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The role of a charity trustee

The role of a charity trustee

Executive Committees are now known as Trustee Boards. To learn more about what we are doing to improve how we volunteer at Scouts, visit the Volunteer Experience webpages.

The Charity Commission for England & Wales outlines the main responsibilities and duties of charity trustees as follows:

  • Ensure your charity is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit
  • Comply with your charities’ governing document (in the Scouts this is POR) and the law
  • Act in your charity’s best interests
  • Ensure your charity is accountable
  • Manage your charity’s resources responsibly
  • Act with reasonable care and skill

The various charity regulators provide some helpful publications to provide useful supporting information to help explain the role of a charity trustee. These include:

Charity Commission for England & Wales

  • CC3 - The Essential Trustee: What you need to know, what you need to do
  • RS23 - A Breath of Fresh Air: Young People as Charity Trustees

Find these publications on the Charity Commission's website.

OSCR

  • Guidance and Good Practice for Charity Trustees
  • Guidance for Charity Trustees – easy read guide

Find these publications on the OSCR's website.

Charity Commission for Northern Ireland

  • CCNI EG024 – Running Your Charity

Find this publication on the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's website.