Charity trustees are the people who serve on the governing body of a charity. They come from all walks of life and almost everyone has abilities, knowledge or experience that they can bring to a charity.
Being a trustee should be rewarding and enjoyable, and an opportunity to make a positive difference and serve the community while learning new skills. A strong personal commitment to the charity's aims is important. Most trustees are unpaid volunteers, but trustees are allowed to be reimbursed for reasonable expenses; there is no reason for trustees to be out-of-pocket.
Trustees have duties and responsibilities to their charity, its supporters and beneficiaries. If you have recently become a trustee, or even if you have been a trustee for years, it is important that you are aware of these and we encourage you to read the general guidance provided by the Charity Commission for England and Wales on its website.
It should be noted whilst this guidance is useful as an overview, it should be read with care as it has not been drafted by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland and does not take account of Northern Irish law. We hope to produce our own guidance in the coming months.
