Alastair Keatinge says strong trustees have never been needed more - and that they need proper support

Trustees so often provide the “lightbulb moments” that prove game-changers for our charities - asking that critical “what if?” which makes a truly positive difference.

We should never forget that without trustees we would have no charities. In the family of volunteers who make the third sector tick, their time and input make the work that follows possible.

Strong trustees - those who care about their cause and offer real enthusiasm and expertise - are worth their weight in gold.

Make no bones about it, the need for us to have the right mix of skills and voices to inspire those lightbulb moments has never been more important, as the sector continues to navigate the challenges caused by Covid-19 and make the sometimes difficult decisions needed to secure the future.

That’s why we must always look after our trustees.

Figures released as part of Trustees Week - which we at Lindsays are proud to support as part of our work with Scotland’s Third Sector Governance Forum - show there are 180,000 trustees in Scotland, supporting 24,000 charities.

Yet more are needed. And if we are going to attract the new blood and fresh perspective that charities so often struggle to secure around their top table, trustees and potential trustees need to know that they are not alone. Being a trustee is a team game - and help is out there when you need it.

Long gone are the days when trustees were simply plucked from the great and good to offer stature to a cause. Yes, there’s often still a case for that, but only if they add value. At this time of once unthinkable challenge and change we need enterprising and effective board members to force a successful future.

You must have a variety of voices in your meeting room - virtual or otherwise. You need not just those who are ingrained in the purpose of your cause, but those who offer insight and inspire innovation in certain areas, from finances and fundraising to marketing and, dare I say it, digital. There’s no one-size-fits-all model of what makes a trustee.

But what they all have in common is the need to be supported so that they best can support us.

Trustees often tell me that for all the praise charities get, they sometimes feel under fire  – criticised for not being diverse enough, young enough, or savvy enough about the latest risks facing their charities. There’s also a risk that other people are deterred from becoming trustees by fear of what it involves. The way to tackle both issues is to provide trustees with effective training.

The need to support trustees is vital for charities trying to diversify their boards. There are clear attractions to having younger trustees – not least their ability to engage with different supporters, bring fresh ideas and harness the power of digital - but they still need to get up to speed with their legal and governance responsibilities.

We can dispel the myths of being a trustee and avoid problems by ensuring they know about their financial responsibility and personal liability, risk management and reporting, handling disputes and embedding effective decision making.

A little time on training can make all the difference to ensure our charities have the skills not only to survive, but thrive. Terrific trustees have never been needed more.

Alastair Keatinge, is a partner and head of charities at law firm Lindsays. He is also an experienced trustee