Trustees need to reflect community

The chief executive of a leading voluntary organisation has
criticised the sector for being “complacent” about
governance.

Stephen Bubb of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary
Organisations told delegates at a conference in London last week
that research had shown 68 per cent of trustee appointments were
made via word of mouth.

Trustees were mostly white middle-class men, which Bubb said was
“unacceptable” when the sector was aiming to become more
diverse.

“A strong argument for paying trustees is that it may be the only
way to attract younger people, people in jobs where they cannot
easily take time off, and people from black communities and
communities in deprived areas,” said Bubb.