One of the great things about being a trustee is that sometimes you get to represent your charity. So it was my privilege this week to represent the Small Charities Coalition as a trustee, in taking part in a workshop about Trustee Recruitment with Reach Volunteering and the Association of Chairs.

Now it's well known that many smaller, local charities really struggle to attract good trustees with the right skills and personality needed. So term limits for trustees can be difficult for them.

But we had a great discussion about limited term times and how that can energise a charity.

One really interesting issue is that if you have term limits for trustees, how does your charity exit a trustee off the Board? What I am thinking about here are those great, knowledgeable trustees who reached the end of their term. Do you just say "thanks & goodbye!"? Or do you give them a special title and a new non-trustee role, such as advisor or patron? Perhaps you ask them to join an exclusive "Supporter" group or network? Do you simply ignore your charity's constitution and keep them on your Board or alter it so they can stay on?

I would love to hear what your charity does to prevent the "brain drain" and loss of great talent on the Board?