Code of Good Governance for Smaller Organisations Launched
1 November 2011
Smaller charitable organisations will welcome the publication of a new governance code today during Trustees' Week.
‘Good Governance - A code for the voluntary and community sector: smaller organisation version’ is designed to complement Good Governance: a Code for the Voluntary and Community sector and provides a framework for smaller organisations to govern in a way that is appropriate to their size.
This version of the code has been written to meet the needs of smaller organisations without staff. As organisations grow and take on staff or premises, additional considerations and rules come into play. Growth may also mean that more formal structures and practices become necessary. It builds on the success of the second edition of Good Governance: A code for the voluntary and community sector and is designed to be clearer and easier to use for those organisations with limited resources, while mirroring the principles of the main code. Supporting the smaller organisation code is a glossary to explain some of the more legalistic and technical jargon.
The initial work on this new version was carried out by a working group made up of representatives from the Small Charities Coalition, Richmond upon Thames Council for Voluntary Service, Community Sector Coalition, Community Matters and the Faith Based Regeneration Network.
Cath Lee, Chief Executive of the Small Charities Coalition and Charity Trustee Networks says:
‘The Code brings each of the six principles for good governance to life making it easy for trustees to understand the things they need to do and think about and the way they need to behave to run their organisations well and fulfill their responsibilities. The jargon buster gives clear explanations of terms that might not be commonly understood or have a particular legal meaning and is a useful stand alone tool in itself. We’d encourage all small charities and voluntary groups to download it and begin using it.’
Lindsay Driscoll, Chair of the Code Steering Group* says:
‘I am delighted that we now have this new version of the Code which was drafted by people well aware of the special needs and governance issues for smaller organizations. I am sure it will prove to be a very useful tool.’
The code for smaller organisations and the jargon buster can be downloaded here.
*The Code Steering Group provides stewardship for the Code. It is made up of representatives of the original Code Founding Group: the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO), the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA), the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and the Small Charities Coalition, with support from the Charity Commission and an independent chair.
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