Getting on Board – Supporting Aspiring Trustees

Empowering Diverse Future Trustees

Getting on Board, a charity dedicated to promoting inclusive and diverse trusteeship, sought to support aspiring trustees—especially those from underrepresented backgrounds—in confidently joining charity boards. While their flagship six-week Charity Board Leadership Programme (CBLP) laid the foundation in good governance and legal responsibility, many participants—around 30% from racially minoritised groups—needed further help to turn their learning into action and secure their first trustee role.

Our Approach

Formation’s founder, Sapna Marwaha, designed and delivered the CBLP Alumni Programme: a dynamic set of small group workshops, webinars and personalised coaching. This included:

• Identifying strengths and passions: Helping participants map their unique qualities to effective trusteeship.

• Addressing structural barriers: Demystifying concepts like imposter syndrome and making peer networking and boardroom cultures transparent and accessible.

• Practical job search support: Coaching alumni on where to find board opportunities, how to ace trustee interviews, and preparing for the early months in post.

• Further dedicated 1:1 coaching was provided where needed to enable candidates facing greater obstacles in achieving their goals.

The Impact

Alumni reported that our tools and training were pivotal in helping them find and flourish in their first trustee roles. More than individual outcomes, this programme seeded inclusive leadership across the sector: new trustees stepped into their roles confidently, ready to champion best practice and diversity on their boards.