Trustees’ Week 2025: Celebrating Trusteeship & Good Governance

Each year, during the first full week of November, we pause to shine a spotlight on the vital, often voluntary work of trustees across the UK. This year, from Monday 3 to Friday 7 November 2025, we mark Trustees’ Week 2025 – a time to celebrate, support and inspire those who give their time, skills and judgement to the governance of charities.

What makes this year especially significant is our theme of good governance. With the forthcoming update to the Charity Governance Code on the horizon, now more than ever trustees must consider how robust, forward-looking and inclusive their governance practices are.

Why Good Governance Matters

Good governance isn’t a box-ticking exercise. It’s the backbone of a thriving charity: ensuring that purpose is clear, decisions are sound, risks are identified, finances are safeguarded, and people (including beneficiaries) are protected. The Charity Commission for England and Wales 5-minute guides emphasise these foundations — from making decisions, managing finances, to safeguarding and reporting.

When trustees get governance right, the charity can:

• pursue its mission with confidence,

• respond to changing landscapes (legal, social, economic),

• attract and retain talent and resources,

• build trust with stakeholders (including donors, regulators, beneficiaries).
  Conversely, weak governance can lead to misdirected decisions, reputational damage or missed opportunity.

A New Governance Code

With the update to the Charity Governance Code forthcoming, trustees are facing a timely opportunity to review and refresh their practices. What should boards be asking themselves now?

• Are our roles and responsibilities clearly defined?

• Is our board composition diverse in skills, background and viewpoint?

• Do we have robust systems for risk management, finances, safeguarding and compliance?

• Are we agile and strategic as well as diligent and compliant?

• How well do we engage with stakeholders and ensure accountability?

These aren’t just technical questions–they go to the heart of whether we’re fulfilling the promise of charity: to serve, to advance, to steward. Trustees’ Week 2025 invites boards and individuals to reflect on these questions and act.

What Trustees’ Week Means for You

Whether you’re a long-serving trustee, a recent recruit, or considering joining a board, this week offers something:

• Recognition – your contribution matters. Nearly one million trustees support charities in the UK.

• Learning & development – sessions, webinars and resources abound throughout the week and beyond. For example, the “Good Governance” strand of the Festival of Trusteeship 2025 (3–7 Nov) offers practical governance tools and insights.

• Reflection & reboot – a moment to step back, ask whether the board is operating as it should, and consider what changes may strengthen it going forward.

Four Governance Focus-Areas for This Week

Here are four areas to focus on during Trustees’ Week—and throughout the year:

1. Clarity of Purpose & Compliance
   Ensuring your charity has a clear charitable purpose, its activities align, and you comply with your governing document and law. trusteesweek.org

2. Board Composition & Dynamics
   Diverse skills and perspectives help boards make better decisions. Think about succession, new voices and whether your board reflects the community you serve.

3. Risk, Finances & Accountability
   Good governance demands transparency and preparedness. Do you have strong financial controls, clear reporting, and sound risk management processes?

4. Stakeholder Engagement & Impact
   Boards don’t operate in a vacuum. Are you listening to beneficiaries, communities, funders? Are you measuring and reporting impact as well as outputs?

A Call to Action

During Trustees’ Week, we encourage you to:

• Set aside time as a board for a governance check-in.

• Share your experiences of trusteeship (via your website, social media using #TrusteesWeek).

• Explore opportunities for new trustees to join your board, broadening skills and perspectives.

• Make one small but meaningful change in your governance practices (eg. refresh your conflict-of-interest policy; plan a development session for trustees).

Final Thoughts

Trusteeship is both privilege and responsibility. In a time of change, challenge and opportunity, good governance is not optional—it’s essential. As we recognise the dedication of trustees this week, let us also commit to stepping up, refreshing our governance and being future-ready.

To all trustees: thank you for your time, your judgement and your commitment. Here’s to a strong Trustees’ Week 2025 and to governance that truly serves the mission of our charities.

Please contact me directly about Trustee Recruitment [email protected]