No Limits Trustee Job Description
Role and Responsibilities
Trustees have ultimate responsibility for No Limits and its work.
No Limits trustees are the legal guardians of the organisation and official employers of all
the No Limits staff. Our trustees bring a diverse range of skills and experience to the
organisation’s strategic management. The “rules” about being a No Limits trustee (how
long you can be a trustee for etc.) are written in the governing document (attached).
Basically as we are also a limited company you need to be over 18. Trustees are elected
for 3 years at a time and would normally only serve a maximum of 6 years before retiring.
We do not hold onto trustees for 50 years!
Hours
One AGM in October (about 2 hours)
Six Full Management meeting each year
(about 2 hours each on a Monday evening every two months)
Sub committees in a subject of interest are option.
One off trustee panels as required
Support
Chair of Trustees supports new trustees
Company Secretary is a paid employee and is there to help and support the trustees
The role of a Trustee in a charity
Overall Purpose
The Board of Trustees is responsible for the overall governance and the medium
to longer term strategic direction of the charity. Trustees help to develop along side
the CEO the organisations aims, objectives and goals in accordance with the
governing document, legal and regulatory guidelines.
Main Responsibilities
• To ensure that the charity and its representatives function within the legal and
regulatory framework of the sector and in line with the organisations’ governing
document, continually striving for best practice in governance.
• To uphold the duties of the position, undertaking such duties in a way that adds to
public confidence and trust in the charity. Basically keeping the charity in line with
its aims and defined public benefit showing due diligence as to charity reporting
such as signing off the accounts presented each year and making sure they are
filed.
• To take appropriate professional advice in all matters where there may be material
risk to the charity. The CEO and Company Secretary help the trustees as needed.
• To determine the overall direction and development of the charity through good
governance and clear strategic planning. This is done through a three year
business plan agreed with the trustees and then reviewed on an annual basis
• To avoid any personal conflict of interest.
Main Duties
• Ensuring the charity complies with legislative and regulatory requirements,
and acts within the confines of its governing document and in furtherance
to organisational activities contained therein.
• Acting in the best interest of the charity, beneficiaries and future
beneficiaries at all times.
• Promoting and developing the charity in order for it to grow and maintain
its relevance to society.
• Maintaining sound financial management of the charity’s resources,
ensuring expenditure is in line with the organisations’ objects, and
investment activities meet accepted standards and policies.
• Interviewing, appointing and monitoring the work and activities of the
senior paid staff. And as the employer listening to any appeal made by an employee
against a decision made by a senior manager
• Ensuring the effective and efficient administration of the charity and its
resources, striving for best practice in good governance.
• Acting as a counter-signatory on charity cheques and any applications for
funds, if appropriate.
• To maintain absolute confidentiality about all sensitive/confidential
information received in the course of trustee’s responsibilities to
the charity.
Accountable to
As a trustee board you are responsible and liable for the governance and
functioning of the charity and are accountable in varying degrees to a variety of
stakeholders, including: service users, members, funders, the Charity
Commission, and Companies House.
Help is given for this by the CEO and Company Secretary so that the trustees are
aware of and follow the responsibilities of the office.