Where Can I Find Training and Resources on Board Diversity?
A list of training resources and general guidance on board diversity.
What is this advice about?
This advice aims to signpost individuals and organisations in the heritage sector to training and resources for board diversity and good general guidance for boards. It is for both new and established organisations.
Please note that Historic England is not affiliated in any way with the organisations in this list. We have collated this list from available sources of guidance, training, and support available in England as of April 2024. There are a range of options with varying price points – we encourage individuals and organisations to thoroughly investigate their options before undertaking any relationships.
Historic England is developing a suite of resources for heritage organisations of all sizes to develop the diversity of their board and build a more sustainable and resilient heritage sector for the future.
Diversity in heritage governance and leadership leads to more nuanced and informed discussions and decisions. It also leads to project work and programming that is inclusive, engaging, and accessible to more diverse audiences, as well as approaches to preservation, interpretation, and promotion of heritage that tell richer stories of multiple, complex histories.
This resource forms part of a wider strand of work around heritage board diversity. For other resources in this series, see the 'Inclusive governance boards and diverse trustees' section of the Inclusive Heritage Advice Hub.
Where can I find advice and information?
Where can I find general advice and training for Boards?
| Course or resource title | Provider and description | Cost | Link |
| Roles and duties of trustees | NCVO E-learning module | From £30 (sliding scale) | NCVO: Roles and duties of trustees |
| Charity trustee induction and refresher | NCVO 2 x half day live training online, several dates | From £63 (sliding scale) | NCVO: Charity trustee induction refresher |
Charity Commission 5 minute guides on all aspects of being a trustee | Charity Commission Written PDFs and web pages | Free | Charity Commission guides |
| Trustee learning programme | Getting on Board Online live training sessions on many topics, many dates available | Free | Getting on Board: Trustee learning programme |
| Trustee Recruitment Cycle | Reach Volunteering Written web pages | Free | Reach Volunteering: Trustee Recruitment Cycle |
| Board essentials training – Boardroom dynamics, risk management, and corporate governance | Chartered Governance Institute E-learning modules | From £100+VAT for members | Chartered Governance Institute: E-learning |
Where can I find advice and training on becoming a Trustee or Chair of a Board?
| Course | Provider and description | Cost | Link |
| How to become a trustee | Getting on Board PDF document | Free | |
| Step on Board – individual programme for Board readiness | Step on Board – training arm of Trustees Unlimited Training programme including online meetings and training sessions | From £2000 | Step on Board for Individuals |
| Emerging Chairs Programme | Cause4 An online, one day training programme held over Zoom | From £85, bursary places available | Cause4: Emerging Charis Programme |
| 4 steps to becoming a Trustee | LSE (London School of Economics) Written web page | Free | LSE: 4 Steps to Becoming a Trustee |
| Becoming a Trustee | NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations) Written web page with embedded links | Free | NCVO: Becoming a trustee |
Where can I find information about paying Trustees?
| Course or resource title | Provider and description | Cost | Link |
| Paying Trustees - PDF written guidance | From Chartered Governance Institute (please note you will need to sign up for a free subscription to access this) PDF document | Free | Chartered Governance Institute: Paying Trustees |
| Payments to charity trustees: what the rules are | Written guidance from UK Government and the Charity Commission Written web page with embedded links | Free | GOV.UK: Rules on Payments to Charity Trustees |
| If paying trustees is the answer, what is the question? | Article written by Penny Wilson, Getting on Board Written web page | Free | Getting on Board: Paying Trustees |
Where can I find specific Inclusion, Diversity and Equality training and information for Boards?
| Course or resource title | Provider and description | Cost | Link |
| Charity Governance Code – principle 6; Equality, Diversity and Inclusion | Good Governance Steering Group Written web page | Free | Charity Governance Code: Principle 6 |
How to carry out a diversity audit | Reach Volunteering A series of written resources on web pages | Free | Reach Volunteering: How to Carry Out a Diversity Audit |
Special Category Data (how to collect, process, handle, store information relating to sensitive personal data such as gender, race, ethnicity, disability) | ICO Written web page | Free | ICO: Special Category Data |
| How to diversify your charity board | Getting on Board PDF document (please note you will have to complete a short form to enable the download of this free document) | Free | Getting on Board: Recruiting Diverse Trustees for your Charity |
| Representation of Protected Characteristics at Board Level in the Charity Sector | Inclusive Boards Written web page | Free | Inclusive Boards: Protected Characteristics at Board Level in the Charity Sector |
| Board Diversity Practice Project Resources | Advance HE A series of PDF resources to help Boards plan and action IDE | Free | Advance HE: Board Diversity Practice Project Resources |
| How to improve board diversity | Equality and Human Rights Commission PDF guidance | Free | Equality and Human Rights Commission: Improving Board Diversity |
Where can I find information about overcoming impostor syndrome and breaking down barriers of lack of experience?
| Course or resource title | Source | Cost | Link |
Addressing self doubt as a young Trustee | Young Trustees Movement Written web page – blog post | Free | Young Trustees Movement: Addressing Self Doubt as a Young Trustee |
Setting up a Board Shadowing programme | Action for Trustee Racial Diversity PDF document | Free | Action for Trustee Racial Diversity: Running a Shadow Board Programme |
How To Deal With Imposter Syndrome As a Non-Executive Director or Chair | Dynamic Boards Written web page with embedded YouTube videos | Free | Dynamic Boards: Dealing with Imposter Syndrome |
Where can I find organisations representing specific groups and communities?
| Organisation | Specialism | Link |
| Young Trustees Movement | <30 Board members | Visit the Young Trustees Movement website |
| Action for Trustee Racial Diversity | Global Majority | Visit the Action for Trustee Racial Diversity website |
| Global Disability Innovation Hub | Disabled people | Visit the Global Disability Innovation Hub website |
| Participation People | <30s | Visit the Participation People website |
| Black on Board | Global Majority | Visit the Black on Board website |
| Women on Boards | Women | Visit the Women on Boards website |
| Kids in Museums – Youth leadership in heritage programme | <30s | Visit the Kids in Museums website |
Also of interest
