Trustees are the backbone of Reading’s voluntary and community sector, volunteering your time on the Board/Committee to help govern your group is an admirable and often very rewarding role.
At RVA we are also keenly aware of the challenges experienced in the role, including those groups experience with recruiting and retaining trustees. Therefore this page outlines all the free and heavily subsidised support that is available to you from RVA and partner organisations to help your organisation thrive and to empower you in your Trustee role.
1. Recruit Trustees
Receive free, bespoke advice from the RVA team on all aspects of trustee recruitment.
| The RVA Advice Service can support you with: | The RVA Volunteering Service for support with: |
| · Planning for recruitment
· Completing a skills audit · Drafting role descriptions · Inducting and training trustees
Email: Herjeet.randhawa@rva.org.uk Tel: 01189 732273
|
· Preparing effective adverts
· Advertising via the Reading Volunteer Connect Platform · Further support for volunteer involving organisations
Email: Steve.Hendry@rva.org.uk Tel: 01189 732273 |
Free resources from partners, please click on the links below:
- Template Recruitment Plan – from Getting on Board
- Template Simple Skills Audit – from Reach Volunteering
- Template Detailed Skills Audit – from Reach Volunteering
- Template Role Description for a Trustee – from Reach Volunteering
- Template Role Description for a Treasurer – from Reach Volunteering
- Template Role Description for a Chair – from Reach Volunteering
- Ideas for other places to advertise for Trustees – from Getting on Board
- How to use Linked In and Charity Job to advertise for Trustees – from Getting on Board
- Read more about the Trustee Recruitment Cycle – from Reach Volunteering
- Read more about working out what you need on your Board – from Getting on Board
2. Free, confidential advice
The RVA Advice Manager is experienced and qualified to give a range of legal and technical advice in governing and managing a charity. Appointments are available in person, via telephone or online, and are completely free and confidential. Kindly funded by the Earley Charity.
- Find out more about the Advice Service by clicking the link here.
Thank you for sharing your time, knowledge and experience and making a complex minefield so much clearer – I think I have a better perspective of the situation
3. Training for Trustees
RVA runs Trustee Training three times a year, usually in February, June and November. These sessions offer an introduction or refresher to the trustee role and legal responsibilities and include the opportunity to network with other local trustees.
- See our training page for upcoming dates by clicking the link here
My understanding has increased and I feel less out of my depth. Very well presented and easy to understand.
4. Quality Award
Safe and Sound is a locally developed quality award available for free to Reading groups. It is an aid to give Reading’s charities the confidence they have reached a basic level of good governance. It can be used to highlight any gaps in your group’s composition and procedures. The award is recognised by local and national funders. Find out more by clicking on the links below.
- Safe and Sound Quality Award and download the self-assessment here.
- First Steps towards Safe and Sound here.
- Feel inspired – read more about the experience of a local charity, RCLC here.
5. Increase your knowledge
RVA has collated an extensive Knowledgebase that you can access for free on a range of topics, including Governance and Trusteeship.
- Access the Knowledgebase by clicking the link here.
6. Stay up to date on key regulatory and legal updates
The legal landscape is constantly changing and Trustees are often very busy people. We therefore include short and snappy regulatory and legal updates in our fortnightly e-news digest.
- Sign up to receive our e-news by clicking the link here.
7. EDI support for an inclusive Board and charity
The RVA Inclusion Development Manager offers bespoke support to help your charity or group develop an inclusion framework, which can include diversifying your Trustee Board. This longer term development work could positively benefit your trustee recruitment cycle.
- Find out more about the Inclusion Service by clicking the link here.
If you have any questions or can’t find what you are looking for, get in touch with us at info@rva.org.uk or call 0118 93722273
RVA Team
Published April 2024