Trustee's role in a changing landscape
In celebration of Trustees' Week 2026, join charity finance leaders, trustees and sector experts for an evening exploring the pressures, priorities and possibilities shaping the future of the charity sector.
Celebrating Trustees’ Week 2026
2 November 2026
Tags
Public & social sector
Insights
Trustees play a vital role in helping organisations navigate risk, seize opportunities and deliver long-term impact. Explore our dedicated insights, resources and stories from across the charity sector in celebration of Trustees’ Week 2026.
What is Trustees’ Week?
Taking place from 9-13 November this year, Trustees’ Week is a UK-wide initiative that recognises and celebrates the nearly one million trustees who play a vital role in supporting charities across the country.
Trustees’ Week provides a platform to:
- Celebrate the contribution trustees make to the sector.
- Connect trustees with peers to share experiences and best practices.
- Support trustees through access to training, resources, and guidance.
- Inspire new individuals to consider trusteeship and diversify board representation.
At Forvis Mazars, we’re proud to support trusteeship through both our work with charities, as well as the many colleagues across our firm who serve as trustees themselves.
What does Trustees’ Week mean for you?
Ask the expert
| What inspired you to become a trustee? | I was approached by my colleague Jason Clark, who was on the board at the time, and given an opportunity to learn about the Rape and Sexual Violence Project (RSVP), which does amazing work supporting survivors of sexual and domestic violence in the West Midlands. As I have strong opinions about the way the justice system can be difficult and unnerving to navigate for survivors, I was impressed by the advocacy services RSVP offers. The independent advocates support survivors through procedures that can take up to 10 years. I was inspired by the charity’s mission, and I was very happy I could participate in this project, however modestly. |
| What's surprised you most about the role? | It has been very humbling to see how different it is to audit an organisation, compared to supporting those who run it on the inside! My business and sector knowledge have grown through this appointment, and I understand better now how long it takes to build and grow an organisation, to build ties with funders, and to embed the service in the community so that it be available to those who need it. It is incredibly exciting, and a great responsibility, to look after it with the care it deserves. |
| What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a trustee? | Twofold: ask a lot of questions and take a lot of notes. It is critical to build a deep understanding of the organisation over the first few months, to map out what is in place and whether anything is missing from the governance system. I try to think like an auditor: what would I want to see in place, and what would be convincing to me when I review board minutes? And bookmark the Charity commission website! |
| How can trustees continue to develop their skills? | The Charity Commission has a lot of helpful guidance and regularly release articles about ongoing investigations and things to watch out for. That is very helpful. Firms like Forvis Mazars also have guidance on trusteeship and this is a great space to watch to make sure trustees’ knowledge is up to date. Mingling with other trustees from different organisations is also helpful, because it helps having comparison points and sharing best practice. |
| What’s your favourite thing about being a trustee? | The sense of accomplishment! It is incredibly rewarding to contribute to an organisation that does something essential for the community. Having the privilege of using my professional skills in a way that directly supports a safer, fairer society - that matters to me. For the lack of a better word, it is life-affirming. |
Ten investment questions for charity trustees
Investments can be critical to a charity’s ability to deliver its mission, providing income for current activities, supporting future projects, strengthening financial resilience or sustaining services for future beneficiaries. Yet an investment portfolio is effective only when its purpose, structure and governance remain aligned with what the charity is trying to achieve.
Explore moreGet in touch with our charities experts
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Forvis Mazars Foundation UK
An independent registered charity working to improve social mobility across the UK.
Key contacts
Abbie Francis-Pike National Head of Charities - London
Mark Surridge Partner - UK Public & Social Sector Market Lead - Birmingham
