Trustees’ Week Blog – You Already Have the Skills to be a Charity Trustee

Haven’t the foggiest what “quorum” means? Haven’t a clue what an “AGM agenda packet” involves? If the word “governance” makes you picture an oak-panelled room filled with serious-looking people in suits, you are definitely not alone.

To celebrate Trustees’ Week 2026, third sector organisations across Scotland are highlighting the incredible people who guide their work. But more importantly, many of these organisations are actively looking for new trustees to join their boards right now.

So if you’ve ever looked at a trustee opening and thought, “I’d like to, but that’s not for someone like me,” it’s time to reconsider. You probably have far more to offer than you think.

What Do Boards Actually Want?

Imposter syndrome is the biggest barrier preventing great people from stepping onto non-profit boards. Many assume boards only want former executives or financial experts. But data tells a very different story.

A white paper by governance platform Nurole examined over 5,000 board role specifications to see what skills organisations are asking for. Here is what the evidence shows:

• No prior board experience needed: Fewer than 3% of board specifications require prior trustee experience. In fact, charity, education, and non-profit sectors are the most open to welcoming first-time trustees.

• It’s not all about spreadsheets: While 38% of charity boards request finance experience, it is far from the only requirement. Charities heavily seek skills in fundraising (23%), marketing and brand (21%), risk management (20%), and legal background (16%).

Boards don’t need a group of identical experts; they need a balance of different perspectives, skills, and lived experiences.

Your Life Experience Counts!

You don’t need 20 years of corporate director experience to make a huge impact on a board. The knowledge you’ve picked up through your career, your side projects, your hobbies, or simply your daily life is immensely valuable:

• Do you handle social media, create content, or organise community events? You have marketing and engagement skills.

• Do you manage budgets at work or run a household? You understand practical resource management and trade-off decisions.

• Are you active in local groups, sports clubs, or volunteering? You bring project management and network connections.

Most importantly, if you live or work in the community a third sector organisation serves, you have direct insight into what service users actually need. That lived experience, empathy, and local grounding are every bit as critical to board decision-making as a background in commercial strategy or risk compliance.

A Two-Way Street (For Just a Few Hours a Month)

According to data on board commitments, the median time required for a charity trustee is around 12 to 13 days per year. That breaks down to just a couple of hours every few weeks for meetings and reading through background papers.

The benefits are also two-fold:

• What you give: You lend your passion, fresh perspective, and specific skills to a cause you genuinely care about.

• What you get: You gain high-level leadership experience, learn how strategic decisions are made, build confidence, and expand your professional network.

Explore Opportunities This Trustees’ Week

If you care about a local cause, whether it’s youth work, environmental action, mental health support, or the arts, your community needs your voice. You don’t need to know all the boardroom jargon on day one; every board will guide you through how things work.

Don’t ask yourself if you fit the stereotypical image of a board member; ask yourself how your unique perspective can help a cause you care about thrive.

Finding your place on a board is easy:

• Find out more about becoming a trustee.
• Check your favourite charities’ websites or explore local listings through Borders Community Action.
• Don’t see a cause or role that catches your eye today? Register your interest on our Volunteering Page, and we’ll help you to find a suitable opportunity.

Source: Cummings, Oliver (2026). Which boards want which skills? What 5,000 board specifications reveal about where your experience fits. Nurole