#trusteehour 12 took place in November, with a theme selected by @CumbriaUni students – ‘Should charity trustees be paid, or should the role remain voluntary?’

The International Voluntary Service @IVSGB kicked off the hour with a poll on the question posed. 86% of participants agreed that the role should remain voluntary which dominated the conversation with some thoughts on the influence of rumuneration and whether this would attract different voices into the sector. @BCharitable also provided a useful context to the discussion by recognising the professionalism of the sector and that the contribution of trustees should be recognised, encouraged and supported. 

#trusteehour whatever the answer or prevailing view on remuneration for trustees, the professionalism of the sector & effective boards should be recognised, encouraged and supported

— Brodies Charity Law (@BCharitable) October 17, 2018

There were a number of threads/points raised:

• whether rumuneration would attract more younger trustees  (@IVSGB) or even attract trustees with a genuine interest in the cause and desire to drive the organisation forward (@LaurenPluss)
• (unpaid) board with all the legal duties & risk and (paid) executives without directly the same duties & risk @BCharitable
• different dynamics between the CEO and the relationships with the rest of the board @talktokieran

There were many comments that training should be mandatory to improve standards of governance (@Menai_OJ) and removing of barriers such as travel and other expenses being made available without stigma (@Sus_Hunter20). @Sus_Hunter20 also noted that timing for meetings is important so that trustees that are in work (comment made in the context of #youngtrustees) don’t lose income or have to take leave to attend. @LaurenPluss suggested that it is important to promote the positive impact that  involvement can have on an individual as well as an organisation.

Maybe making training mandatory when taking up the role of #trustee would help standards of governance, instead of paying trustees. I suppose the question is, what are we trying to achieve by paying trustees? #trusteehour

— Menai Owen-Jones (@Menai_OJ) October 17, 2018

@maltdub posed a very interesting thought that aroused some debate:

What about trustees being able to claim Gift Aid on the market value of their service to the charity? #trusteehour https://t.co/oUwhMf8zad

— James Spedding ن (@maltdub) October 17, 2018

@weavermiles saw the merit in the principle but commented that you need to be paying tax for this model to work. Yet we want more young people, to attract all earning levels and of course, the majority of the trustees are retired.

There is something in this and love the principle. BUT many we want to encourage might not pay income tax – young people, the retired & low earners. Boards need to be more representative #trusteehour #sorry #keepwithprinciple

— Miles Weaver (@Weavermiles) October 17, 2018

A key theme that re-occurs each month is the need for training and a good induction:

#trusteehour mandatory training a really good point. A good number of formal inquiries into issues at charities note the lack of induction and ongoing training for trustees… so they ‘get’ what it is to be a charity trustee

— Brodies Charity Law (@BCharitable) October 17, 2018

One way of supporting this is to encourage more organisations to have a policy on volunteering and talking up #SkilledVolunteering. Trusteeship being the ultimate of skilled volunteering? @OfficialCause4 supported this by suggesting that corporates can do more to allow time to support volunteering. Effectively, the worker is paid but can gain new skills and experiences too in the form of a trusteeship. 

How about encouraging more organisations to have a policy on volunteering and actively encouraging #trusteeship? Many offer 3 – 5 days of unpaid leave. That might help the working population? #trusteehour

— Miles Weaver (@Weavermiles) October 17, 2018

Another suggestion focused around a unitary board model, like the ones seen in the corporate world. This would mean the trustees would act in the same way as the non-executive directors.

Yes, there is some discussion in the sector about whether a unitary board model, like in the corporate world, with non-execs (trustees) and execs (like CEOs), is actually the way forward. #trusteehour

— Menai Owen-Jones (@Menai_OJ) October 17, 2018

Let’s finish on a positive note: #reachout. @YLSSarahRobbo did and she was pleasantly surprised with the responses that she received:

Completely agree Lauren. I didn’t know what was involved in being a trustee until recently when I put a twitter call for help & received so much advice. The amazing @JulieKHutchison even met for lunch & was so supportive. Training, information & mentoring are key #trusteehour https://t.co/hWO6p1A5Qw

— Sarah Robertson (@YLSSarahRobbo) October 17, 2018

Next #trusteehour on Tue 13th Nov 7-8pm is a special #TrusteesWeek collaboration with @WalesCVA looking at what trustees need to know and do about Safeguarding.