Charity trustee

Trustees are the people in charge of a charity. Whatever they are called in your governing document — trustees, directors, the board, the management committee — they carry the legal responsibility for the charity and make the decisions that steer it. Day-to-day work may be delegated to staff or volunteers, but the duties stay with the board.

The Charity Commission’s guidance The essential trustee (CC3) sets out six core trustee duties, starting with ensuring the charity carries out its purposes for the public benefit. (Source: GOV.UK, The essential trustee: what you need to know (CC3), accessed 9 July 2026.) The others: comply with the governing document and the law; act in the charity’s best interests; manage resources responsibly; act with reasonable care and skill; and ensure accountability.

Good boards recruit for a mix of skills, manage conflicts of interest openly, and keep clear minutes. New to the role? Start with the Trustee & Governance Handbook.