Become a Trustee

Become a Trustee of the NCT

Trustees are volunteers who act on behalf of the members of the NCT to set its overall strategic direction and provide leadership. They don’t manage the organisation - that is the role of the paid staff led by the Chief Executive - but they do hold the staff to account for the delivery of agreed plans and the proper use of its assets.

Being a Trustee is a very important role that will give you the opportunity to shape the future of the NCT and help improve the way it provides services to parents. It will also give you experience of strategic management and charity governance, which is something that employers and prospective employers usually value.

Role of the Trustee

What does the Board of Trustees do?

The role of the Board of Trustees is to set the overall direction of the Charity, provide leadership, and to be accountable for the proper use of the Charity’s assets. Trustees are expected to attend four Board meetings a year, together with two strategy days and the AGM and Conference. Each UK Trustee is also a member of at least one Board Committee or panel, usually meeting once between Board meetings. Trustees are volunteers and give their time freely, but are reimbursed their out-of-pocket expenses.

What qualities should Trustees have?

Trustees should be committed to the vision and values of the NCT. They should also have a willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to their trusteeship, along with other qualities such as:

• integrity
• strategic vision
• good independent judgement
• the ability to think creatively
• a willingness to speak their mind

Understanding and acceptance of the legal responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship, and a willingness and ability to work as a member of the team that is bound by the Board’s Code of Conduct and Standing Orders are also required. Furthermore, all Trustees jointly share a corporate responsibility to ensure that the NCT operates in a way that fulfils its objectives and works within the law, in particular with regard to charity, financial and personnel legislation.

The Charity Commission, that recently undertook an in-depth review of the NCT, said that ‘the National Childbirth Trust demonstrates many of the characteristics of a well run charity, as evidenced by the numerous examples of good practice’.

A balanced Board of Trustees

The NCT values diversity and welcomes applications from anyone regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexuality or disability. The composition of the Board of Trustees as a whole ideally needs to reflect the full range of the NCT’s membership and work; in direct services and training; policy, research and campaigning; finance, fundraising, membership and marketing as well as regions and branches. We would welcome nominations from individuals who are current or recent users of NCT services.

Frequently asked questions

What is a charity Trustee?

Trustees are the people who, under the charity governing document, are legally and ultimately responsible for the overall management and decision making in the charity. Trustees therefore have a core duty of providing overall direction to the charity and ensuring that it works within its aims, within the law and is properly resourced and managed. NCT Trustees have the duties of directors as well as those of Trustees and must therefore comply with both charity and company law. Information and advice will always be available to Trustees from colleagues on the Board, from staff and from the NCT’s professional advisors.

Trustees act together for the benefit of the charity and make decisions jointly with their colleagues on the Board. No Trustee can make decisions or take action alone, unless the governing document allows this. Trustees are:

• The employers of the charity’s staff
• Responsible for the financial management of the charity and for its performance and strategic direction
• Entrusted with upholding its good name and acting in the best interests of its beneficiaries.

Trustees are not expected to carry out these duties alone - they work collectively with their colleagues on the Board, led by the Chair, and supported by the charity’s staff.

What is expected of NCT Trustees?

All Trustees must be committed to and take an active interest in the work of the NCT. They are expected to:

• Be a member of the NCT.
• Attend all Board of Trustees meetings.
• If a UK Trustee, be a Trustee member of one of the three delegated Committees and attend its meetings as well as those of any Panels or sub-groups to which they may also belong. (Regional Trustees are not obliged to belong to a delegated Committee because of their membership of their Region’s Committee.)
• Spend time between meetings keeping themselves informed (by, for example, reading papers for the meetings) and appropriately involved in the work of the NCT.

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

• Induction training for new Trustees
• Mentor or ‘buddy’ system in place for new Trustees
• For all Trustees: regular away day, working together and training sessions on Trustee roles and responsibilities; NCT activity and plans. Some of these events are shared with members of staff.
• Trustee e-group where information and ideas are shared.
• Prospective Trustees are encouraged to attend some or the NCT’s entire Foundation Training scheme. (Further details are available from Regional Co-ordinators.)

Can I represent a particular interest group as a UK Trustee?

No. Trustees are responsible for the management and administration of the Charity as a whole and make decisions in the interest of the charity as a whole. Regional Trustees also have shared responsibility for the charity’s administration and management but, in addition, they represent their Region’s particular interests and concerns.

Will I be personally financially liable if something goes wrong?

No. As long as Trustees have acted in a reasonable manner they will not be personally financially liable. The NCT is a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee. This means that Trustees personal liability is limited to £1.00 as long as they have acted reasonably in making decisions.

Will my expenses be reimbursed?

Yes. Trustees are entitled to repayment of expenses that have been properly incurred in the carrying out of their Trustee duties. However, Trustees cannot receive any payment including honoraria and loss of earnings while carrying out Trustee duties. This principle of unpaid trusteeship is part of a wider rule that Trustees should not put themselves in a position where their duties as Trustees might conflict with their personal interests. (Charity Commission, Payment to Charity Trustees, C11, September 2000).

Do I have to have professional qualifications or experience to be a Trustee?

No. An effective Board needs a good mix of skills, knowledge and experience drawn from a wide range of backgrounds. As well as a range of professional skills – legal, financial, management etc – the Board draws on the common sense perspectives and experiences of being a member of the NCT. Trustees are encouraged to use any specific knowledge or experience they may have as detailed in the Role Description to help the Board reach sound decisions. Please see the Role Description below for additional information.

Nomination process and form

What you need to do

You need to complete and sign Nomination Form for the Election of Trustees and ask two members of the NCT - one to nominate and the other to second your nomination.

The closing date for completed applications is Friday, 18 April 2008. The election will take place at the AGM in Coventry on Saturday, 21 June 2008.

If you have any questions about the arrangements for the AGM, or the nomination or election of Trustees, or wish to be sent an application pack and nomination form, please contact Alison Kenny, Board Secretary on 020 8572 2372 or a_kenny@nct.org.uk.