A guest blog, written by Shirley Otto in response to Penny Wilson’s guest blog on nfp’s research on perceptions of trusteeship.
Recently, nfpResearch published a timely survey based on public polling of 1,000 people across Great Britain exploring public perceptions, understanding and interest in trusteeship in charities. The research is encouraging: trustees are viewed positively. However, this is a bit watered down as few of the public said they understood the role of trustees – with half the public uncertain about what a charity trustee is. Only 15% of the public correctly identify trustees as accountable for a charity’s direction and strategy, and only 35% correctly identified trustees as unpaid volunteers who receive expenses.
Once again, we have the debate exploring motivating people to be trustees by paying them. There is no argument that trustees should be offered, and accept, their expenses (including childcare). It’s about being paid to be a trustee: for trusteeship no longer to be an example of voluntary action based on the commitment of an individual to a cause or campaign important to them.
It is an important debate because the recruitment of trustees is a real and ongoing issue.
Penny Wilson, a governance specialist writing in response to nfp’s research, points out – rightly, to my mind – the real difference it would make if training and support of Trustees were very much better. The provision of induction and training can be woeful.
In 2022 and 2024, Scotland’s Third Sector Governance Forum surveyed key issues about governance for the third sector, as well as what helped and hindered implementing the Scottish Governance Code. The answer was the same in both cases: a major hinderance was poor induction of trustees, followed by inadequate training.
Why does this continue to be the case? Back to the nfpResearch: only a minority would consider becoming a trustee. Why would you volunteer for a demanding role you don’t understand? It could also be because the public are not familiar with the rewards and the deep satisfaction in making a difference to things that matter. Indeed, how would the public know much about charity trustees when they are almost invisible to the public?
When have trustees or trusteeship been included in the plot – even subplot – of film or a TV or radio programme? When cohesive control, as a feature of marital violence, was the subject of ‘The Archers’, the impact was enormous. A story based on some of the Board dynamics I have witnessed would need no embellishment. And what about a murder mystery? The chair of Board is found dead. Was it the Chief Officer, the ambitious vice chair or the treasurer known to be close to bankruptcy?
Let’s forget about paying charity trustees and address making their motivation, role and contribution visible. Never losing the essence of trusteeship or volunteering, in order to ensure that people or a cause gets the best from resources, and gets it because they matter: not for some money.
Get the full picture:
Read nfp co-MD Tim's write-up of the Trustee research: The public’s understanding and perception of trustees
Read the Trustee research response from Felicia Willow (Interims for Impact)
Read the Trustee research response from Penny Wilson (Governance Consultant)
Read the Trustee research response from Liz Lowther (Association of Chairs)