Funder Henry Smith Foundation has launched a programme of funding to help improve diversity on charity boards.

It warns that “too many people who would make great trustees never see themselves in the role”.

“They don’t have the time, confidence, networks, or support to step forward. At the same time, many trustees are asked to carry serious responsibilities with little training or development," it said.

“The result is boards that look similar, think similarly, and struggle to reflect the communities their charities exist to serve.”

Its Better Boards programme will support four organisations to help charities improve trustee diversity. These are Reach Volunteering, Board Racial Diversity UK, the Young Trustees Movement and the Association of Chairs.

“We chose them deliberately because, together, they cover the full governance journey,” said the Foundation.

“From opening up trustee roles to people who might never have considered them, to supporting trustees to grow in confidence and skill, to strengthening board diversity and practice across the sector.”

It added that they have been backed by the Foundation as “despite their national reach and influence, their work doesn’t fit neatly into place or issue-based funding, so they’re often overlooked for long-term support”.

“By backing them with multi-year, core funding, we’re investing in the conditions that allow stronger, more inclusive governance to take root across the sector,” said the funder.

Research published by Aveco and consultancy Eastside People earlier this month found that one in four charities has no global majority senior leaders or trustees.

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