5 reasons why becoming a trustee could be the best decision you ever make

It’s never been easier to be a great trustee

There is loads of help, advice and guidance available for trustees now. In addition to outlines of the regulatory stuff you’ll need to know, there are more practical guides to being a brilliant trustee, and tools like DSC’s free Governance App that are designed to make things as easy as possible.  

On a practical note, many Boards are still meeting virtually, either for all or some of their work, which can make it even easier to commit the time to attend meetings. Virtual meetings also make it easier to commit to charities outside of your local area (no travel!), fit meetings in around the day job, or balance things with childcare and other responsibilities. 

Turbo-charged experience

Of course being a trustee looks good on your CV, but there’s a reason for that. As a trustee, you’ll learn to think strategically, and likely be overseeing whole-organisation plans and long-term objectives in a way that you might not be doing in your day job. You’ll learn from your fellow trustees, and build your financial and organisational knowledge  

It’s awesome practice

Got plans to become a charity CEO or senior manager? Being a trustee is the perfect way to get to grips with the Board/Executive dynamics, and learn how best to support and work with other trustees when it’s your turn to support and report to them. Become a great trustee, and then become a great CEO by helping your trustees to be great! 

Trustees are just people who care about the same things

Yes being a trustee comes with responsibility, but essentially a Board of trustees is just a group of people who care enough about a cause or an organisation enough to come together and help support it with their time and expertise. Becoming a trustee will instantly connect you with other Board members and charity staff who share your passion, and are working together to achieve the same goals.

You can make a real difference

To say there is a lot going on in the world right now is an understatement. It can be easy to look at all of the social and environmental challenges we’re facing and feel like there’s nothing you can do to make things better. By giving a few days a year of your time to help lead a charity that’s trying to improve the world for its beneficiaries, you can be part of making a really positive difference in the world.  

Post-pandemic and mid-cost of living crisis, many charities are facing new challenges, with Boards that would benefit massively from the perspectives of new trustees, and creates a situation where you can make a real impact at Board level and be part of shaping a charity’s future.