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Latest NewsEconomics, government & businessSkills shortages

Charities have trouble recruiting trustees

by Mike Berry 21 Jul 2005
by Mike Berry 21 Jul 2005


Charities are finding it more difficult to recruit trustees with the right skills and are increasingly using a method of recruitment likely to limit diversity on their boards, according to new research from the Charity Commission.

The research found that 39% of charities find it difficult to fill trustee vacancies at least some of the time, compared with 31% in a similar survey in 2001. Among large charities the proportion rises to 46%.

Meanwhile, recruiting of trustees by word-of-mouth or personal recommendation is practised by 81% of charities – up from 68% in 2001.

“Recruitment solely by word-of-mouth or personal recommendation can result in a board that is not diverse and can give a perception of exclusivity, which alienates the charity’s users and wider stakeholders,” said the commission.

The report said these findings were disappointing, but others were more encouraging: more charities are doing a skills audit before recruiting (17%), use job descriptions (22%) and use a dedicated committee to recruit trustees (16%).

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The survey of 3,000 charities of all sizes also found that a third of charities find it difficult to attract young people as trustees. The commission’s database shows that only 0.5% of trustees are under 24 and 76% are over 45.

“Again, charities that wish to increase the diversity of the trustee board may need to think of alternative, wider methods of recruitment,” the report said.

Mike Berry

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