Less than 1% of charity trustees are aged 18-24
A survey aiming to measure the experiences of young people who serve as charity trustees has been launched.
Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) and young charity trustee and campaigner Leon Ward launched the Young Trustee Survey saying they hoped to learn enough to be able to inspire the next generation of young trustees.
The survey follows a recommendation from the Growing Giving Parliamentary Inquiry, which called for more young people to be given the opportunity to access the skills needed to take up governance roles in charities, with a longer-term aim of getting more young charity trustees.
At present, despite accounting for 12% of the population, people aged 18-24 make up less than 1% of charity trustees, and two-thirds of all trustees are aged 50+.
Commenting on the launch of the survey, Leon Ward, trustee of Plan UK, said: “My experience as a younger trustee has helped me understand the contribution that young people can make to the charity sector, and I hope we can inspire more young people and more charities, of all sizes to get involved.
Trustees play an important role in the governance of charities across the UK. But it’s crucial that trustees are representative of society as a whole
“By learning lessons and building on best practice from elsewhere we can encourage more young people to consider becoming trustees, which will benefit charities too through the different perspectives and viewpoints that young people can bring to the table.”
As well as learning of the experiences of young people who have served as a trustee the survey also hopes to explore the views held by those who have interacted with young trustees in their role at a charity.
CAF’s chief executive John Low said: “Trustees play an important role in the governance of charities across the UK. But it’s crucial that trustees are representative of society as a whole, and that includes making sure that people of a range of ages are given the opportunity to serve.
“In line with the recommendations of the Growing Giving Parliamentary Inquiry, we need to make sure that young people are able to access the skills that they need to be trustees in the future and that charities seek to create opportunities for young people to get involved in this way. The Young Trustee Survey will help us to achieve those aims.”
The Young Trustees Survey can be found here: growinggiving.org.uk/young-trustees.
