Clwyd South MP presents Charity Trustees Bill to Parliament

A local MP has presented the Charity Trustees (Time Off for Duties) Bill to Parliament

Susan Elan Jones, MP for Clwyd South, is the co-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Charities and Volunteering and is trying to put charity trustees on the same legal footing as school governors, councillors, magistrates and other categories of public duty when it comes to getting a small amount of unpaid time off for undertaking their duties.

Speaking about her Bill, Susan Elan Jones MP said: “This country would fall to its knees if we didn’t have charities in our local communities.

“I think it’s high time the law recognised this by improving the status of charity trustees, none of whom get paid a penny for all that they do.

“My Bill supports existing charity trustees; and would also help more working-class people and others from under-represented backgrounds to get invaluable board level experience.”

MPs from Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem parties are co-sponsoring the Bill and it has also won the support of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, the Wales Council for Voluntary Action, the Small Charities Coalition and the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations.