Get involved this Trustees Week!

Trustees Week is coming up (3rd-7th November)! This national awareness week celebrates the work and achievements of charity trustees and inspires others to step up.

And Dudley CVS has some networking and learning events, resources and initiatives for experienced and new trustees, as well as those curious about what the role involves.

A. For new trustees or people curious about the trustee role

1. An introduction to being a charity trustee, Tuesday 4th November, 6pm (online)

This short online session will outline the legal duties associated with being a charity trustee and signpost you to further guidance to help you improve your understanding of being a trustee.

The session will be particularly useful for anyone who:

• Is a new charity trustee
• Is interested in becoming a charity trustee
• Would like to refresh their knowledge and understanding.

You’ll receive information, hints and tips, and links to further guidance. You’ll also be able to ask questions and make connections.

The virtual session will be held online. Please register here.

 

2. Becoming a not-for-profit sector leader

Visit our resource page for handy information about being a charity trustee. This includes an FAQ developed with people curious to learn more about being a trustee.

If you’re interested in becoming a charity trustee but aren’t sure where to start, you can also complete our expression of interest form and we’ll get in touch to offer you some support.

 

B. For people who want to expand their board of trustees

1. Recruiting charity trustees, Wednesday 5th November, 6pm (online)

If you’re finding it difficult to find new trustees for your charity, you’re not on your own. Trustees are typically hard to find and in our experience, many charities find it hard to recruit to those all important governance roles.

The good news is that there are some strategies you can use to identify and recruit new trustees for your charity, and we’ll introduce you to them in this online session. This session will also be relevant for community groups and other types of not-for-profits that are seeking new committee members or directors.

During this online session we’ll look at:

• what puts people off becoming a trustee
• the legal rules to remember around appointing new trustees
• getting your current trustees ready for new trustees
• recruiting for skills and experience
• induction, training and support
• hooking people into your cause
• promoting your opportunities

To access the session, please book your place(s) here.

 

2. If you’re a current trustee, help us to help others step into the role

We’re asking current trustees for their experiences of being a charity trustee so that we can help people to step into the role with confidence. We’d love to learn more about your motivations, experiences and tips so that we can encourage new people to step up as leaders and give them the best support possible. If you have 5 minutes to spare, please share your experiences here.

 

C. Further support and resources

Trustees Week 2025 website

This website is a comprehensive listing of events happening throughout the week, many of which are free to access. There’s also links to further tools and stories from charity trustees.

The Charity Commission’s 5 minute guides

The Charity Commission has written new 5 minute guides, covering the top areas of trustee responsibilities:

• Delivering purpose
• Managing finances
• Conflicts of interest
• Making decisions
• Reporting information
• Safeguarding people
• Political campaigning

The Essential Trustee

The Charity Commission’s core guidance for charity trustees, which covers the legal duties and responsibilities of charity trustees.

The Charity Governance Code

A practical tool for charities and their trustees to develop high standards of governance.

NCVO Good Trustee Guide

Primarily for new trustees. It provides guidance across a range of topics from setting up a charity right through to closing your charity.

Finally, we offer training to any Dudley-based charity on the roles and responsibilities of trustees using The Essential Trustee and the Charity Governance Code. This training takes boards through the principles of trusteeship and helps you to identify gaps, providing you with support, guidance and knowhow to improve your board’s performance. Please get in touch if you’d like this training.