Eastside People is the new home for the Festival of Trusteeship and the revived event will form a central part of this year’s Trustees’ Week (from 3rd to 7th November 2025).
The Festival of Trusteeship is a week-long online series of events, full of exciting options for anyone who wants to become a trustee, for committed trustees who want to keep learning and developing, and for charity leaders who want to understand best practice in trustee recruitment and inclusive governance.
The festival will deliver a mix of informative and practical webinars and workshops, and lively panel discussions relating to good charity board governance with a focus on diversity and inclusion. All sessions for aspiring trustees are free.
Richard Litchfield, CEO of Eastside People says, “Eastside People are absolutely committed to helping trustees build their skills and confidence, and I am excited that we’re able to support the relaunch of the Festival of Trusteeship.
We will be working in collaboration with Penny Wilson, Fiona McAuslan and the original production team, keeping the spirit and creativity of this well-loved event, while bringing in topics and speakers based on the experiences gained during our 21 years and nearly 3,000 charity consulting and recruitment projects that we know matter to the boards we are working with.”
We’re delighted to announce that the Institute of Leadership is sponsoring this year’s event. A professional membership body representing a global community of managers, leaders, and organisations continued learning is a key part of how they shape the future of leadership. We’re also very grateful to Ecclesiastical Insurance, the sponsors of the planned 2024 event. Additionally, we’re also extremely pleased to have the support of Stone King, a purpose-led law firm.
The ticketing site for the Festival will open on Monday 30th June 2025. In the meantime be first in line for early bird tickets and the latest lowdown on the event by subscribing to updates via the button below.
Outline Agenda
Festival of Trusteeship 2025: Monday 3rd November – Friday 7th November 2025
Monday 3rd November:
11:00 – 12:00
The Future of Trusteeship: Keynote from the Charity Commission
David Holdsworth, CEO of the Charity Commission, shares his vision for trusteeship, followed by a panel exploring bold, practical ideas for the future of the role.
12:30 – 13:30
Crisis? Sorted! A trustee’s toolkit for tough times
Trustees share their experiences navigating crisis – what worked, what didn’t, and what they wish they’d known.
16:30 – 17:30
Governance hacks: Easy wins for your board
Quick fixes and clever tweaks that can transform your board meetings. Ideal for small to medium-sized charities.
18:00 – 19:00
What is a trustee & how do I become one?
An introductory session covering what trustees do, how to find the right role, and what to expect from board life.
Tuesday 4th November:
12:30 – 13:30
Risk it for a biscuit: Are trustees playing it too safe?
Explore how to approach risk more boldly and strategically, and hear from trustees who’ve done just that.
16:30 – 17:30
How to close well: Tips for trustees navigating charity closure
What to consider when winding down a charity, from legal duties to preserving legacy and supporting people.
18:00 – 19:00
New to the board? How to make an impact from day one
Advice and reflections from trustees on getting started and thriving in your first year on a board.
Wednesday 5th November:
12:30 – 13:30
Challenge accepted: How to disagree well on boards
How to foster constructive challenge and healthy disagreement that leads to stronger governance.
16:30 – 17:30
Trusteeship Transformed: Bold ideas from the front line
Sector changemakers pitch their ideas to reimagine boards. Expect provocation, inspiration and a few surprises!
18:00 – 19:00
Young trustees wanted: Unlocking the next generation
Tackling the barriers young people face in joining boards, and hearing what’s working from trustees and charities.
Thursday 6th November:
12:30 – 13:30
Who’s missing from your board? Inclusive approaches to finding trustees
What’s working in inclusive trustee recruitment, and how to support trustees once they’re in post.
16:30 – 17:30
Behind the scenes: What trustees should know about being a charity CEO
Insights from CEOs on their role, what they wish boards understood, and how trustees can be supportive allies.
18:00 – 19:00
How to build your confidence as a trustee
Build your presence, find your voice, and hear how others overcame self-doubt to become effective board members.
Friday 7th November:
12:30 – 13:30
Strategy that sticks: Tools and tips for trustees
Frameworks and real-life examples to help boards shape practical, bold and lasting strategies.
16:30 – 17:30
How to not be a prat on a board
The serious side of poor board behaviour and how to avoid it. Honest reflections with humour and practical advice.
Register your Interest
Eastside People Festival of Trusteeship FAQs:
- I bought a ticket/weekly pass to the Festival of Trusteeship 2024. Will I be able to use it?
Yes. We will honour any tickets and weekly passes bought from Getting on Board for the Festival of Trusteeship 2024. We will be contacting all ticket holders with details of how to access this year’s event.
- I bought a ticket/weekly pass to the Festival of Trusteeship 2024 but I can’t come to the 2025 event. Can I get a refund?
Unfortunately, we’re not able to issue refunds on previous ticket sales. Your 2024 ticket does entitle you to access the full set of Festival of Trusteeship 2025 recordings, which we will send to everyone who has re-registered following the communicated process (please look out for emails with the details). We very much hope that you will gain value from your original purchase.
- I bought a ticket/weekly pass to the Festival of Trusteeship 2024 but I am unable to attend the 2025 event. Can I give my ticket to someone else?
Unfortunately, we’re not able to transfer tickets from previous ticket holders to new ticket holders. Your 2024 ticket does entitle you to access the full set of Festival of Trusteeship 2025 recordings, which we will send to everyone who has re-registered following the communicated process (please look out for emails with the details). We very much hope that you will gain value from your original purchase.
- I’m not a trustee, can I still attend?
Yes! The Festival of Trusteeship is for everyone who is interested in trustees, charities and how they are run. In particular, if you’re thinking of becoming a trustee you can attend any of our ‘Aspiring Trustee’ sessions at no charge.
- How much will the tickets cost?
Tickets to the Festival of Trusteeship 2025 are priced as follows:
-
- Early bird weekly pass: £24 (incl VAT)
- Weekly pass: £30 (incl VAT)
- Individual events: £12 (incl VAT)
- Post event recordings box set for non-ticket holders (£30).
All sessions for aspiring trustees are free of charge.
- When will I be able to buy tickets?
Tickets will be available for purchase from 30th June 2025 onwards. If you complete our form to register your interest via the button below, we’ll let you know when the ticketing site is live.
- I can’t come to the festival; will I be able to access recordings?
Yes! We want the Festival of Trusteeship to be available to as many people as possible, so you’ll be able to order a box set of all the recorded sessions for £30 via our Eventbrite page.
Register your interest via the button below if you’d like us to let you know when the Eventbrite page is live.
The session recordings will also be available free of charge on Eastside People’s YouTube channel sometime in 2026.
If you subscribe to Eastside People’s YouTube channel and opt-in to Notifications (via your Settings), you will automatically be notified when the free recordings are live.
- How can I find my Zoom links once I’ve bought my ticket?
When you book via EventBrite our ticketing platform, you will receive confirmation emails that include your Zoom links. If you haven’t received anything, please check your spam folder. It’s a good idea to copy your Zoom links into a calendar entry for the day of your session(s) so that you have them to hand when you need them.
- What reasonable adjustments do you have in place for my support needs and who can I talk to about any additional access requirements?
We want all aspiring and serving trustees to be able to enjoy the Festival. Closed captions are enabled on all Festival sessions. If there are other ways in which we can make the Festival more accessible to you, please contact us via the email [email protected].
If you have any questions about the Festival of Trusteeship which haven’t been answered here, please email us at: [email protected].
