Demystifying Boards and Trusteeship Programme

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Programme Information

The Elizabeth Casson Trust is launching its second cohort of the Demystifying Boards and Trusteeship Development Programme, following a very successful pilot run of this programme last year. This practical, confidence-building programme is designed exclusively for HCPC-registered occupational therapists interested in Trustee or Non-Executive Director roles in the charity, health, and social sectors, but aren’t quite ready to apply for those roles.

Why is this programme important?

Governance concerns system-level stewardship: horizon scanning for strategic risk, ensuring the organisation remains solvent and mission-focused, and demanding evidence of impact. It means holding the line on a charity’s ultimate purpose so front-line services remain within agreed objectives and are inclusive and truly person-centred.

The parallels with occupational therapy practice are clear. Systemic thinking, a focus on accessibility, and commitment to the service user are not just clinical tools; they are cornerstones of good governance. The Elizabeth Casson Trust aims to help occupational therapists bring these skills into the boardroom through this programme.

Trustee boards often include professionals from finance and law backgrounds. While these individuals bring vital skills, occupational therapists also contribute valuable and underrepresented perspectives. The Trust want OTs to challenge the perception that they are ‘not qualified’ for these strategic roles.

What does the programme involve?

Participants will follow a carefully scaffolded curriculum that shifts occupational therapists’ thinking from “Do I belong here?” to “How can I contribute best?”

  1. The programme consists of four half-day online sessions.
  2. Sessions will be interactive, and the cohort size is capped at 16 participants with breakout rooms of four and six people. This setup facilitates psychologically safe peer interaction and engagement.
  3. Facilitators will have experience in health and social care governance.
  4. Case studies from across charity, health and social care will be used, as will sample board papers, short simulations, and board discussion role-play.
  5. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on their experiences, backgrounds, and the numerous transferable skills they possess.

On completing the programme, participants will be able to:

  1. Explain the legal duties, liabilities and boundaries of a trustee.
  2. Distinguish between the governance (the board’s strategy and legal duties) and management (the executive’s operations).
  3. Understand board responsibilities for resources, risk, safeguarding and quality in charitable contexts.
  4. Constructively contribute to board discussions.
  5. Recognise and manage conflicts of interest, act in line with the Nolan Principles, UK charity governance codes and professional ethics.
  6. Articulate the distinct value of occupational therapy at boards – considering service user and carer voice, accessibility, equality, diversity and inclusion and quality of care.
  7. Finish with a realistic personal “board-readiness” plan and board-focused professional profile or CV, enabling them to immediately pursue opportunities upon completion.

Spotlight on Annymn Adams:

Annymn participated in last year’s cohort and shares feedback on how the course helped with continued professional development:

I signed up for the Demystifying Boards and Trusteeship course because I wanted to feel more confident speaking up in senior spaces and to get a better sense of what being a trustee actually involves. The course really delivered on both fronts.

It gave me a much clearer picture of what the role entails, but just as importantly, it gave me time to reflect on my own skills and experiences. I realised I actually have a lot of transferable strengths that I hadn’t fully appreciated before. It also made me challenge some of the assumptions I’d been carrying about what I can and can’t do. That shift alone has been huge for me.

One of the biggest impacts has been on my confidence. The course helped me push back against the imposter syndrome that has held me back in the past. I’m now more willing to take risks and step into spaces I used to think I wasn’t “qualified” for.

I’ve already taken some concrete steps as a result:

  1. I’m not just attending the WFOT 2026 conference—I’ve actually volunteered to chair sessions, which is something I never would’ve imagined myself doing before.
  2. I also approached my hospital director to ask if I could observe some board meetings, and he agreed. That alone feels like a big step forward in understanding how senior decision-making works.

Overall, the course has been genuinely eye-opening. It’s helped me see new possibilities for how I can contribute to the profession and even to my wider community. I’m coming away from it feeling more capable, more confident, and much more open to exploring roles I wouldn’t have considered before.

2026 Programme Dates

The sessions will take place from 09.30 – 13:30 on the following dates:

  1. Wednesday 9th September
  2. Tuesday 13th October
  3. Wednesday 28th October
  4. Tuesday 17th November

Applications and Eligibility

To apply, you need to:

  1. Be an occupational therapist registered in the UK,
  2. Be available to attend all the dates above, and
  3. Be motivated to take action towards becoming a Board member in any setting

Applications are open until 26th June 2026

Formal offers of places will be communicated by Friday, 10th July 2026

If you have any questions about this programme, please email secretary@elizabethcasson.org.uk

If you have ever felt that the decisions shaping our health and social care systems were missing the human perspective at their core, this is your invitation to take that seat. It’s time to move from wondering whether you belong on a board to wondering how you’ll share your perspective when you get there.

Apply for your place here