Key takeaways from the HEY Charity Podcast: Episode 1

Gerry Morrison and Harriet Wheeldon from Rollits and Sophie Bartup from the HEY Smile Foundation are the co-hosts of the HEY Charity Podcast

The HEY Charity Podcast is a six-part series for anyone involved with charities but brings charity law to life with practical insights from the people who have lived and breathed charities in the Hull and East Yorkshire area. Charity law and trusteeship can be a minefield for both new and experienced trustees. Gerry, Harriet and Sophie discuss the issues that trustees face every day to bring people in the charity sector together and share experiences.

The Podcast explores everyday issues that charity leaders and trustees face. So far, the episodes have focused on the main duties of trustees, fundraising and trustee recruitment.

Let’s recap some of the discussions from episode one.

Trustees 

Gerry and Harriet began the episode with a discussion of the legal intention of the six duties of trustees, what these mean and how they can be achieved.

Conflicts

The discussion reminded trustees that acting in the best interests of the charity means prioritising the charity’s objectives and interests over personal interests and ensure that all decisions are made to further the charity’s goals. This includes making informed, ethical choices that align with the charity’s purpose and values.

Conflicts of interest should always be considered, this can be a somewhat confusing area to people. The feeling of loyalty to another organisation or charity whilst acting as a trustee is an example of such conflict. Conflicts of interest can be upsetting for trustees and can lead to feelings of awkwardness and isolation for the conflicted trustees.  Gerry and Harriet explained that being clear with how conflicts are dealt with at the outset and having a clear conflicts of interest policy that applies across the board can help trustees to understand that the procedures of dealing with conflicts of interest (commonly having to leave the meeting) are not personal to that trustee.

Accountability

Gerry and Harriet also explored the duty of accountability and reminded trustees that they must ensure that the charity is accountable both to people who use your services, and the Charity Commission. This includes ensuring regular filings and financial documents are submitted on time to the Charity Commission (as the Regulator) but also funders will want to know and be able to see that the trustees are accountable as consistency and transparency instils confidence.

Effective financial management helps prevent misuse of funds, fraud, or inefficient spending. Charities must demonstrate to donors how their contributions are making a difference. This includes providing feedback on the impact of donations and maintaining open communication about ongoing programs and projects.

Guest Speaker – Trish Dalby

Sophie, Gerry and Harriet were thrilled to be joined by experienced trustee, Trish Dalby, who shared her invaluable insights and experiences as a trustee.

 Upon her retirement Trish was keen to become a trustee of organisations that she previously could not become involved in due to conflicts of interest. Trish shared that “Making a difference in the communities in which you are in” is important and becoming a trustee is “one of the most rewarding things I have ever done”.

Trish also stated that “the benefits of being a trustee cannot be underestimated” and it was discussed that this can take a varied number of forms from hands on work and strategic development and planning for the charity. Trish acknowledged that following your passion and finding something you are emotionally invested in is important as a trustee, it allows for a much more authentic approach.

One of the key takeaways from Trish were her comments relating to passion which she said is important “but it is nothing without action” as action is what leads to results and allows charities to thrive.

Signing off the podcast Trish gave trustees several pieces of advice:

• Be curious in your approach – don’t be afraid to ask questions.
• Understand exactly what it is you bring to the charity and value that
• You have no idea what somebody else’s journey is or why they need the help of the charity, and one day it is important to remember that could be you
• Treating people with respect and dignity is crucial, it is about what people do, not say.

If you’ve missed episode one, you can listen to it here: