The weekly roundup from VANEL on good governance, charity trusteeship and non-profit leadership. News, information, resources and ideas. Complemented by our monthly “View from the Top” e-newsletter (Trustee Network members only), our “aboutgovernance” online discussion space for leaders and trustees and our @aboutgovernance Twitter feed.
What will make you and your fellow trustees strengthen your governance?
This is a crucial question. A significant amount of guidance, suggestions and resources exists to guide and encourage voluntary sector organisations, charities and social enterprises to look inwards, assess their governance practices and then take the necessary steps (sometimes painful, never easy) to make that governance the best it can possibly be. But that’s the problem – it’s all guidance. The only driver for change and improvement comes from trustees and board members themselves. We collectively need to ensure we take responsibility for being better.
This is a theme arising from a though provoking and challenging article on the Guardian Voluntary Sector Network. Every trustee should read it.
It comes just as the consultation period for the new Charity Governance Code comes to a close. In due course, taking feedback from the sector into consideration, the new, complete Code will be issued and available. So will we/you read it? will we act on it? will we change how we do our governance?
Quoting from the Guardian article:
The voluntary governance code has the right intent, but the proof of the pudding will be whether the sector can implement it without regulations to back it up. History, culture and attitudes suggest it won’t.
Read the article. Read the Code (here). Decide whether you need help (talk to us). Decide what changes you should be making.
Lets all make our governance better – before legislation forces us to.
The way every trustee acts and behaves and the way their charity or non-profit acts and presents itself to the public has an influence on how people perceive charities. A few bad apple charities can provide the public with a negative perception of the sector as a whole.
Yet, the non-profit sector is hugely positive, beneficial, necessary and generally doing great work. We need to shout about this more. And, more than anything, we need to, collectively as a set of leaders, run our organisations in the very best way to present a positive impression.
NCVO have launched a programme – “Constructive Voices” – to celebrate the positive in the sector. They are connecting those doing good work to journalists to ensure the right stories are being told.
Have a read about the programme just here. There is plenty of information and many ways for you to follow and keep up with the programme. It’s all about positivity, good messages and doing the right thing. Something as trustees we should all be interested in.
Also, on this note, have a quick read of this – “Charities and Volunteering are at the heart of our shared society“. “Shared Society” is the government’s new vision, so it’s worth keeping up to date on the conversation around this too.
Governance Training from VANEL
Our next governance related training is:
“Induction and Refresher Training for Trustees”
Wed 8th March, 3-5pm at VANEL offices, Grimsby. £10 per person (£15 non-members, or free for trustees aged under 30).
“Technology for Trustees”
Friday 10th March, 10-11.30am at VANEL offices. £5pp (£10pp non-members).
There are still places available on these sessions, so please contact Karl direct to either book or discuss. (karl@vanel.org.uk, 01472 361043).
To discuss governance, trusteeship or leadership, or to subscribe to the Trustee Network, please drop me a line.
Karl Elliott, Development Manager
www.vanel.org.uk/governance – for resources and information
www.theviewfromthetop.org.uk
www.youngleadersmatter.org.uk
@aboutgovernance