Being a QAC (charity) trustee or committee co-optee
What our trustees do
Because we are a charitable company, our trustees are also company directors. They are the employer of our staff and, acting together as the Board of Trustees, they
- are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of our college students, residential clients and community services users
- set the strategic direction of the charity
- exercise oversight of the charity’s activities
- ensure that the charity’s money is spent well
Read a summary of responsibilities in our trustee role description.
Our trustees have legal responsibilities under charity and company law. For more information, read the Charity Commission’s The essential trustee: what you need to know, what you need to do and Charity trustee welcome pack and the Government’s Being a company director.
How trustees operate and the time commitment
Most of the work of our trustees is fulfilled through board and committee meetings, but some trustees have lead roles and all are encouraged to visit our sites for events. The information below is based on our 2024 to 2025 Governance Meetings Schedule and, in good faith, we also share our draft 2025 to 2026 Governance Meetings Schedule.
Board of Trustees meetings – about four on-site annually, lasting two to three hours each. Currently scheduled for weekday afternoons.
Strategy Day – trustees, co-optees and QACE directors on a week-day.
Committee meetings – all trustees serve on at least one committee alongside co-optees and there are generally three virtual meetings annually. Currently scheduled during weekday afternoons.
Lead trustee visits – if you’re one of these, you visit about three times annually for between one and three hours during the teaching day.
Induction – trustees, co-optees and QACE directors complete a programme of induction.
Training – trustees, co-optees and QACE directors undertake a programme of training that averages two hours each month (largely self-taught virtual modules) and they have access to much more on a voluntary basis.
Appraisal – which, during 2024 to 2025, involved a 45-minute virtual conversation.
Find out more about Induction, Training and Appraisal on our 'Being a QAC (charity) trustee or committee co-optee' page.
What our committee co-optees do
The Board of Trustees delegates many of its functions to its committees for audit, curriculum and quality, governance, remuneration and resources. Co-optees committees contribute their expertise to their committee, but do not have the breadth of responsibilities, or the same demands on their time, as do trustees.
