Being a trustee is a rewarding experience for all ages. And with more diverse boards, charities may fare better in difficult times
In these tough times, many charities are looking for new sources of income, support, or profile. There are plenty of routes to do this, including new trading activities or fundraising approaches, but to diversify their support, charities may need to diversify their people.
A wider mix of perspectives and skillsets on their boards can potentially help them to:
- Access income and support.
- Identify how technology could boost their reach and efficiency.
- Improve their services to users.
A wider mix needed
According to data from Scottish charities regulator OSCR, the age range of trustees in Scotland reaches from 16 to 97. But within that range, there are diversity gaps. In Glasgow, for instance, eight out of 10 charities have all-white trustee boards – a figure that doesn't reflect the city's population mix.
Research for the Charity Commission for England and Wales showed that over half of all trustees are retired, with an average age of 65, and there's no reason to think that the picture in Scotland is radically different.
Don't miss out
It's not just charities that could miss out through a lack of diversity among their trustees, it's also individuals.
Being a trustee can enhance your CV, develop your skills and networks, provide a sense of purpose, and allow you to support a cause even if you're not in a position to help through donations. In the Charity Commission research:
- One in three trustees said their role expanded their social circle.
- Over half of trustees under 30 said their role supported their career development.
- Eight in ten trustees would be likely to recommend the role to others.
So the benefits work both ways but only if more people are prepared to give it a go and if more charities and boards are prepared to give other people a go.
Making diversity work in practice
To make sure that trustees understand their legal obligations and can add value to the board, rather than disrupting it unhelpfully or feeling unable to contribute, the following practical tips can be helpful.
For charities
- Doing a skills matrix of your board to identify skills and experience gaps.
- Useful skills to look for could include lived experience, tech, fundraising, safeguarding, community engagement, or communications.
- Provide trustee and governance training, so all trustees understand their responsibilities and how to carry them out.
- Offer phased routes to trusteeship – such as board shadowing or mentoring.
For potential trustees
- Use sources like the OSCR website to do your homework about any charity – including its finances – so you know what you're taking on.
- Have confidence in yourself and your ability to bring useful perspectives.
- Be clear about what you can offer and commit to – from cybersecurity or AI expertise to connections.
- Ask for support such as trustee and governance training, mentoring or shadowing opportunities.
