Trustee role description

The statutory duties of a trustee:

  1. To ensure that the organisation complies with its governing document, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations
  2. To ensure that the organisation pursues its objects as defined in its governing document
  3. To ensure the organisation uses its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects: the organisation must not spend money on activities which are not included in its own objects, no matter how worthwhile or charitable those activities are
  4. To contribute actively to the board of trustees’ role in giving firm strategic direction to the organisation, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets
  5. To safeguard the good name and values of the organisation.
  6. To ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation
  7. To ensure the financial stability of the organisation
  8. To protect and manage the property of the charity and to ensure the proper investment of the charity’s funds
  9. If the organisation employs staff, to appoint the chief executive officer and monitor his/her performance

 

In addition to the above statutory duties, each trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the board of trustees reach sound decisions. This may involve; scrutinising board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing guidance on new initiatives, other issues in which the trustee has special expertise.

 

Updated July 2023