Supporting trustees to thrive

27 October, 2026

Charities

Behind every successful charity is a group of trustees helping to guide decisions, oversee resources and support the organisation's long term goals.

Being a trustee can be incredibly rewarding, but it also comes with important responsibilities. From overseeing finances and making strategic decisions, to ensuring compliance with charity law, trustees play a vital role in helping charities achieve their purpose.

As charities continue to navigate changing demands, making sure trustees feel supported in their role has never been more important.

Understand your board's strengths

Every charity is different, and so are the skills and experiences needed on its trustee board.

Research from 2025 by the Charity Commission found that most charities are confident in their governance arrangements, with nearly 90% reporting their board has either significant governance skills or some level of governance expertise. The research also highlighted opportunities to strengthen knowledge in areas including legal matters, technology, finance and communications.

One practical way to assess your board's strengths is through a trustee skills audit.

A skills audit can help trustees:

Identify existing expertise across the board
Highlight areas where additional training may be beneficial
Support succession planning
Ensure the board remains equipped to meet future challenges

Rather than focusing on gaps, skills audits can provide a valuable opportunity to understand the strengths already within your trustee team and identify where further support may be helpful.

The NCVO offers a range of trustee tools and resources to help boards get started, including a trustee skills audit.

Help trustees contribute effectively

Trustee’s are more likely to feel engaged when they understand what’s expected of them and how their skills and experience can support the charities work.

Providing clear role information, sharing board papers and making sure meeting are purposeful can help trustees contribute with confidence. Small improvements to board processes can also make it easier for trustees to focus on strategic discussions and decision making.

For practical tips, NCVO has guidance on running an effective board meeting.

Provide a strong induction

Whether someone is becoming a trustee for the first time or bringing years of experience from another organisation, a structured induction can help them settle into the role more quickly.

New trustees should have access to key information, including:

Governing documents
Strategic plans
Financial information
Policies and procedures
Details of their legal responsibilities

A strong induction helps trustees understand both the charity's purpose and their role in supporting it.

Invest in learning and development

The responsibilities of a trustee continue to evolve. Areas such as digital technology, cyber risks, governance requirements and financial oversight are becoming increasingly important for charity boards.

Providing opportunities for ongoing learning can help trustees build confidence and stay informed about developments affecting the sector.

The Charity Commission's guidance, The Essential Trustee, remains a useful starting point for understanding trustee responsibilities.

Check in regularly

Supporting trustees shouldn't begin and end with inductions.

Regular conversations can help identify development needs, address concerns and understand what support trustees may need to perform their role effectively.

Simple actions such as getting feedback, reviewing board effectiveness and encouraging open conversations can help create a more engaged and confident trustee board.

Good governance starts with informed trustees

Ultimately, effective governance depends on trustees having access to the right knowledge, support and resources.

The Charity Commission makes clear that trustees should take reasonable steps to understand their legal duties and ensure their charity complies with relevant laws and governing documents.

Useful resources

Trustee’s Week – 9th to 13th November 2026

As part of Trustees' Week 2026, now is a good time to pause and reflect:

Does your board have the skills and knowledge it needs for the future?
Are new trustees receiving a thorough induction?
Are there opportunities for ongoing trustee development?
Do trustees understand their legal responsibilities?
Is enough being done to support and recognise trustees' contributions?

Small improvements can make a big difference to board effectiveness and trustee confidence.

Trustees' Week is about more than recognising the time trustees give. It's also an opportunity to consider how charities can better support the people helping to guide them.

By investing in trustee development, regularly reviewing board skills and ensuring trustees have access to the right resources, charities can strengthen governance, support better decision-making and help their organisations thrive long into the future.