One in a Million – Marking Trustee Week

Hundreds of events will be taking place this week as charities use Trustees’ Week as a time to thank the one million trustees across England and Wales for their time and dedication.

There are 196 voluntary organisations in Bassetlaw that all rely on the dedication, energy and commitment of c. 1,100 trustees in order to support their beneficiaries.

All these charities here in Bassetlaw as well as across the country rely on the volunteers to function and the These local Charities do not just help those in need but also enrich the lives of many in Bassetlaw through activities from gardening to theatres, from visiting the housebound to providing toddlers play opportunities. They also give many a chance to use their skills or learn new skills and get them involved in helping others. The Trustees of these charities give up not just their time, their energy and very often their money to run them and make these activities happen.

Trustees are the people ultimately in charge of a charity. They make decisions that help charities achieve their aims and change their beneficiaries’ lives.

It is also a time to encourage more people to become trustees, as many voluntary organisations find it difficult to recruit new trustees. As many as one in five charities are looking for a new trustee.

Being a trustee allows you not only to make a difference to the lives of others, but to learn new skills, meet different people, and develop your career. Voluntary organisations are always looking for a range of skills and different backgrounds on their boards, as well as more young people. You can find out more about trustee vacancies in here in Bassetlaw through NCVO’s Trustee Bank, Charity Job and Do It.

Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, said:

“Trustees’ Week is a great opportunity for us to recognise and celebrate trustees and the valuable contribution they make to our society. They play a vital role, volunteering their time and working together to make important decisions about the charity's work. Good governance is at the very heart of an effective charity.”

Trustee facts and figures

· There are over 160,000 charities in the UK, all of which rely on trustees. http://data.ncvo.org.uk/category/almanac/voluntary-sector/volunteering/

· There are one million trustee positions across England and Wales. However, the number of people who are trustees is likely to be considerably less. Research shows that 45% of trustees are members of two boards. http://oro.open.ac.uk/1274/

· There are 196 voluntary organisations in Bassetlaw with 1,100 trustee positions.

For more information please contact me