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Part of Set up a charity: step by step
Guidance

Finding and appointing new trustees (CC30)

What to think about when recruiting and appointing new charity trustees, including rules about who can be a charity trustee.

Updates to this page

From:
The Charity Commission
Published:
1 September 2012
Last updated:
14 May 2025
Show all updates

  1. Guidance updated to reflect good practice on trustee recruitment.

  2. Guidance updated to reflect changes introduced by the Charities Act 2022.

  3. This publication has been updated in line with recently published guidance on automatic disqualification and safeguarding.

  4. First published.

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

Finding and appointing new trustees (CC30)

Ref: CC30

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Details

Guidance and information about how you can:

  • identify the skills and experience that your trustee board needs
  • write role descriptions and advertise to find new trustees
  • run an effective induction for new trustees

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This page is Part of Set up a charity: step by step

  1. Step 1 Check if setting up a charity is right for you

    1. Check the alternatives to setting up a charity

  2. and Check you're eligible

    1. Check if your organisation can be a charity

  3. Step 2 Find trustees

    Trustees are responsible for the operation of your charity. They must show they understand their legal requirements.

    1. Check who's eligible to be a trustee and what skills they need to have
    2. You are currently viewing: Find and appoint trustees
    3. Read about your trustees' legal responsibilities

  4. Step 3 Find out how to choose a charity structure

    1. Choose the right charity structure

  5. and Choose a name for your charity

    There are rules on what words you can use in your name.

    1. Check what you can call your charity

    You cannot register a name that's the same as or similar to another charity.

    1. Check the names of registered charities

  6. and Decide and write your charity's purposes

    Your ‘purposes’ describe what your charity is set up to achieve.

    1. Find out how to write your charity's purposes

  7. Step 4 Create a governing document

    The governing document is a set of rules that explains how your charity is run. It needs to include your charity's structure, name and purposes.

    1. Find out how to write your governing document

  8. Step 5 Make sure you meet the 'public benefit requirement'

    Your organisation must be able to show that it benefits the public.

    1. Check how your organisation must benefit the public

  9. Step 6 Register your charity

    You must apply to register your charity with the Charity Commission if either:

    • its income will be at least £5,000 per year
    • it’s a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO)
    1. Register with the Charity Commission

    You can register your charity’s details with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to get tax back on things like Gift Aid donations.

    1. Register with HMRC