Responsibilities as a Trustee

Like with any voluntary role, there are some important responsibilities as a Trustee, which include:

• To take big decisions about the future of the organisation.
• To act in the best interests of the charity and its beneficiaries.
• To have a duty of care and to act reasonably, and prudently and to aim to have a higher duty in areas of their own expertise.
• To ensure that everything the organisation does is legal and safe.
• To ensure that the organisation pursues its original objects and or purposes, as set out in its governing document.
To ensure that any assets (including funds, investments and property) of the organisation are protected and used exclusively to pursue its purposes.
• To support the head of staff.
• To ensure that you as trustees are up to date and skilled to do your job.

As well as all the above information, a Trustee should avoid any conflicts of interest and to act with integrity.

The Trustee board must take any decisions collectively and they must meet as often as they need to in order to carry out their responsibilities.