Charity trustees are ultimately responsible for a charity's governance. They must act in the charity's best interests, manage resources responsibly, and comply with Charity Commission requirements. A trustee agreement (sometimes called a trustee declaration) is good governance practice and increasingly required by funders.

• Trustees act in a personal capacity — usually unpaid
• Personal liability: trustees can be personally liable for charity debts in some circumstances
• Charity Commission: report serious incidents including financial crime, safeguarding incidents
• Conflicts of interest: trustees with conflicts must declare and withdraw from relevant decisions
• Indemnity insurance: charities can take out trustee indemnity insurance (Charity Act 2011 s.189)

Legal reference: Charity Act 2011; Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Act 2016; Charity Commission CC3