Become A NCT Trustee

Trustees have the ultimate responsibility for running the charity and ensuring that it acts in the best interests of all parents, as the charity’s beneficiaries. The Board of Trustees:

• Takes the big decisions about the future
• Sets the right framework for the charity’s paid staff, volunteers, specialist workers, contractors and agencies, so that they can work together to achieve the charity’s objectives
• Ensures the charity complies with the law and with regulatory requirements
• Safeguards the charity’s money, property and other assets

Trustees don’t run the charity day to day – that’s the role of the paid staff, led by the Chief Executive. The Trustees set strategic direction and hold the staff to account for the delivery of agreed plans and the efficient management of the charity’s resources. The responsibility for day to day management is delegated to the CEO and through her, to staff and volunteers. Trustees don’t work on their own, but share collective responsibility as members of the Board of Trustees, the charity’s governing body. The Board of Trustees works as a team - decisions must be taken by all the Trustees, acting together, in the interests of the charity as a whole and of the charity’s beneficiaries. Being a Trustee is an important and rewarding role that will involve you taking a key part in shaping NCT’s future and ensuring it continues to meet parents’ needs. It will provide you with many opportunities for personal development – at the same time as you bring your skills and energy to the charity’s work, you will also gain valuable new experience and knowledge. Experience as a charity Trustee is usually highly valued by employers and prospective employers.

Frequently asked questions

What qualities do Trustees need?

Trustees must fully support NCT’s aimsand objects and be committed to the charity’s vision and values. They should be able to devote the necessary time and effort to their trusteeship, and be able to demonstrate the following qualities:

• Integrity
• Strategic vision
• Independent judgement
• The ability to work as part of a team
• The credibility and authority to work with, and influence, management

Am I eligible? Do I need professional qualifications?

An effective Board needs a good mix of skills, knowledge and experience, drawn from a wide range of backgrounds. As well as requiring certain professional skills (HR, financial, legal etc) the Board also relies on the common sense and general experience of Trustees as NCT members and parents. Some roles (such as that of Honorary Treasurer) require an appropriate professional qualification but most Trustee roles do not. The Board’s requirements also change over time so each year the Nomination and Governance Committee considers the number of vacancies likely to be available on the Board and the particular skills, experience and other qualities that are being sought at that time. Expressions of interest are always welcome from anyone with the commitment to trusteeship and relevant experience in any field.

The NCT values diversity and is committed to change to ensure equal opportunity in every aspect of the charity’s work. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.

To become a Trustee you must:

• Be a member at the time of election or appointment
• Have the support of any two members of NCT (other than yourself)
• Be resident in the UK, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man
• Be eligible by law to be a charity Trustee and company director (see the note on the Nomination Form)

How are Trustees chosen?

All members of the Board of Trustees must be elected by the membership of the charity. Nominations are invited each year from members prior to the annual general meeting. There may also be recruitment from outside the charity. Those expressing interest will be invited to attend a Trustee Recruitment Meeting or to speak to one or more Trustees by phone, and where possible to attend a Trustee Board or Committee meeting. All candidates submitting a duly completed nomination form and meeting formal eligibility requirements (see above) will go forward to the election. The Board may also appoint someone to fill a vacancy during the year and so may also seek candidates between annual general meetings. The Nomination and Governance Committee of the Board is responsible for making a recommendation to the Board about who should be appointed, and for running the recruitment and selection process for the appointment. A Trustee appointed during the year must still stand for election at the next annual general meeting following his or her appointment.

What is expected of Trustees?

All Trustees are expected to:

• Attend four face to face Board of Trustees meetings a year, held in London during the day
• Attend up to two training and/or strategy days, possibly involving an overnight stay
• Serve on at least one Board Committee, which meet four times a year (if required). Committees sometimes meet by teleconference

Between Board and Committee meetings, there may be telephone and email contact from time to time; and if required to handle urgent business, the Board may also hold short additional meetings by teleconference, usually in the evening. Trustees normally also attend the annual general meeting which forms part of a two day members’ conference.

In total, you need to be able to spend the equivalent of around 18 days per year on your trustee work. Trustees must understand and accept their legal responsibilities as charity Trustees and company directors (see below). They must abide by the charity’s governing documents and the Board’s Standing Orders and Code of Conduct for Trustees (available on request).

What support is provided?

Support and training is provided to new and ongoing Trustees in the form of:

• Induction training for new Trustees
• A mentor or “buddy” system for new Trustees
• For all Trustees, an away day including sessions on Trustee roles and responsibilities and on NCT activities and future plans
• Trustee e-group where information and ideas are shared

Other volunteer training within the charity may also be available for those without prior experience of NCT’s activities.

What if something goes wrong? Will I be personally liable?

Trustees are ultimately responsible for everything the charity does and are collectively accountable if things go wrong. However, it is highly unlikely for any charity Trustee to be held personally liable unless he or she has acted in deliberate contravention of the rules or has been grossly irresponsible. Provided that Trustees can show they acted reasonably, prudently, and within the law and the charity’s governing document, they are unlikely to be liable under charity law. As NCT is a company, liabilities to third parties which occur in the course of running the charity will be borne by the charity (or will be covered by insurance).

Trustees and Directors – what’s the difference?

Charity trustees are those who are ultimately responsible for the control and management of the charity. In a company, this is the board of directors. As NCT is a charitable company, members of the Board of Trustees are directors and charity trustees, and have duties and responsibilities under both charity and company law.

Are Trustees paid?

Trustees serve as volunteers and receive no payment for their role, though they are entitled to reimbursement for their out-of-pocket expenses.

Can I be a specialist worker as well as a Trustee?

It is important that the Board’s composition reflects the full range of NCT’s membership and the charity’s governing documents therefore allow for specialist workers to be Trustees. To ensure that the Board of Trustees may be clearly seen to be able to act in the interest of the charity as a whole, this is subject to the requirement that a majority of Trustees must have received no payments from the charity in any capacity.

How long will I serve? Can I resign?

Trustees are elected for a term of office of three years, after which they may stand for election again for a further term of three years. Trustees may resign at any time.

I am interested. What should I do now?

Please download the nomination form which gives details of the current nomination process. If you would like to speak to any of the current Trustees about the role and what it involves, please contact the Board Secretary by email at boardsecretary@nct.org.uk or on 020 8752 2372.