Your charity may sometimes need a new trustee to replace one who has resigned.

Before you start, you and the other trustees should consult your governing document which will set out how to appoint new trustees. In membership charities, trustees are usually elected by the members at the AGM, but in a non-membership charity or when co-opting trustees, the trustees themselves make the appointment. One way to find new trustees can be:

• looking at your current volunteers, who may have the required skills
• word of mouth or personal recommendation
• advertising in local press, newsletters and notice boards

NCVO Trustee Bank can provide you with free online advertising and recruitment service.

• NCVO Trustee Bank

Interview the potential trustees and ask the successful candidate to join the charity, formally appointing them in accordance with the governing document.

The trustees should also seek the necessary Criminal Records Bureau disclosure if the charity works with children or vulnerable people.

• Criminal record checks

Arrange for an information pack of important documents to be sent to the new trustee. These could include:

• a copy of the governing document
• the latest accounts and annual return
• the latest trustee minutes

Further information on trustee recruitment can be found in our guidance:

• Finding new trustees (CC30)

ID: 201

• See full list of FAQ topics