Being a trustee
If you like the bigger picture and thinking strategically then you could be a Student Trustee.
A Student Trustee helps to ensure that Durham SU is well governed. This is a distinct role, which is different to a student representative or a student activist. A Trustee deliberates and decides with the rest of the Board about the best way to deliver Durham SU’s purpose.
You’ll be elected alongside three other students to join our Board of Trustees, and gain professional development skills at the highest level available to students.
The Board of Trustees is the governing body of Durham Students’ Union. The overall role of the Board is to ensure that the Union is well run, meeting its aims and working within the law.
There are fourteen Trustees; the five full-time elected Student Officers, four elected Student Trustees, and five external or lay Trustees appointed for their specialist knowledge in areas such as law and finance, to provide independent expertise for the Board.
Any student who is a member of Durham SU is eligible to become a student trustee, which includes if you are a Sabbatical Officer or a member of your Common Room Executive.
Student Trustees aren’t individually accountable to any constituency. The Board of Trustees is collectively accountable to the Students’ Union’s regulators – Durham University and the Charity Commission.
Student Trustees have the same rights as every other Durham SU member, these rights are set out in our Articles of Associations. When you become a Trustee these rights remain, you just take on extra responsibilities.
A full training, induction and support programme is provided. For more information on what being a charity trustee involves, you can visit the government website.
Trustees are responsible for:
- Setting the long term plans and direction of Durham Students’ Union
- To monitor and evaluate the performance of Durham Students’ Union, ensuring objectives for which the Union has been set up are delivered on
- Making sure the Union uses its financial resources properly and that it is financially viable
- Ensuring the Union works within the law and constitution, including its governing documents, charity law and any other relevant legislation or regulations
- To work collectively and with Durham SU Senior Leadership to ensure all decisions are made in the best interest of Durham Students and the Union
- To accept collective responsibility for decisions reached by the board members
- To agree any delegated authority and ensure such delegated authority is clearly expressed
Find out why you should run to be a Trustee here.
You can also download the role description and person specification here.
You can also register your interest in being a Trustee by emailing su.elections@durham.ac.uk.
