You can become a trustee if you are over 18 and not disqualified by law from acting as a charity trustee or nominee. However, if you are between 16 and 18, you can still be a director of a charitable company or a member of a parochial church council.

You can’t become a trustee if any of the following apply to you:

• you’ve been convicted of a criminal offence involving deception or dishonesty (unless your conviction is spent)
• you’re currently bankrupt
• you’ve formally agreed to pay your creditors (eg composition, arrangement or trust deed) but haven’t yet done so
• you’ve been removed from a previous trusteeship by the Charity Commission or the Court because of misconduct or mismanagement
• you’ve been disqualified from acting as a company director through a disqualification order

You will not be able to become a trustee for certain charities if you are disqualified from working with children or vulnerable adults. Charities working with children or vulnerable adults can ask prospective trustees to undertake a CRB check.

Charities need to make sure their trustees are qualified and suitable. You may be asked to sign a declaration that you are not disqualified from acting as a charity trustee.

See also

• Information for young trustees
• Finding new trustees: What charities need to know (CC30)
• Sample trustee declaration form

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