Reach Volunteering has launched a website to help charities improve how they recruit trustees and increase their board’s diversity.
The Trustee Recruitment Cycle includes guidance, templates, and insight from other charities, with an aim to make it easier to recruit more openly and inclusively.
It was created by Reach Volunteering, alongside the Association of Chairs, the Small Charities Coalition and Getting on Board.
The Trustee Recruitment Cycle takes charities through the recruitment process in six stages and is designed so charities can dip into relevant sections, or work through the whole recruitment process from start to finish.
The 6 stages are:
1. Reflect: identify the mix of skills and experience your board needs to lead your charity.
2. Prepare: plan your recruitment process, draw up a trustee role description, and get ready to engage with candidates.
3. Advertise: create a trustee advert to attract the candidates you want and share it widely.
4. Shortlist and interview: choose the person who will strengthen your trustee board.
5. Appoint and induct: formally appoint your new trustee, and support them with a good induction, and
6. Evaluate: learn from your trustee recruitment process and lay strong foundations for future recruitment.
Charity Commission research shows that over 70% of boards still recruit their trustees informally, using their own networks. This can mean boards lack diversity and skills in key areas.
The website was created using research about the barriers and challenges in trustee recruitment.
The resources include content about identifying skills gaps and assessing candidates.
Rita Chadha, chief executive at Small Charities Coalition, said:
“Recruiting trustees can be a pivotal turning point for a small charity. Getting it right is so important, good trustees can make an organisation, bad trustees break one.
“This guide from Reach Volunteering is an essential and invaluable tool in making sure not only that the process of recruitment is done well, but also that it envelopes and expands an organisation’s commitment to equality. No organisation should even consider recruiting without reference to this guide.”
The Trustee Recruitment Cycle resources can be accessed at this LINK.
Source: Civil Society News