Development and training of trustees

All trustees should be encouraged to keep their existing skills and knowledge up to date and develop new ones where appropriate.

Trustees come from all walks of life. Each trustee will have different support and development needs and will want to meet those needs in different ways. 

Support, development and training can involve:

• Workshops, conferences or training courses on different aspects of a trustees’ role - perhaps even leading to a qualification under the National Occupational Standards for Trustees and Management Committee Members
• Training, briefings or update sessions at board meetings or at an away day
• Reading books and online guidance – for example, the Good Trustee Guide
• Following an online learning course – for example, trustee e-learning
• Meeting with trustees from other charities – for example, by joining a trustee network
• Arranging for new trustees to be mentored by existing trustees.

Some charities use a skills audit or appraisal to help trustees identify their support needs.