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are expected to assess risk and take proportionate steps to mitigate them; more is expected where the risks are higher. Some things are absolute requirements, such as submitting accounts or serious incident reports. We recognise that people rarely become trustees because they particularly enjoy these things! It is the successful delivery of their work that they want to see: the people lifted out of poverty, the lives saved, the progress of their charity’s students, the advancement of their mission.
However, we believe that these two things – effective legal compliance and effective delivery – go together very well and are in fact essential companions. This is borne out through all our experience at The Commission. The charities that have properly thought-out and enacted policies and procedures to protect their assets, reputation and bene ciaries, and which are appropriate to the work they undertake, are nearly always those who achieve the most for those bene ciaries. Working directly with charities, I get to see this end product rst hand, and it is the best part of my job. Your bene ciaries see this too.
Being a trustee is always a very important role and it should also be enjoyable and rewarding. There is a lot of advice available to make it easier and you can nd links and more information about this in the appendices. I very much hope you will be able to draw the clear connection between the technical and practical processes and the colourful, vibrant and life-changing difference you make.
Nick Donaldson
Head of Faith Charities Engagement Charity Commission for England and Wales
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