Trustee Academy – Build Your Confidence as a Trustee

Whether you're thinking about becoming a trustee, have recently joined a board, or have been a trustee for some time and would value a refresher, the HEY Smile Foundation Trustee Academy is a great place to start.

The Trustee Academy is a practical introduction to the role of a charity trustee and the responsibilities that come with it. Delivered by the HEY Smile Foundation Community Development Team, it is designed to help trustees understand not only what their responsibilities are, but what good governance looks like in practice.

Four online sessions

The Academy is delivered across four 90-minute sessions via Microsoft Teams, making it accessible for trustees and volunteers alongside work and other commitments.

Across the four sessions, we explore the key foundations trustees need to understand, including:

• The role and responsibilities of trustees
• Charity governance and different organisational structures
• Trustee duties and decision-making
• Managing charity finances and resources
• Risk, insurance and trustee liability
• Safeguarding and trustee oversight
• Policies, procedures and good governance
• Understanding the relationship between trustees, staff and volunteers
• Practical issues and scenarios trustees may encounter

There is also plenty of opportunity to ask questions, discuss real-life situations and learn alongside other trustees.

Who is it for?

The Trustee Academy is suitable for:

• People considering becoming a trustee
• New trustees who want to understand their responsibilities
• Existing trustees looking for a refresher
• Directors and committee members within VCSE organisations who want to strengthen their governance knowledge

You don't need to arrive with lots of governance knowledge. The Academy is designed to build the foundations and help you feel more confident about the role.

From Trustee Academy to ongoing learning

Good trusteeship doesn't stop once you've understood the basics.

The Trustee Academy provides the foundation for HEY Smile's wider trustee learning offer, with participants encouraged to continue their development through the HEY Smile Trustee Network.

The Trustee Network brings trustees together throughout the year to explore areas of governance in more depth, hear from specialist speakers and professionals, discuss emerging issues and learn from the experiences of other trustees.

Topics have included areas such as safeguarding, volunteer recruitment and retainment, employment law, GDPR, banking and risk, insurance, ethical investment and cyber security.

Together, the Trustee Academy and Trustee Network provide a growing pathway from understanding the foundations of trusteeship to continuing to develop your knowledge, confidence and governance practice.

HEY Smile can also explore delivering a place-based Trustee Academy where there is sufficient local need and demand.