Do you want to make a real impact in your community? Are you already a trustee – or thinking about becoming one? If so, then we would love to see you join us at our Trustee Network and Trustee Academy.

Trustee Academy

The Trustee Academy is a focused 4-week learning programme designed to equip delegates with practical knowledge, key insights, and confidence to thrive in their role as a trustee. Each session provides top tips and real-world guidance, making it ideal for:

· New or soon-to-be trustees

· Existing trustees wanting to refresh or deepen their understanding

Participants are asked to commit to the full 4-week (90 mins) cohort to get the most out of the programme and to foster continuity and peer support throughout the sessions. The Academy creates a supportive, engaging environment to build trustee skills and strengthen good governance across the VCSE sector.

Each session will cover an essential area of trusteeship:

* Welcome & Introduction

* Understanding Your Role

* Supporting People Safely

* Money & Risk

The Trustee Network

The Trustee Network is a more in depth look at the roles and responsibilities of being a trustee, we hear from leading experts who can help to guide and support you through your trustee journey. Alongside this, there is also a great opportunity This is a great to:

* Learn from others

* Share your experiences

* Feel supported in your role

* Grow your confidence as a trustee

Organisations are welcome to pick and choose the sessions most relevant to them and can nominate different trustees to attend depending on the topic. This flexible approach ensures trustees receive the support and development they need, when they need it across the trustee board.

Upcoming dates:

The Community Development team will be running a Winter Trustee Academy in preparation for the next Trustee Network rolling programme which will commence January 2026.

Whether you're just getting started or want to build on what you already know, both programmes offer the tools and support to help you thrive as a trustee.

Please do not hesitate to contact us at community@heysmilefoundation.org for more information or o register your interest in joining the next cohort.

Let’s grow this amazing community of trustees together with the Hey Smile Foundation