Charity Commission updates guidance to help charities open up opportunities for new trustees
Howard Lake | 14 May 2025 | News
The Charity Commission has refreshed its guidance on recruiting trustees (CC30), aiming to help charities open up trusteeship to a wider range of people.
The update follows research revealing that just 6% of trustees applied for their role via an advert, and that more than half of charities relied on personal contacts to recruit new trustees. The research was conducted with think tank and social sector research organisation Pro Bono Economics.
The refreshed guidance focuses on practical steps charities can take to connect with a broader range of candidates, and to identify and remove barriers that may put people off applying for the role. It includes advice on:
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- Writing a trustee role description that distinguishes between what is required and what can be learnt in the role
- Posting ads via social media or using trustee finder services
- Conducting a skills audit to identify what the charity needs from its trustees
- Supporting the induction of new trustees to help retain them
The guidance notes that while recruiting within known circles can help identify good candidates, it limits the field and can create governance risks.
Mazeda Alam, Head of Trustee Guidance at the Charity Commission said:
“It is fantastic that so many trustees recommend the role to others, and we know for some it is an essential way to fill vacancies.
“However, we want our refreshed guidance to get trustees thinking about how they can broaden their reach when recruiting to their board. Small changes like writing your trustee role description differently or re-considering what skills are really essential, could widen the net and land you a valuable, new addition – taking your board from strength to strength.
“Our casework has shown that it can be difficult to instil essential governance processes when there are multiple personal ties on a board. We’re also aware that some charities may not have the minimum number of trustees required by their governing document. We want our guidance to support trustees to avoid these risks and help open up trusteeship to all.”
The full guidance is available on GOV.UK.
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About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.