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
Trustee
The Juno Project
To grow our charity, we need authentic, skilled and committed individuals to join our developing Boa...
Trustee
Classroom Learning On Wheels, Doing Education Right (CLOWDER)
With your help we want to develop a charity that is unique in its approach to education. By helping...
Brighton & Hove
Trustees
Adur and Worthing Trust
Interested in the arts, culture and heritage? Live in Adur or Worthing? Looking for an ongoing volun...
Adur & Worthing
Trustees - Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu
Brighton and Hove Faith in Action
We are a multi-faith charity bringing people together from all faith groups to address social justic...
Brighton & Hove
Treasurer and Trustee
The Trust for Developing Communities (TDC)
The Trust for Developing Communities (TDC) is a dynamic and growing charity tackling inequality in B...
Committee Secretary
The E.Y.E Project (Eco, Young & Engaged)
Are you well organised? Good at admin? Want to do something about climate change? Passionate about y...
Adur & Worthing
Chair
The E.Y.E Project (Eco, Young & Engaged)
Want to do something about climate change? Passionate about young people's potential? Looking for a...
Adur & Worthing
Committee members
The E.Y.E Project (Eco, Young & Engaged)
Want to do something about climate change? Passionate about young people's potential? Looking for a...
Adur & Worthing
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
Treasurer
The Spire Arts
The Spire Arts is a creative space for theatre, dance, circus and performance makers, located in the...
Brighton
Charity Secretary
The Spire Arts
The Spire Arts is a creative space for theatre, dance, circus and performance makers, located in the...
Brighton
Trustees
Community Works
Are you involved in voluntary action in Brighton, Hove, Adur or Worthing? Would you like to help str...
Adur, Worthing, Brighton & Hove
Volunteer Treasurer
Pregnancy Options Centre, Chichester
Options are looking for a volunteer Treasurer to support the work of the charity. The role will invo...
Working from home
Trustee (Treasurer)
SEAS - Socially Engaged Art Salon
SEAS (Socially Engaged Art Salon) is a BIPOC & LGBTQ led organisation which promotes socially engage...
BMECP, 10 Fleet Street, Brighton, BN1 4GQ
Trustee - finance
SEDS (Sussex Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes)
Do you have finance skills and experience? Would you like to make a difference to people living with...
Working from home
Trustee - strategy and development
SEDS (Sussex Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes)
Do you have strategy development skills and experience? Would you like to make a difference to peopl...
Working from home
Chair of Trustees
The Treasure Basket Association
Are you good at leading small teams? Are you looking for an ongoing volunteer role where you can use...
Working from home
Trustees
Making it Out
Have you been involved in growing a small business or social enterprise? Would you like to help stee...
1-3 Church Road , Portslade , Brighton , BN41 1LB
Treasurer
Apron
Are you an accountant with solid finance experience? Would you like to use your skills to help a gro...
Shoreham-by-Sea
Trustee Treasurer
Together in Sussex
Together in Sussex is looking for a Trustee Treasurer who can help manage the financial administrati...
City wide
Trustees/Committee Members
Broadwater Community Association
Do you live in Broadwater? Would you like to be more involved in your local community? Do you have a...
Chair of Trustees
Phoenix Arts Space
Phoenix Art Space is a charitable (not-for-profit) arts organisation based in the heart of the City...
10-14 Waterloo Place , Brighton , BN2 9NB
Trustee - charity
Care for Veterans
Do you have an understanding of the military and a background in the charity sector? Would you like...
Gifford House , Boundary Road , Worthing , BN11 4LJ
Trustee - clinical
Care for Veterans
Do you have a clinical background at a senior level? Would you like to contribute strategically to a...
Gifford House , Boundary Road , Worthing , BN11 4LJ
Creative Social Media and Marketing Director
Smarter Uniforms
Are you an advocate for zero waste and reducing textile waste? Are you passionate about protecting o...
Working from home
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...
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 - fundraising
Sussex MS Centre
Are you an experienced charity fundraiser? Do you have about one day a month available to help a sma...
Southwick
Trustee
The Treasure Basket Association
Would like to be involved in steering a small charity helping disadvantaged local children? Th...
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
Partnership member
Sompting Big Local
Sompting Big Local is a long-term innovative programme that aims to achieve lasting change in Sompti...
Sompting
Treasurer
Freedom Powerchairs
Are you interested in supporting disabled people? Do you have a background in finance? Do you have 3...
Worthing
Company Secretary
Emmaus Brighton & Hove
Responsibilities To ensure that statutory returns to Companies House and the Charity Commission a...
Trustee
The Clock Tower Sanctuary
The Clock Tower Sanctuary is the only drop-in day centre in Brighton & Hove for young people experie...
Trustee at Guild Care charity
Guild Care
The Board of Trustees of any charity plays a vital role in making important decisions on its work....
Methold House, North Street, Worthing, BN11 1DU
Trustee
Independent Lives
Independent Lives is looking to grow our Board and are now recruiting people with experience and pas...
Worthing
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