According to research by the Commission, half of all charities claim to have problems recruiting new trustees, particularly younger people and those from minority communities. Currently only 15% of trustees are under 40 years old. It is hoped that the campaign will help change these statistics.

In addition to targeting young professionals, employers will also be encouraged to support those staff who wish to become trustees. Careers advisors will also be asked to recommend trusteeship to job-hunters who want to gain further skills and experience.

Geraldine Peacock, chair of the Charity Commission, said: “The core message of this campaign is diversity. An ideal charity board is vibrant and lively. It embraces healthy debate by bringing people from a range of ages, backgrounds, skills and experiences to the table – also by getting a variety of perspectives on difficult issues and by having a mix of skills to draw on. This message is long overdue in the sector.”

Charities with vacancies on their board can advertise for trustees via, www.do-it.org.uk for England, or www.volunteering-wales.net for Wales. See the individual websites for details.