Across the UK, there are nearly one million trustees. This Trustees Week, we’re celebrating the incredible contribution trustees make to charities across the UK. These dedicated volunteers play a vital role in guiding organisations, shaping strategy, and ensuring that charitable missions are delivered with integrity and impact.
What’s a trustee’s role?
Trustees are the stewards of a charity’s vision. They:
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Set direction and oversee governance
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Support financial and legal decision-making
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Champion the charity’s values and purpose
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Act as critical friends to leadership teams
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Help build resilience and long-term sustainability
Their insight and experience help charities navigate challenges, make the most of opportunities, and stay focused.
Our board of trustees
At the Berkeley Foundation, we’re fortunate to work with a fantastic board of trustees who bring a range of experience and perspectives to the table. You can meet them here.
Our Trustee Liz Adekunle comments:
“Being a trustee is an important and rewarding responsibility. Trustees play a key role in ensuring that the charity is well-run, ethical and focused on achieving its goals. It is a privilege to be part of the Berkeley Foundation which allows individuals to make a real difference by supporting positive change and helping the charity to have a lasting and meaningful impact on people’s lives.”
Our Chair Piers Clanford adds:
“My first year as Chair of the Berkeley Foundation has been hugely rewarding – both personally and professionally. I have been honoured to see many of our fantastic charity partnerships in action and see first-hand the positive impact that they are having in our communities.”
Get involved
If you’re passionate about a cause, you could consider becoming a charity trustee. At a time when many charities face increasing demand and limited resources, strong trustee leadership is more important than ever. It’s also a chance to give back, grow your skills, and help shape the future of a charity doing meaningful work.
A 2024 survey by The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) revealed that 4 out of 5 responding organisations had at least one vacant board position. Many charities are very keen to diversify their boards and are looking for trustees with ages, experiences, ethnicities and backgrounds that are currently under-represented on their boards.
You can find more information about being a trustee here:
Trustees Week – Showcasing the work of charity trustees
And you can find live trustee vacancies here: Search for volunteer opportunities | Reach Volunteering
Your time, voice, and expertise could make all the difference.