Charities look to broaden diversity of boards, research finds

[TWO THIRDS OF CHARITIES say they are actively looking to recruit trustees from more diverse backgrounds, a new survey from specialist charity insurer Ecclesiastical has found. The company carried out the research ahead of Trustee Week at the beginning of November and found that, while trustee referrals are still the most popular method of recruitment, charities are increasingly using social media to reach a wider audience.

Over two fifths (44%) of charities are using social media to advertise vacancies on their boards, almost as popular as using their own website (46%). LinkedIn (67%), Twitter (58%) and Facebook (55%) are the most commonly used recruitment platforms, but 18% are making use of TikTok to appeal to a younger audience with their advertisements.

Three out of five (60%) of charities using social media said that they use paid-for or sponsored advertisements to target specific audiences.

Understanding of the needs of the charity’s beneficiaries (45%) and bringing new skills to the board (44%) ranked as the most important attributes when recruiting trustees, followed by professional qualifications (35%), network of contacts (34%) and status in the community (31%).

Charities have faced a challenging 18 months with increased demand and reduced budgets, and half of respondents said they found it more difficult to recruit trustees in that time. Over two fifths (44%) said that one way of encouraging trustees from a wider range of ages, backgrounds and communities was to promote the benefits of being a trustee more widely, while 44% suggested encouraging more flexibility around board meetings. Two in five (40%) said that training for charity boards promoting the benefits of diversity could also be of benefit.

Faith Kitchen, customer segment director at Ecclesiastical, commented: “Trustee Week is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the amazing work charity trustees across the country do. It’s also an opportunity to encourage new people to get involved and it’s clear from this survey that charities are already working hard to reach new audiences and to improve the diversity on their boards.

“By encouraging trustees from a wider range of ages, backgrounds and communities, charities can bring in new ideas, identify different opportunities and safeguard against potential risks they’re not currently sighted on.”

Penny Wilson, CEO of Getting on Board, which campaigns for greater diversity among charity trustees, said: “That two thirds of charities say they are actively looking to recruit trustees from more diverse backgrounds feels like a real step forward towards diverse boards becoming the sector standard. However, it’s not just about getting people onto boards; we need to make sure that our board policies and procedures, and ultimately board culture, is supportive of people who have been previously under-represented so that they are able to fully utilise their skills, experience and knowledge once in the role.” q

[THE MISSION of Three Counties Dog Rescue is to accept, care for and find homes for unwanted, lost and stray dogs and cats and to ensure their wellbeing afterwards. The charity was founded in 1971 and since then they have improved the lives of 7,500 dogs and cats.

Before rehoming, all animals are vet checked, neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and kept in suitable conditions. Rehabilitation costs are a major part of the charity’s annual expenditure of over £200,000.

Healthy animals are never put down. As part of that non-destruction policy, several elderly dogs are kept in long term foster care. However, this means that the charity can incur large veterinary costs to maintain a dog’s health while they await a new permanent home. They now provide boarding and cremation services with profits supporting the Rescue.

Every penny raised goes to improving the lives of dogs and cats. Three Counties Dog Rescue is run entirely by voluntary and unpaid helpers, who also meet their own expenses. q

[THE BRITISH CHELONIA GROUP publishes six newsletters a year containing details of meetings, short articles, news items and veterinary notes. Their journal Testudo is published annually and contains original articles and reviews on all aspects of turtles, terrapins and tortoises – their biology, conservation, welfare, veterinary care and husbandry. The group also organises symposia.

As well as the yearly appeals in aid of specific international causes in chelonia research and survival, the BCG assists other worthy causes in support of its aims with grants. They invite grant applications from organisations and individuals engaged on the work of chelonia conservation – such as zoos, universities, zoologists and students in this country and overseas. q