO provides a bespoke package of coaching, mentoring and befriending, offering neutral, non-clinica...
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Chair of Trustees
BrightPIP
Do you understand how charities work? Are you good at leading small teams? Do you share our view tha...
Brighton Consulting Rooms , 18a Clermont Road , Brighton , BN1 6SG
Trustees
Worthing Mencap
Worthing Mencap helps people with learning disabilities lead full and independent lives. We support...
121 South Farm Road , Worthing , BN14 7AX
Trustee
Classroom Learning On Wheels, Doing Education Right (CLOWDER)
We are two teachers whose goal is to convert a double decker bus into a mobile classroom to visit di...
Brighton & Hove, Brighton & Hove, BN1
Trustees - Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu
Brighton and Hove Faith in Action
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Brighton & Hove
Trustee - fundraising
MenWalkTalk
MenWalkTalk is a charity which aims to improve mental health in men by engaging them in a walking gr...
Working from home
Trustee - fundraising
Sussex MS Centre
Are you an experienced charity fundraiser? Do you have about one day a month available to help a sma...
Southwick Recreation Ground , Croft Avenue , Southwick, BN42 4AB
Directors
Brighton and Hove Community Land Trust
Brighton & Hove Community Land Trust is looking for new Directors to help build the movement for com...
City wide
Trustee Secretary
Esteem
ESTEEM is a Sussex-based charity which involves young adults aged 14-26 in opportunities to develop...
Treasurer and CIC Director
Green Tides
Are you able to produce accounts and look after the finances of a small community organisation? Wou...
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
Trustee
Independent Lives
Independent Lives is looking to grow our Board and are now recruiting people with experience and pas...
Worthing
Trustee
Carers Centre for Brighton & Hove
We are looking to recruit Trustees to the Carers Centre's Board of Trustees. We are fortunate to hav...
The Carers Centre for Brighton & Hove, 18 Bedford Place, Brighton, BN1 2PT
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