Trustee Recruitment Join Us Campaign

The Trustee Recruitment Challenge

Finding and keeping trustees is a vital task for all voluntary and community organisations. There are almost a million trustees, and an estimated further million management commitee member positions in organisations across the country. However, many organisations experience difficulties recruiting and retaining trustees. Did you know that

• only 5% of people are aware of trusteeship as a way of supporting an organisation?
• 39% of organisations have experienced difficulty in recruiting trustees?
• only 0.5% of trustees are under the age of 24?
• 30% of charities surveyed found it difficult to find young trusteees?
• 81% of charities rely on word of mouth and personal recommendation to recruit new trustees?
• only 3.3 % of trustees are African-Caribbean and only 1.4% are Asian?

We all have a role to play in finding solutions to the trustee recruitment challenge whether nationally, regionally, locally or in different subsectors.  As an infrastructure organisation, ask yourself, would a trustee recruitment campaign help the organistaions you support or work with? 

Run your own trustee recruitment campaign

A trustee recruitment campaign may be an effective way to support the organisations you work with to recruit and retain trustees.  We want to help you to promote trusteeship as a great way to volunteer and support the work of an organisation.

We have created a range of resources to help infrastructure organisations run local or sub-sector specific campaigns to help increase the supply of trustees.  All materials can be adapted and tailored so you can include your own logos, partnerships, contact details and are designed to meet the needs of the organisations you support. 

These materials should be used as part of a wider project and communications strategy.  You should clearly consider what you are aiming to achieve, what the needs of your local area or subsector are, who your key audiences are, and how you will target your work.  You should also consider how you will resource your project: there is no point in generating lots of interest in trusteeship if you cannot then direct people to suitable opportunities. One organisation who recently worked with us on a trustee recruitment campaign has received a 90% increase in enquiries from members of the public interested in becoming a trustee as a result of the campaign!

Small-scale campaigns can be run on a shoestring with the cost of printing the campaign materials, postage and the time of the people involved as the main expenses.  However, if your plans are more ambitious you may want to consider whether you need to allocate budget or attract funding (such as sponsorship from local businesses) in order to run your campaign.   

Branded!

To help give your campaign a clear and consistent look and message, we have created a brand which you can use across your communications.  Stick it on your website, in newsletters, on event flyers, anything that people will see.  By using the logo you will be part of a network of organisations working to create a national movement promoting more effective trustee recruitment.

 'Make a difference' trustee recruitment campaign logos: 

• Purple small trustee recruitment campaign logo
• Pink small trustee recruitment campaign logo
• Turquoise small trustee recruitment campaign logo
• Yellow small trustee recruitment campaign logo
• Green small trustee recruitment campaign logo

'Improve Your Skills' trustee recruitment campaign logos:

• Purple small trustee recruitment campaign logo
• Pink small trustee recruitment campaign logo
• Turquoise small trustee recruitment campaign logo
• Yellow small trustee recruitment campaign logo
• Green small trustee recruitment campaign logo

Communications tools

We have created easy-to-use tools to help you communicate your message.

Trustee recruitment campaign templates:

• Trustee Recruitment Campaign MS Powerpoint template
• Trustee Recruitment Campaign MS Word template

Trustee recruitment campaign posters:

• Trustee Recruitment Campaign poster 1
• Trustee Recruitment Campaign poster 2
• Trustee Recruitment Campaign poster 3
• Trustee Recruitment Campaign poster 4
• Trustee Recruitment Campaign poster 5
• Trustee Recruitment Campaign poster 6

Trustee recruitment campaign leaflet 

This is a short leaflet to raise awareness of trusteeship, it can be used in public places such as libraries, doctors surgeries or council offices, or used as a handout at events. 

• Introducing Trusteeship Leaflet

Trustee Recruitment campaign events

As part of your campaign you may want to run events.  These could be with trustee boards to improve their trustee recruitment processes, or to recruit potential trustees.  These generic flyers are designed to help you advertise your events:

• Trustee Recruitment Event Flyer 1
• Trustee Recruitment Event Flyer 2

Other useful information:

• Good Practice in Trustee Recruitment Toolkit
• Recruit a Trustee- pocket sized
• Trustee Recruitment resources for small organisations
• A guide to recruiting and inducting a new chair
• An introductory presentation on becoming a trustee
• Trustee Bank
• Trustees Unlimited

This work is part of the Leadership and Governance National Support Services funded by Capacitybuilders.  Find out more about the programme of work at www.improvingsupport.org.uk/governance