Being a QAC trustee or committee co-optee

Our trustees’ main responsibilities:

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 and they
• 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.

What our trustees do

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.

Board of Trustees meetings – three on-site and one virtual annually, lasting three hours each. Currently scheduled for weekday afternoons.

Strategy Day – trustees, committe 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 per committee. 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.

Induction – QACE directors complete a programme of induction.

Training – QAC trustees and QAC committee co-optees must either complete, or request exemption from, regular training on safeguarding adults, the Government’s Keeping children safe in education guidance, the Prevent Duty, the protection of our data and our cyber security.  Other training is available and some may be encouraged.

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, quality, governance, remuneration and resources. Co-optees contribute their expertise to their committee, but do not have the breadth of responsibilities, or the same demands on their time, as do trustees.  To find out more, please refer to the documents below.