‘In whom we trust?’ : the experiences of trustees in learning disability charities.

The purpose of this article is to explore the experiences of volunteers who are trustees in learning disability charities. Addressing a gap in the study of charity governance, we consider (a) what it means to be a trustee, (b) what trustees do and (c) what it is like to be a trustee. We argue that the complexity of the trustee volunteer experience suggests a need for a dynamic understanding of trusteeship. Drawing on Saward's work (2006, 2009, 2010), we discuss 'what is going on in trusteeship?' and the experiences of trusteeship as a series of representative claims. This is particularly pertinent to charities that work with and/or for people with learning disabilities where questions of representation are highly complex and politicised. The article presents a novel perspective on trusteeship to further our understanding of how trustees negotiate and address the demands of the position