Trustee role descriptions (chair, secretary, treasurer, safeguarding lead)

How to use this: adapt each description to your charity and use them for recruitment, induction and sharing the workload. They describe additional responsibilities on top of every trustee’s shared legal duties.

Chair

The chair leads the board and helps it work effectively. On top of the shared trustee duties, the chair: plans and chairs trustee meetings; makes sure decisions are made properly and followed up; supports and, where there is one, line-manages the senior staff member; represents the charity externally; and helps the board function as a team. The chair does not run the charity alone — they enable the board to lead together.

Secretary

The secretary keeps the board organised and its records in order. On top of the shared trustee duties, the secretary: arranges meetings and circulates papers in good time; takes or oversees the minutes; maintains key records and registers (including conflicts of interest); tracks actions and deadlines; and helps ensure the charity meets its filing and governance obligations. In small charities this role is sometimes shared or supported by staff.

Treasurer

The treasurer helps the board oversee the charity’s finances. On top of the shared trustee duties, the treasurer: presents the financial position to the board in plain terms; helps prepare budgets and the annual accounts; oversees financial controls and reserves; and flags financial risks early. The treasurer supports the board’s financial oversight — all trustees remain jointly responsible for the charity’s finances, not the treasurer alone.

Safeguarding lead (designated safeguarding lead)

The safeguarding lead is the point of contact for safeguarding concerns. On top of the shared trustee duties (or as a staff/volunteer role reporting to the board), they: receive and act on concerns; liaise with the local authority, police and the Charity Commission as needed; keep the safeguarding policy current; arrange training; and keep confidential records. This role needs appropriate training. Trustees retain collective responsibility for safeguarding.