The Charity Commission has recently refreshed its guidance on finding and appointing new trustees, with the aim of helping charities build stronger, more diverse trustee boards.
What’s New in the Updated CC30 Guidance?
The refreshed guidance focuses on practical steps charities can take to connect with a broader range of candidates, and to identify and remove barriers that may put people off applying for the role. Key recommendations include:
Skills Auditing: The guidance now emphasises conducting regular skills audits to identify what expertise your trustee board needs, rather than waiting for vacancies to arise. This proactive approach enables charities to build strategic leadership capacity aligned with their mission and objectives.
Diversity and Inclusion Focus: The revised CC30 guidance focuses on steps that charities can take to connect with a broader range of candidates, and to remove barriers that may deter potential trustees from applying. This includes practical advice on making trustee roles more accessible and inclusive.
Barrier Removal Strategies: The guidance provides specific recommendations for eliminating obstacles that might prevent qualified candidates from applying, including flexible meeting arrangements and clear expense policies.
Key Benefits for Your Charity
1. Enhanced Board Effectiveness
The updated guidance helps charities build trustee boards with a mix of skills, experience, and perspectives. By conducting thorough skills audits, organisations can identify gaps and recruit trustees who bring complementary expertise, ultimately strengthening decision-making and strategic oversight.
2. Improved Recruitment Processes
The guidance provides practical frameworks for:
- Writing compelling trustee role descriptions
- Advertising vacancies effectively across diverse channels
- Implementing fair and inclusive selection processes
- Conducting proper background checks and due diligence
3. Stronger Induction and Integration
New trustees benefit from comprehensive induction processes that help them understand their legal responsibilities, the charity’s work, and how they can contribute effectively from the start. This leads to better retention and more engaged board members.
4. Risk Management and Compliance
The guidance clarifies legal requirements around trustee eligibility, disqualification checks, and conflict of interest management, helping charities maintain robust governance standards while avoiding potential regulatory issues.
Practical Applications for Charitable Organisations
Creating Inclusive Recruitment Strategies
The guidance encourages charities to move beyond traditional recruitment methods. Rather than relying solely on personal networks, organisations should consider advertising through professional networks, community organisations, educational institutions, and specialist trustee-matching services.
Developing Role Clarity
Clear trustee role descriptions help attract suitable candidates while setting appropriate expectations. The guidance recommends including specific time commitments, required skills, term limits, and the unique value trustees can bring to your charity’s mission.
Supporting First-Time Trustees
Many potential trustees may be deterred by perceived complexity or fear of making mistakes. The updated guidance emphasises supporting newcomers through mentorship, training opportunities, and accessible information packages.
Suggested actions
Review Your Current Processes
Use the CC30 guidance as a benchmark to evaluate your existing trustee recruitment and induction practices. Consider conducting an audit of your board’s current composition, skills mix, and diversity to identify areas for improvement.
Update Governing Documents
The guidance highlights the importance of ensuring your charity’s governing document supports effective recruitment. This might include provisions for remote meetings, appropriate term limits, or flexible quorum arrangements that facilitate board renewal. It may be helpful to update your governing document to reflect this.
Invest in Trustee Development
Beyond initial induction, the guidance emphasises ongoing trustee development through training, networking opportunities, and regular performance discussions. This investment in trustee growth strengthens overall board effectiveness and demonstrates your charity’s commitment to excellence.
Looking Forward: Building Sustainable Leadership
The updated CC30 guidance reflects the Charity Commission’s recognition that strong trustee boards are fundamental to effective charitable work. By implementing these recommendations, charities can build leadership teams that are not only compliant with regulatory requirements but genuinely equipped to drive organisational success and community impact.
For charitable organisations seeking to strengthen their governance structures, the CC30 guidance provides an invaluable roadmap. Whether you’re recruiting your first trustees or refreshing an established board, these practical tools and frameworks can help ensure your charity has the leadership it needs to thrive.
Next Steps
We recommend that charity leaders:
- Review the full CC30 guidance and assess how it applies to your organisation’s specific circumstances
- Conduct a skills and diversity audit of your current trustee board
- Update recruitment processes to incorporate the guidance’s recommendations on accessibility and inclusion
- Develop comprehensive induction programmes that set new trustees up for success
- Consider professional support where needed to implement best practices effectively
Investment in robust trustee recruitment and development can feel a lot of work, but it can make a real difference to the effectiveness of your charity through enhanced organisational capacity, improved decision-making, and ultimately, greater impact for the communities and causes your charity serves. You can find more here
