Resources, Documents and Policies
Listed below are resources, documents and policies that trustees may find useful.
1. 15 Questions Trustees need to ask
2. Board Matters - A report from New Philanthropy Capital which argues that many charities don't prioritise governance.
3. Trustees are as central to a charity’s success as a director is to a business, and in today’s tough times, the role of trustees will be more important than ever. Read NPC article
4. Trustee Pathway - an audio resource for Voluntary Organisations.
Good Governance: Code for the Voluntary and Community Sector Summary
5. The Governance Hub has produced a short introduction on how to go about making the governance of your organisation better. It doesn't try to tell you what to do but rather to guide you to a process that has the best chance of success. Download 'Better Governance: An Introduction to Measuring and Improving Board Effectiveness' in pdf format, 744kb.
6. Vista have produced a resource pack, specifically to help Trustees and Management Committee Members. It is packed with lots of useful information and can be downloaded.
7. Very useful governance podcasts are available to be listened to in mini soundbites.
8. Charity Trustee Networks has developed a practical resource to help trustees work well together, and to introduce, develop and use codes of conduct appropriate for their organisations. "Codes of conduct really can prevent issues becoming personal and should not be seen as another piece of unnecessary bureaucracy." according to CTN chair Rodney Buse. Download 'Codes of Conduct for Trustees' from http://www.trusteenet.org.uk/resources/codes-conduct-trustees-ctn-booklet.
9. Click here to read a special trusteeship-focused edition of Giving Insights, NPC's quarterly magazine. In this issue they calculate how much your time as a trustee is worth in financial terms; ask two charity trustees what they think makes good governance; and answer the question: ‘Should I consider becoming a charity trustee?’
10. Charity Commission News - Winter 2009
11. NCVO have launched the Trustee and Governance Information Centre. It contains a wealth of information for trustees, boards and anyone working in third sector governance.
12. What Makes an Effective Chair? - A report prepared for the National Council for Voluntary Organisations and the Charity Trustee Network by:
Chris Cornforth, Open University Business School, UK.
Yvonne Harrison, Seattle University, USA.
Vic Murray, University of Victoria, Canada.
13. http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/products-services/publications/good-governance-code
The Code has been formulated to help and support board members in the important and rewarding work that they carry out. It is primarily aimed at trustees in the voluntary and community sector but will also be useful to chief executives who provide the bridge between trustees and staff.
last updated on 24th March 2010