AUTUMN 2025 DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 29
CHARITY COMMISSION
Be the difference: discover
the power and potential of
trusteeship
For professionals working
across government and the
public sector, the opportunity
to become a charity trustee
offers a compelling proposition:
the chance to apply your
expertise in new ways, develop
professionally, and make a
meaningful difference to a
cause you care about. .
The charity sector is the
backbone of so much positive
change in our society, delivering
essential services and support to
those who need it most. Trustees
help steer this vital work. They
are volunteers who play an
essential role running charities.
They make strategic decisions
that shape how charities operate,
ensuring resources are used
effectively, and helping charities
navigate challenges whilst
maximising their impact.
Bringing your passions to life
We all believe in causes that
matter to us personally – whether
it’s supporting vulnerable people
to access services, protecting
the local environment, promoting
accessible education, improving
people’s health or countless
other worthy missions. Charity
trusteeship offers the chance
to channel your professional
skills and personal passions into
meaningful action.
Trusteeship represents an
incredibly rewarding form of
volunteering. Recent research by
the Charity Commission reports
an impressive 80% of current
trustees would recommend the
role to others, testament to the
genuine satisfaction it delivers.
This isn’t surprising when you
consider what trustees report
experiencing: 60% feel they’re
positively impacting the world,
whilst 65% feel more connected
to their community or movement.
These aren’t marginal bene昀椀ts
– they’re profound rewards
that come from taking on real
responsibility.
Making your skills count
Public sector professionals
possess the kinds of skills
that charity boards need. Your
experience in governance,
strategic planning, 昀椀nancial
management, policy development
or service delivery can create
genuine positive change. Your
understanding of how to work
within legal parameters and
engage with the public can
deliver outcomes that matter.
A positive and respected role
Becoming a trustee means
making a contribution that
really matters, and the evidence
supports this. An impressive
94% of trustees believe their
contributions to board meetings
are heard and respected,
whilst 93% feel valued and
supported by fellow board
members. This culture of respect
extends to relationships with
staff and volunteers too, with
91% of trustees feeling their
contributions are welcomed.
or community advocates, as
well as the dedicated staff and
volunteers who deliver the
charity’s work. These connections
often lead to lasting professional
relationships and can open
doors to new opportunities and
insights.
Hear from Liz, a Benevolent
Fund trustee…
I’m able to apply my skills in
different ways, I have planned
fundraising events to boost our
funds and have learnt a lot about
the governance of a charity from
my fellow trustees who have a
fantastic skillset and share their
knowledge with me.
I would encourage everyone
to consider trusteeship. The right
opportunity is out there for you,
where you can use your skills and
experience to give back. It’s so
rewarding!
Open to everyone
Trusteeship is open to almost
anyone aged 18 or over and
there’s opportunity for public
sector professionals at all career
stages to step forward.
Time commitments can vary
considerably, but most trustee
roles typically require a few hours
each month for board meetings,
plus occasional additional
work on speci昀椀c projects or
committees.
The Charity Commission offers
a wide range of resources to
support new trustees in their
roles. New trustees receive a
welcome pack by email that
outlines the basics of trusteeship,
summarises key duties and
responsibilities, and provides
links to more detailed guidance.
There are also lots of other
organisations that provide help
and support.
Find out more today
Take that 昀椀rst step towards
discovering how trusteeship
could transform both your
career and the cause that your
chosen charity bene昀椀ts. See
the difference you can make by
昀椀nding out more and getting
involved at www.trusteesweek.
org/become-a-charity-trustee
Career development and
expanding your network
Trusteeship isn’t just about giving
back – it’s also about growing
as a professional. The role offers
unparalleled opportunities to
develop crucial skills in leadership,
problem-solving, and decisionmaking in contexts quite different
from your day-to-day work. You
might 昀椀nd yourself faced with
complex strategic challenges,
overseeing organisational change,
or developing expertise in areas
like fundraising, marketing, or
building partnerships.
Trusteeship connects you
with inspiring people from
different backgrounds – fellow
trustees who might be business
leaders, subject matter experts,
Liz- a trustee
GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SECTOR JOURNAL AUTUMN 2025
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