Small charity trustee
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DCLane
Found in the Yorkshire hills ...
- Location
- Dewsbury, West Yorkshire
I did it for a few years - it's about making sure the paperwork is correct and the charity is operating according to the principles for which it was established.
Difficulties? Keeping it all going. It was challenging at times.
Note that in my case I took on a trustee role as part of a process of sorting out major issues with the charity. I'd set out guidelines and stated my exit point from the start, which was once those issues were resolved (legal stuff, financial and volunteer stability, wider reach and greater recognition).
Difficulties? Keeping it all going. It was challenging at times.
Note that in my case I took on a trustee role as part of a process of sorting out major issues with the charity. I'd set out guidelines and stated my exit point from the start, which was once those issues were resolved (legal stuff, financial and volunteer stability, wider reach and greater recognition).
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
A trustee for a small charity, or a small person who is a trustee for a charity?
If its the former, yes, once.
I didn't last long, about two months. The chair was a pecker and we clashed, so I quit. It was later discovered the treasurer had stolen nearly all the charity's money ( he went to prison) and the timing of my departure put me well clear of the fallout.
If its the former, yes, once.
I didn't last long, about two months. The chair was a pecker and we clashed, so I quit. It was later discovered the treasurer had stolen nearly all the charity's money ( he went to prison) and the timing of my departure put me well clear of the fallout.
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BrumJim
Forum Stalwart (won't take the hint and leave...)
- Location
- Selly Oak, Birmingham
Similar experience to @DCLane . Meetings to go to, a bit of admin to worry about.
And then, if it all goes wrong, a lot of hard decisions.
There is plenty of guidance from the government on responsibilities of a trustee. Read an ask questions. Be the awkward new one, because most of the old guard won't have kept up to date with new duties. And always a good idea to be vigilant and ask questions, being the new broom. Like is it OK to charge the charity for the donuts at the AGM?
But generally, you are there to make sure that the charity does what it is supposed to do. You are legally responsible, so don't take it lightly, but if there is a rogue element and you couldn't reasonably be expected to know, you should not be responsible for their actions. Might need insurance for that, but worth checking.
And then, if it all goes wrong, a lot of hard decisions.
There is plenty of guidance from the government on responsibilities of a trustee. Read an ask questions. Be the awkward new one, because most of the old guard won't have kept up to date with new duties. And always a good idea to be vigilant and ask questions, being the new broom. Like is it OK to charge the charity for the donuts at the AGM?
But generally, you are there to make sure that the charity does what it is supposed to do. You are legally responsible, so don't take it lightly, but if there is a rogue element and you couldn't reasonably be expected to know, you should not be responsible for their actions. Might need insurance for that, but worth checking.
Gwylan
Guru
- Location
- All at sea⛵
Depends a lot on what and why.
What is the Charity saying it is there for?
Is it delivering?
I've been a trustee for a very small, but very useful charity.
Trustees can bring skills and objectivity that the actual practitioners lack or find it hard to apply.
I've also been a trustee of a charity that sat on millions of pounds and people left 6 figure sums to.
That was really hard, not always nice and difficult to feel trustees made any difference.
Choose carefully and be where you can contribute. Expect to be snowed by paper and jobsworf.
What is the Charity saying it is there for?
Is it delivering?
I've been a trustee for a very small, but very useful charity.
Trustees can bring skills and objectivity that the actual practitioners lack or find it hard to apply.
I've also been a trustee of a charity that sat on millions of pounds and people left 6 figure sums to.
That was really hard, not always nice and difficult to feel trustees made any difference.
Choose carefully and be where you can contribute. Expect to be snowed by paper and jobsworf.
Supersuperleeds
Legendary Member
- Location
- Leicester
I was the treasurer and a trustee for our local scout group for about 10 years.
I attended quarterly meetings and as well as looking after the finances I was responsible,along with the rest of the trustees, of making sure that we were spent what little money we had responsibly. I also had to present the accounts at the AGM.
Since I work in the finance, the treasury side was easy, difficulties were dealing with non financial people and explaining why we shouldn't do certain things from a monetary stance.
Rewards? It was my way of giving back after my kids went through scouts, when I left the group leader had been involved for over 40 years
I attended quarterly meetings and as well as looking after the finances I was responsible,along with the rest of the trustees, of making sure that we were spent what little money we had responsibly. I also had to present the accounts at the AGM.
Since I work in the finance, the treasury side was easy, difficulties were dealing with non financial people and explaining why we shouldn't do certain things from a monetary stance.
Rewards? It was my way of giving back after my kids went through scouts, when I left the group leader had been involved for over 40 years
ebikeerwidnes
Guru
- Location
- Z’ha’dum
A friend of mine is a trustee for a charity saving and keeping pictures and documentation of old busses and similar
Yes - I know!
anyway he did have a problem at one point
a company making twee chocolate boxes for tourists wanted some nice pictures of buses and he sold them a few non critical one that were prettier than the normal ones
They paid quite a bit for them
anyway - the tax man came along and reckoned that if these 5 images we worth £x
and he had y thousand images/pictures
then the "charity" had received donation worth x times y
in reality a grainy picture of a Leyland Atlantean from 1973 taken out side the bus garage in Laid Street, Birkenhead - which is the sort of thing the charity is there to preserve
and is of very little value to the average person
It took him a long time to get the charity out of a huge tax problem
just something weird that can crop up
Yes - I know!
anyway he did have a problem at one point
a company making twee chocolate boxes for tourists wanted some nice pictures of buses and he sold them a few non critical one that were prettier than the normal ones
They paid quite a bit for them
anyway - the tax man came along and reckoned that if these 5 images we worth £x
and he had y thousand images/pictures
then the "charity" had received donation worth x times y
in reality a grainy picture of a Leyland Atlantean from 1973 taken out side the bus garage in Laid Street, Birkenhead - which is the sort of thing the charity is there to preserve
and is of very little value to the average person
It took him a long time to get the charity out of a huge tax problem
just something weird that can crop up
PaulSB
Squire
- Location
- Chorley, Lancashire
Like @Supersuperleeds I am Treasurer and trustee for a small charity. This is a local u3a branch - all u3as are charities. Are we small, yes, tiny, with a turnover of +/-£15,000. I'm not financially trained but ran the management accounts for my last employer, the Treasurer side of my role doesn't present any challenges.
As previously said as a trustee you are legally responsible for the charity. One aspect to be aware of is the new Charity Commission requirements. If your question is stimulated by being asked to become a trustee you should be aware of the following, especially if the charity is long established. It's possible small, long established charities may not have encountered this before.
Over the past two years the Charity Commission has introduced a requirement for all charities to have a number, 10 - 12, of written policies in place. For example Equally, Diversity and Inclusion, Health and Safety, Safeguarding, Grievance and Disciplinary. These are all pretty standard but if a charity doesn't have them in place writing a policy is a great deal of work. These have to be taken seriously as the person submitting the annual return has to confirm they are in place. As a trustee you would be responsible, along with other trustees, for ensuring such policies are put in place.
As previously said as a trustee you are legally responsible for the charity. One aspect to be aware of is the new Charity Commission requirements. If your question is stimulated by being asked to become a trustee you should be aware of the following, especially if the charity is long established. It's possible small, long established charities may not have encountered this before.
Over the past two years the Charity Commission has introduced a requirement for all charities to have a number, 10 - 12, of written policies in place. For example Equally, Diversity and Inclusion, Health and Safety, Safeguarding, Grievance and Disciplinary. These are all pretty standard but if a charity doesn't have them in place writing a policy is a great deal of work. These have to be taken seriously as the person submitting the annual return has to confirm they are in place. As a trustee you would be responsible, along with other trustees, for ensuring such policies are put in place.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Go in with your eyes wide open and make sure you know what's required. A well run charity won't be an issue, but one that's not is a legal nightmare.
As an accountant, I won't be doing stuff like that when I retire... I'll volunteer on 'the ground', but I've had a lifetime of ensuring large organisation financial compliance.
As an accountant, I won't be doing stuff like that when I retire... I'll volunteer on 'the ground', but I've had a lifetime of ensuring large organisation financial compliance.
ebikeerwidnes
Guru
- Location
- Z’ha’dum
Sorry - off topic
but when I first a teacher I was officially the Head of IT
so I was incharge of the Department
and as such I was responsible for having proper policies in place
One of them was the gender equality policy
now - there was an inspection coming up. In those dyas you got 6 months notice (which was stupid but anyway)
My Gender equality policy was one line
"All girls in my classes are treated the same irrespective of gender"
It was a Girls' bording school - no male pupils
when we had teh inspection I had a whole inspector to myself - he was in nearly every lesson inspite of us only being supposed to be in one or two a day
but he was OK and we got on well
at the end he turned to me and said
"We don;t take a lot of notice of the polices as long as they are there - but your gender one gave us a good laugh and was probably the best of all of them"
sorry - back to topic
but when I first a teacher I was officially the Head of IT
so I was incharge of the Department
and as such I was responsible for having proper policies in place
One of them was the gender equality policy
now - there was an inspection coming up. In those dyas you got 6 months notice (which was stupid but anyway)
My Gender equality policy was one line
"All girls in my classes are treated the same irrespective of gender"
It was a Girls' bording school - no male pupils
when we had teh inspection I had a whole inspector to myself - he was in nearly every lesson inspite of us only being supposed to be in one or two a day
but he was OK and we got on well
at the end he turned to me and said
"We don;t take a lot of notice of the polices as long as they are there - but your gender one gave us a good laugh and was probably the best of all of them"
sorry - back to topic
Bonefish Blues
Banging donk
- Location
- 52 Festive Road
If this is the subtext, find another one because if you care about the cause and you're not able to do anything meaningful (although delivering shedloads of cash is pretty meaningful TBF) then it'd drive you nuts.
oldandslow
Guru
Trustees are not appointed as sources of income but to oversee/guide the work of the charity. @Supersuperleeds mentioned Scout groups, which are all charities - I'm a leader and a trustee, although most leaders aren't trustees these days. Local churches and other religious bodies are also charities. I guess if you wanted to give someone a title to reflect their financial or other support, you might look for some kind of honorary title, but it shouldn't be trustee.
BrumJim
Forum Stalwart (won't take the hint and leave...)
- Location
- Selly Oak, Birmingham
I would be tempted to go for the grenade approach here, and question as to if this is appropriate, or if the role of encouraging rich people to donate to the charity is in conflict with the role as a trustee. i.e. if a large amount of money is promised, but with conditions attached, it is up to the trustees to judge as to whether the conditions compromise the aims and responsibilities of the charity. And as the conduit for those donations, your independence is compromised and should be declared in all related discussions.
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