Become a SAVTE trustee
Trustees are volunteers who play an essential role leading and governing charities, and who
work as a team to make effective decisions. You don’t have to be in paid work or have years
of previous experience to be a trustee. Good people skills and great teamwork are just as
important as technical knowledge or professional expertise.
What do trustees do?
First and foremost, charity trustees have a strategic decision-making role. They guide the
charity’s activities, funds and future—in other words, they oversee the charity’s affairs.
Trustees set the direction of the organisation and work closely with the CEO. They’re an
absolutely necessary part of any charity.
Some of these responsibilities can include:
Helping the CEO lead the organisation.
Contributing skills and expertise to an important cause.
Leading the strategic development of the organisation.
Making sure the charity is delivering on its goals.
Looking after the organisation’s finances.
Taking care of the charity’s assets.
For more information about the trustee role in general, see this guide from Reach
Volunteering.
Why become a trustee?
Being a trustee not only connects people to causes and communities they care deeply
about, but people feel that it also sharpens their skills. Government research reported that:
one of the major benefits of their roles in a charity is that it allows them to use
existing skills in a new context (66%)
trusteeship helps them more connected to their local community or to a cause
that’s important to them (65%)
Being a trustee?
provides an opportunity to make a difference in your community – trustees
have the opportunity to use their skills and talents to help others and make a difference in
the lives of the charity’s beneficiaries; is a chance to learn new skills and gain experience in
a non-profit management – providing an opportunity for personal and professional growth
and development such as acquiring new skills, broadening your knowledge, and enhance
your understanding of governance, leadership, and organisational development; provides
networking and connections through working alongside others with diverse backgrounds
and expertise with opportunities for collaboration and partnerships.
It can also be great experience to add to your CV, whether you work in the charity sector or
not. And if you’re already highly skilled, it’s a great way to use these skills to make a
difference for a cause you’re passionate about.
Commitments of SAVTE trustees
Although this is a voluntary role, there are expectations that trustees will attend trustee
board meetings and participate in subgroups. SAVTE trustee board meets face to face four
times a year for around two and a half hours. All trustees are also encouraged to join one of
SAVTE’s subgroups – frequency of meetings is determined by the group and these are
sometimes face to face but also online.
SAVTE provides a dedicated email address to all trustees, uses a trustee whatsapp group and
provides signed in access to relevant information files.
SAVTE trustee role description
Our trustees play a vital role in making sure that SAVTE achieves its core purpose. They
oversee the overall management and administration of the charity. They also ensure that
SAVTE has a clear strategy and that our work and goals are in line with our vision. Just as
importantly, they support and challenge the staff management team to enable SAVTE to
grow and thrive, and through this achieve our mission.
Board members have a collective responsibility. This means that trustees always act as a
group and not as individuals.
Duties:
Support and provide advice on SAVTE’s purpose, vision, goals and activities.
Approve operational strategies and policies, and monitor and evaluate their
implementation.
Oversee SAVTE’s financial plans and budgets and monitor and evaluate progress.
Review and approve SAVTE’s financial statements.
Ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.
Ensure that key risks are being identified, monitored and controlled effectively.
Provide support and challenge to SAVTE’s CEO as they carry out their delegated
authority.
Keep abreast of changes in SAVTE’s operating environment.
Contribute to regular reviews of SAVTE’s own governance. Attend Board meetings,
adequately prepared to contribute to discussions.
Use independent judgment, acting legally and in good faith to promote and protect
SAVTE’s interests, to the exclusion of their own personal and/or any third party
interests.
Contribute to the broader promotion of SAVTE’s objects, aims and reputation by
applying your skills, expertise, knowledge and contacts.
As a small charity, there will be times when the trustees will need to be actively involved
beyond Board meetings. This may involve scrutinising board papers, leading discussions,
focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, presenting
externally, or other issues in which the trustee has special expertise.
What we are looking for
We are looking for people willing to bring energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the role,
and who will broaden the diversity of thinking on our board. We’re really keen to recruit
more trustees who have lived experience that reflects the experiences of the people SAVTE
supports. We also welcome people who have professional experience that they can
contribute to the organisation. In particular, we’d like to hear from people who:
have lived experience of the issues of under-represented communities,
have a multilingual background,
have been ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) learners,
have experience of fundraising and/or managing finances,
have experience of managing people and/or human resources experience,
have experience of community development work,
have experience of monitoring and evaluation to measure impact.
You do not need previous governance experience – we will provide a full induction and
training.
Personal skills and qualities required
Willingness and ability to understand and accept their responsibilities and liabilities
as trustees and to act in the best interests of the organisation.
Ability to think creatively and strategically, exercise good, independent judgement
and work effectively as a board member.
Effective communication skills and willingness to participate actively in discussion.
A strong personal commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
Enthusiasm for our vision and mission.
Willingness to lead according to our organisational values.
Commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity,
objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
Terms of appointment
Terms of office
Trustees are appointed for an initial 3-year term of office, with optional renewal for
a further term to a maximum of 6 years.
This is a voluntary position, but reasonable expenses, such as travel costs, are
reimbursed.
Time commitment
Participation in four Board meetings per year. Currently meetings are held in person
at the SAVTE offices.
Attending an annual away day
Participation in one of the board subgroups – online or in person approximately four
times a year
Ad hoc support through occasional working groups and/or support to the staff team.
If you think you would like to become a trustee ….
You will be invited to meet with a couple of SAVTE trustees to find out more and/or to join a
few of us for an informal chat before a board meeting. You are welcome to observe a
trustee board meeting.