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Trustee of the RTPI Trust

Roles from 1 January 2027.

Applications for positions in 2027 will open on 7 October 2026, closing on 1 November.

The Board of the RTPI is seeking to appoint a Trustee for the RTPI Trust (the Trust) for January 2027 onwards.

The RTPI Trust was established over 30 years ago to provide support to members of the RTPI and their families in financial hardship. It also funds and administers bursaries to provide financial assistance to students of planning.

While Trust is able to utilise some operation resources from the RTPI, the Trust is financially independently from the RTPI and managed as a separate charity. The Trustees of the Trust are solely responsible for directing the Trust’s activities and affairs, ensuring that the Trust is well run and effective in delivering its charitable purposes.

Role Title

Trustee of the RTPI Trust.

Outline of role

The Trustees are responsible for:

  • The strategic direction of the Trust
  • Managing the Trust’s assets, income and expenditure, ensuring that the Trust has the resources it needs to deliver its charitable objectives
  • Assessing and managing risks to the Trust’s operations and charitable objectives.
  • Reviewing confidential applications for financial assistance or student bursaries promptly and with sensitivity and fairness
  • Reviewing and approving the Trust’s statutory annual report and accounts
  • Promoting the work of the Trust to RTPI members.

Please refer to the detailed role description.

Eligibility Criteria

  • A chartered or retired chartered RTPI Member

Impact of the role

Joining the Board is a great opportunity to utilise your experience and compassion. You will be supporting planners who are going through difficult periods of time personally and financially, and providing financial assistance to those starting out in a planning career.

It’s a proactive way of give back to the profession, working alongside your fellow Trustees making collective decisions for the benefit of RTPI members and ensuring that the Trust's activities are managed well so that the Trust is available to assist future generations of planners.

Minimum time commitment

  • Prepare for and attending four formal meetings a year, typically two in person in London and two via Teams.
  • Review applications as and when they are received and take part in discussions about those applications via email. Trustee are asked to reply to emails within a few working days, so that decisions about financial grants or student bursaries can be made promptly.
  • Attend training courses as required.

Length of term

Trustees are appointed for an initial term of three years from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2029, with the option of a further three-year term.

About you

We are looking for individuals with the following experience and attributes:

Required

  1. An understanding and interest in the Trust’s work and purposes
  2. Experience in participating in a senior decision-making body
  3. An ability to apply compassion, sensitivity, fairness and consistency when making nuanced and often difficult decisions
  4. A high regard for the importance of confidentiality and discretion
  5. An attitude of teamwork and collaboration and a willingness to listen to the views of others
  6. An ability to digest and distil information to reach balanced and objective decisions
  7. A good working understanding of financial information and statutory accounts
  8. A commitment to equal opportunities and diversity
  9. Sufficient time to commit to the role.

Advantageous

  1. Experience in fundraising, particularly for benevolent charities for professions
  2. Experience in working in the governance of a charity or public sector organisation
  3. Experience in investment management
  4. An understanding of charity law
  5. Knowledge of safeguarding matters, particularly in relation to vulnerable adults.

How to get involved

Applications will open on Wednesday 7 October 2026 and close on Sunday 1 November.

Interviews will take place the week commencing 9 November.

Information on how to apply for the role will be posted here in September.

Trustees are appointed by the Board of the RTPI on the recommendation of the Trust's Board of Trustees

Application closing date

To be confirmed.

Start date

1 January 2027.

Find out more

For any enquiries about the RTPI Trust and the role of a Trustee for the Trust please contact governance@rtpi.org.uk.