There are over 170,000 registered charities in England and Wales, with around 11% of the population volunteering at one or more of these organisations. The sector has a turnover of £94 billion per year and employs 3% of the UK workforce.
Trustees are the lifeblood of charity, dedicating their time, energy and expertise, almost always for free. It’s their responsibility to ensure that their organisation works towards its charitable purposes, whilst meeting the various financial and legal obligations associated. Consequently, it’s important to understand what defines and motivates a trustee in the modern landscape…
The research
The Charity Commission have worked alongside Pro Bono Economics, a think tank and social sector research organisation to publish a survey asking trustees, who they are, how they feel about their role, and what skills they have/could require to fulfil their role.
Over 2,000 trustees participated from charitable organisations of various sizes, purposes and locations across England and Wales. Responses were weighted to ensure it was representative of the size profile of charities on the register.
A significant majority of trustees are ‘immensely positive’ about their experience. 80% would recommend their role to others.
Benefits of trusteeship
A key benefit for trustees is how their role allows them to grow professionally. 57% of those under 30 believe trusteeship supported their career development. Older trustees said it gave them an opportunity to give back.
60% of trustees feel they positively impact the world and 65% feel more connected to community.
38% feel more fulfilled because of their role.
Skills and expertise
The research aims to understand what skills and experiences trustees possess that influence their decision making, as well as considering what knowledge gaps they might have. Of course, the expertise required is relative to the size, complexity and income of the organisation itself.
Amongst the respondents…
- 95% reported understanding their roles and responsibilities
- 93% feel qualified to fulfil the roles and responsibilities
- 94% believe their contributions to board meetings are heard and respected
- 91% feel that their contributions are welcomed and respected by staff and volunteers
However, the finding suggest that some boards could benefit with an addition of certain skills or expertise, particularly with regard to legal and financial matters, which might be sourced externally. Similarly, fewer than 25% of respondents say their board has specific anti-fraud, campaigning, or marketing skills.
Demographic profile
The research suggests that trusteeship is moving towards gender parity. 43% of trustees are female compared to 36% in 2017. Smaller charities tend to have proportionally more female trustees.
Over half of trustees are retired, with only 8% made up of people aged 44 or under. Just 1% of trustees are 30 or younger.
A lower percentage of trustees are from ethnic minority backgrounds, with 92% of trustees being white compared to 83% of the general population.
Why is this research important?
Understanding why people become trustees is vital to appealing to others. Only in this way can organisations continue to evolve with the needs of those they serve and the requirements of the sector.
The conclusion of the report reads:
‘While the purpose of this report was to present factual findings, and, therefore, does not contain recommendations for the future, there are notable findings and insights within it for all those invested. We hope the research will inform future discussions by policymakers and the charity sector itself, acting as a springboard for further action to expand the trustee community in England and Wales.’
This article has outlined some of the headline findings, but if you’re interested, please read the research in more detail…
Need some guidance?
Burton Sweet provide training for Boards on Trustee core duties and responsibilities and can help conduct a Board Effectiveness Review, enabling you to identify gaps in your governance. Please contact us to find out more….
