11 November 2014
Hundreds of events will be taking place this week as charities use Trustees’ Week as a time to thank the one million trustees across England and Wales for their time and dedication. 
 
There are 248 voluntary organisations in Waveney that all rely on the dedication, energy and commitment of c. 1,400 trustees in order to support their beneficiaries. 
 
Trustees are the people ultimately in charge of a charity. They make decisions that help charities achieve their aims and change their beneficiaries’ lives. 
 
It is also a time to encourage more people to become trustees, as many voluntary organisations find it difficult to recruit new trustees. As many as one in five charities are looking for a new trustee. 
 
Being a trustee allows you not only to make a difference to the lives of others, but to learn new skills, meet different people, and develop your career. Voluntary organisations are always looking for a range of skills and different backgrounds on their boards, as well as more young people. You can find out more about trustee vacancies in your local area through NCVO’s Trustee Bank, Charity Job and Do It.
 
Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, said:
“Trustees’ Week is a great opportunity for us to recognise and celebrate trustees and the valuable contribution they make to our society. They play a vital role, volunteering their time and working together to make important decisions about the charity's work. Good governance is at the very heart of an effective charity.”
 
Trustee facts and figures
  • There are over 160,000 charities in the UK, all of which rely on trustees. http://data.ncvo.org.uk/category/almanac/voluntary-sector/volunteering/
  • There are one million trustee positions across England and Wales. However, the number of people who are trustees is likely to be considerably less. Research shows that 45% of trustees are members of two boards. http://oro.open.ac.uk/1274/ 
  • There are 248 voluntary organisations in Waveney with 1,400 trustee positions.