What is a board member?

Behind every successful charity, community group, or social enterprise sits a board of people who guide its direction, make key decisions, and ensure it stays true to its purpose. These individuals – whether called trustees, board members, or non-executive directors – are vital to the health and effectiveness of the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector.

Charities use the term trustee. Trustees are legally responsible for ensuring a charity is well run, financially sound, and delivers on its charitable objectives. Community organisations often refer to committees or board members, who fulfil a similar governance role but within a different legal structure. The equivalent in social enterprises or community interest companies are non-executive directors– providing oversight and strategic guidance without being involved in day-to-day operations.

Diverse Boards Make Stronger VCSEs

Whatever the role title, boards share the common responsibilities of leadership, accountability, and vision. Boards ensure their organisations are achieving their mission and are well-resourced to do so for years to come. Yet for this leadership to truly reflect the communities our organisations serve, our boards must become more diverse.

Diversity in governance isn’t just a moral imperative – it’s also a practical one. A range of experiences, ages, backgrounds, and perspectives brings richer discussion, better decision-making, and greater innovation. Boards that reflect their communities are more likely to understand local needs, challenge assumptions, and spot opportunities others might miss.

Unfortunately, too many boards still lack diversity, although the picture is slowly improving. A 2017 survey of UK trustees by Charity Commission and Pro Bono Economics found 92% of trustees were white, with average age in the 55-64 bracket and above average income/education. A 2025 update shows similar statistics, with some slight improvements to representation of ethnic minorities, but significant under-representation of those with disabilities and with working-class backgrounds.

Why Diverse Boards Matter in Norfolk

Lack of board diversity is problematic because their make-up doesn’t reflect the energy, insight, and lived experience that exists in Norfolk’s communities. Younger people, people from ethnic minority backgrounds, those with disabilities, or with lived experience of the issues charities address often have the potential to make boards far stronger.

Voluntary Norfolk and Empowering Communities have been approaching organisations with diverse boards, to spotlight board members in Norfolk from a range of backgrounds and with diversity of experience. These will be featured in a social media campaign spotlighting those who are challenging assumptions about trusteeship and inspiring others to step forward into board roles.

One local organisation with a range of people and perspectives on their board is Gen D CIC, which inspires communities to build confidence through creating digital art. Director Mahnur Roushan says: “Charities exist to improve the lives of ‘people’, and that goal can only be achieved when diversity is represented at all levels, especially in leadership. Diversity brings a range of lived experiences, cultural, abilities and faith understandings, youth voice and professional expertise that can shape more inclusive services and better decision-making. When people with different backgrounds and perspectives are part of the conversation, charities are able to design provisions, adapt services, and introduce new ideas that truly reflect and respond to the communities they serve.”

Reflecting on her own experiences, Mahnur says: “At first, I struggled with imposter syndrome, questioning my knowledge or how I might be perceived. But over time, I realised that my difference is my strength, my understanding of communities I work with and my lived experience. My appearance, faith, and cultural background offer perspectives that others may not have considered.”

How to Diversify

Diversifying boards means looking beyond the “usual suspects” when recruiting and rethinking what makes someone suitable for governance. Skills and passion matter more than titles or seniority. VCSEs should create accessible, welcoming pathways for new voices to join, learn, and contribute – whether that’s through mentoring, open recruitment, or flexible meeting formats. Says Mahnur: “I am fortunate to serve on boards that are open, respectful, and proactive in creating supportive spaces […] To others who feel like they don’t ‘fit the mould’, I’d say, there is no mould. The sector needs your authenticity more than your conformity.”

A board that truly reflects its community isn’t just fairer – it’s smarter. We love this quote from NCVO: Having a range of perspectives and lived experiences on the board helps [organisations] remain innovative, relatable and agile to adapt to changing environments. 

In these challenging times, these qualities are vital to ensure our organisations survive, thrive and offer the best support for and with communities.

Resources for Board Members

Finally, here are some resources that may help you and your board:

• Festival of Trusteeship 2025 recordings – purchase access to all sessions including the brilliantly titled “How not to be a prat on a board”, “Inclusive approaches to finding trustees” and “How to build your confidence as a trustee”
• Get InVOLved Skills – local training opportunities for VCSEs, including specific opportunities for trustees and boards
• Resources for Trustees and Board Members – our very own Padlet board, featuring numerous resources, events and updates for board members and updated frequently! Use it to share your own resources and ask questions of peers!