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The role of a charity trustee

The role of a charity trustee

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.