Eight in 10 trustees say they are likely or very likely to recommend the role, new research has found.

As part of Trustees Week, the Charity Commission and the think tank Pro Bono Economics have conducted research aiming to better understand who trustees are and what skills they bring to the role.

Early findings of the research, which is based on a survey of more than 2,000 trustees, show that two-thirds of respondents said one of the major benefits of their roles in a charity was that it allowed them to use existing skills in a new context.

Just under two-thirds of respondents (65 per cent) said trusteeship helps them feel more connected to their local community or to a movement that is important to them.

When asked how likely they were on a scale of one to 10 to recommend being a trustee to others, 80 per cent answered 7 or above, the research found, including 28 per cent of the sample who said 10. 

The research found 2 per cent of respondents said trusteeship offered no benefit to them and less than 1 per cent would not recommend taking on a trusteeship.

The full data set and analysis are expected to be published early next year.

A spokesperson for the regulator said the survey involved a stratified random sample from the register of charities, based on charity income and weighted to reflect the overall profile of the register.

David Holdsworth, chief executive of the Charity Commission, said: “Trustees are a driving force in charities whose work is often unseen, taking place behind the scenes of charities’ frontline work.

“These early findings offer us some confidence that, while trusteeship is no doubt demanding and can be challenging, most of those who serve as trustees do so, at least in part, because they too benefit.

“To all who are not already trustees – please consider volunteering today.”

Matt Whittaker, chief executive of Pro Bono Economics, said trusteeship was about gaining as well as giving back.

“This early snippet from PBE’s research reaffirms that being a trustee not only connects people to causes and communities they care deeply about, but people feel that it also sharpens their skills,” he said.

“That 80 per cent of trustees recommend the role speaks volumes. We’re looking forward to releasing the full data set and analysis soon.”