Guidance

Users on board: beneficiaries who become trustees (CC24)

Find out how charity service users can help to develop the charity's services by being trustees.

• From: The Charity Commission
• Published: 1 March 2012

This publication was withdrawn on 6 May 2026

For guidance on involving service users on your trustee board read guidance on Finding and appointing new trustees.

For guidance on managing conflicts of interest if you have service users on your trustee board read guidance on conflicts of interest.

Applies to England and Wales

• Publication for Northern Ireland
• Publication for Scotland

Documents

Users on board: beneficiaries who become trustees

Ref: CC24

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Cynnwys defnyddwyr: buddiolwyr sy’n dod yn ymddiriedolwyr

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Details

Users can contribute their direct experience to the development of services and help other trustees develop a greater knowledge of the user perspective. Taking on trusteeship can:

• restore a sense of ownership and empowerment to users
• help reduce inequality and discrimination
• increase support for a charity among other users
• broaden a charity’s contacts and influence

User involvement can take several different forms, from informal discussions with users about the charity’s services to a trustee body made up totally of service users.

User trusteeship needs to be introduced with care to avoid any problems with conflicts of interest.

Some charities are legally required to have users as trustees.

Published 1 March 2012