Governance and Trustees

A selection of downloadable resources about effective organisational Governance structures and Trustees.

Setting up Voluntary and Community Sector Groups
This guide will take you step by step through the process of setting up a new group. It covers aspects such as recruiting a management committee, drafting your constitution and roles and responsibilities of a management committee.
Download here

Governance & Organisational Structures (Governance Hub)
Guidance of governance and organisational structures and how to set up.
Download here

Your Guide to Voluntary and Community Sector Legal Structures
This guide outlines the different legal structures for new groups or to help established groups review their current legal status.
Download here

Co-operative UK – Simply Legal
A clear, simple and understandable guide to the legal and governance processes required to support the third sector – from co-operatives to social enterprises. Second Edition.
Download here

Choosing and preparing a governing document (CC22)
Find out how what type of governing document a charity might use and how to formally adopt your governing document.
Download here

Model Memorandum and Articles of Association (GD1)
Guidance on Model Memorandum and Model Articles of Association for a charitable group.
Download here

Model Trust Deed for a Charitable Trust (GD2)
Download here

Model Constitution for a Charitable Association (GD3)
Download here

Trustees

Good Trustee Guide
Ideal as an introductory pack for new board members, or as a refresher for long serving trustees. The Good Trustee Guide provides comprehensive information about a Trustee’s role and guidance on developing an effective trustee board.
Find out more here

Trustee Recruitment Toolkit
The Toolkit sets out practical advice for seeking the best people to govern a community or voluntary organisation.
Find out more here

The Essential Trustee (CC3)
Find out what is required of you as a charity trustee and your rile and responsibility to the charity.
Download here

Finding New Trustees (CC30)
Find out about the recruitment, appointment and induction process for new trustees and ow to set a framework for recruitment.
Download here

Effective Governance

AIM Focus Paper: Governing Independent Museums
This Focus Paper aims to uncover what governance is, the structure and responsibilities of governing bodies and the work and roles of museum trustees to create a sustainable organisation.
Download the AIM Focus Paper on Governing Independent Museums

Good Governance – A code for the Voluntary and Community Sector
It sets out best practice for governing a voluntary or community organisation, summary version also available.
Download here

Learning to Fly: Piloting your local voluntary or community organisation
Guidelines and tips on how a committee should run a local organisation
Download here

Tending your board
This guide recognises that many organisations struggle to find the time to review their board’s performance. Suggestions are grouped into monthly themes, in order to help Trustees make inroads into improving the work they do.
Download here

What management committees need to know
A guide aimed at helping small voluntary organisations and community groups understand the Trustee and management Committee National Occupational Standards.This is a Governance Hub publication.
Download here

Hallmarks of an effective charity (CC10, previously CC60)
Find out how charity Trustees can set standards to improve the effectiveness of their charity’s work.
Download here

Trustee Liabilities and Risk Management

Reducing the Risks – A guide to Trustee Liabilities (version 3.0, published March 2011)
A guide designed to help Trustees learn to assess and minimise the risks associated with Trustee liabilities.
Download here