2026 Trustee Training programme

We are delighted to share the dates for our 2026 Trustee Training Programme.

These informative and practical online webinars provide a comprehensive introduction for new trustees and a valuable refresher for existing board members, helping ensure everyone is confident in their legal and financial responsibilities.

For those wishing to deepen their knowledge further, our advanced session explores key areas of trustee responsibility in more detail and offers practical guidance and tips to help navigate some of the current challenges facing the sector.

Speakers

The speakers will be Charity Director Nicola O’Sullivan from BHP as well as Catherine Rustomji, Partner and Head of Charities at Shakespeare Martineau, and the session will be chaired by Rachel Heath, Charity Director, from BHP.

Introduction to the Financial and Legal Responsibilities of Charity Trustees – 5 May 9.30am-12pm

This practical, accessible session is designed for newly appointed trustees or anyone looking for a clear refresher on the core duties of charity governance and financial stewardship. It provides a strong foundation for understanding your role and the standards expected of trustees.

Legal Duties and Governance Essentials

• The key features of different charitable legal structures and what they mean in practice
• Common terminology explained simply and clearly
• An overview of trustees’ legal duties and responsibilities, including the specific statutory and regulatory standards against which trustees are assessed
• How to demonstrate good governance and comply with Charity Commission expectations

Financial Responsibilities Made Clear

• Understanding the different types of charitable funds and the restrictions that apply
• An introduction to the fundamentals of charity financial management, including budgeting, controls and reserves
• When and why a charity might use a trading subsidiary
• Trustees’ obligations around serious incident reporting and maintaining transparency with the Charity Commission

This session provides a solid grounding in the essentials, preparing trustees for confident participation in board discussions and effective oversight of their charity’s work.

Advanced Skills for Effective Charity Governance and Financial Stewardship – 19 May 9.30am-12pm

Our Advanced Charity Finance and Governance for Trustees session takes a deeper dive into the key responsibilities and challenges facing charity boards today. Building on the principles covered in the introductory session, this workshop explores:

Governance and Board Effectiveness

• Strengthening collective decision‑making and shared responsibility
• Managing conflicts of interest with confidence
• Understanding the role of the Chair and fostering effective board dynamics
• Delegation in practice – ensuring appropriate oversight, reporting back and accountability
• Duties of confidentiality and good governance behaviours

Financial Management and Strategic Oversight

• A brief refresher on essential financial principles, procedures and controls
• A more detailed look at reserves policies, why reserves matter, and how to manage them in uncertain times
• Key considerations when organisations diversify or change how they operate, including the risks of acting outside charitable objects
• Tax implications trustees need to be aware of when developing new activities

This session is designed for trustees who already have a grounding in the basics and want to enhance their understanding of both financial stewardship and legal responsibilities in a more complex operating environment.

To book

Introductory session – 5 May 2026

Advanced session – 19 May 2026