Governance in Action: What is a Trustee and how do they help Homefield?
Welcome to Trustees’ Week! This is the time of year when we celebrate the incredible people who work behind the scenes to guide our charity and champion our students.
As part of our celebrations, we are taking a closer look at what governance means, what a trustee actually does and how our board helps Homefield thrive.
What is a Charity?
Before looking at trustees, it helps to understand what a charity is. Unlike standard commercial businesses, a charity does not exist to make money. Instead, it exists to help people, animals or the wider community. Homefield is proud to be a registered charity, dedicated to providing specialist education and empowering our students.
What is a Trustee?
Put simply, a trustee is a volunteer. They give their time for free because they care deeply about the charity’s mission and want to make sure it delivers exceptional support.
Key facts about trustees and charity governance include:
- Trustees are volunteers who give their time for free because they care about the charity and want to make sure it does a great job.
- Trustees work together as a group called a “board” to vote on big plans for the charity’s future.
- Trustees keep charities safe by checking that money is spent well and rules are followed.
- You do not have to be old to be a trustee, as young trustees bring fresh ideas, understand what young people need and help charities make better choices.
Governance in Action at Homefield
At Homefield, our trustees play a crucial governance role in making sure our charity is well-run and always acts in the best interests of our students and Community Learning members. From overseeing teaching, learning and assessment to managing finance and general purposes, our dedicated board brings a wealth of professional experience – ranging from educational safeguarding to healthcare finance – to support our college community.
Want to find out more about the people guiding our charity? You can meet our Trustees on our website to read about their backgrounds and the unique skills they bring to Homefield.
Thank you to all our trustees for your ongoing guidance, governance and support!
