04/06/2003

Work of charity trustees celebrated

The Charity Commission today paid tribute to the one million charity trustees who run 185,000 charities across England and Wales for National Volunteers' Week.

National Volunteers' Week, now in its 19th year, is a major campaign run by the National Centre for Volunteering, and charities and voluntary organisations across the UK will be using the week to recognise, reward and highlight the diversity of opportunity available to potential trustees.

Many charities rely on donations, whether it's money from the public or the 90 million hours of voluntary work put in by over 22 million people in the UK each year. Charity trustees include people of all ages, life experiences, cultural background and professional skills. In many cases, trustees are also people who use charities' services themselves.

Being a charity trustee may also provide an alternative career path alongside paid employment, and it offers an opportunity to develop leadership, financial and teamworking skills.

Charity Commission Head of Standards, Tony Pino, said: "Good trustees are the cornerstone of a healthy charity at both a community and national level. They have an important legal responsibility but the role also brings great personal rewards. We would encourage people of all ages and walks of life to consider taking on this valuable role."

For more information on the week please see www.volunteersweek.org.uk or call 020 7520 8947.

For information on local volunteering opportunities please call 0845 601 4008 or visit www.timebank.org.uk

(GMcG)

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