Trustees Week 2019 (04 – 08 November) is fast approaching and here at Cumbria Exchange HQ we’ve identified that there’s an urgent need from the community for professional expertise.
Trusteeships are one great way individuals from the business community can offer their support!
1. What are Trustees?
Here’s a definition from the Charity Commission, the guru of all things ” not for profit”:
Trustees have overall control of a charity and are responsible for making sure it’s doing what it was set up to do. 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. Being a trustee means making decisions that will impact on people’s lives. Depending on what the charity does, you will be making a difference to your local community or to society as a whole. Trustees use their skills and experience to support their charities, helping them achieve their aims. Trustees also often learn new skills during their time on the board.
2. Who can be a Trustee?
You must be at least 16 years old to be a trustee of a charity that is a company or a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO), or at least 18 to be a trustee of any other sort of charity.
One of the most important things charities need from their Trustees is someone who is commited to the organisation and enthusiastic about what they stand for. It is important that people are recruited from a wide range of backgrounds who offer a variety of different skills and experience.
3. Why should I get involved?
Houston we have a Problem!
The current demographic of trustees is a big issue. 92% of trustees in England and Wales have an average age of 55-64 rising to 65-74 in smaller charities. This is reflected locally in Cumbria.
While older trustees are over-represented the opposite holds true for younger trustees, so one thing we should do is encourage younger people to consider trusteeship. They can offer skills, perspectives and outlook that could give great value to charities and their boards. It’s a great opportunity to develop and refine leadership and business skills and enhance sustainability of the Voluntary and community sector.
4. What’s in it for me?
Most people get involved to give something back, either to a specific community or cause they care about. As everyone knows, we Cumbrians are a caring lot and well known for our community spirit!
Being a trustee is also a fantastic way to meet new people, offer existing skills or learn new ones. It’s also a great opportunity to improve your CV and enhance professional development.
5. How can I get involved?
- Cumbria Exchange is aware of a number of trustee opportunities across Cumbria. Get in touch via [email protected] and we’ll get right back to you to discuss the vacancies available.
- Sign up for our e-newsletter. In the future we’ll be using this to let people know about new offers and requests including trustee roles. Fill in the Subscribe to Our Newsletter info on the right of this page
- Get in touch with Cumbria CVS County Volunteering Coordinator, Judith Smale, on 01768 800350 or [email protected]. Cumbria Exchange is working in partnership with Cumbria CVS to offer access to volunteering opportunities, training and expert guidance.
Still interested? Want to be a Cumbrian superhero? Grab your cape and get in touch!