Is it just one trustee?  The one who 'understands the accounts' the best?

Well then, you're within the legal requirement is for your charity’s accounts to be signed by “one or more of the trustees.”

But here's a thought.  Why not have them signed by each and every trustee?

So your whole trustee board takes ownership and shows the world that your charity’s Annual Report  and Accounts belong truly to its exemplary trustees.

Good governance is about more than …

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Most of the provisions of the Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Act 2016 came into force in July 2016.

Much of it may seem dry and far removed from the everyday operation of most charities.  But if your charity is badly run or your trustees inept or worse, you must expect the full weight of the invigorated and empowered Charity Commission banging on your door.

It will soon be able to exercise its new regulatory powers - protecting charities in …

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Your charity’s legal structure is a hot topic right now.   

Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) status was a bright idea in the Charities Act 2011, and it may have some substantial benefits for your charity.  Three reasons you might want to convert are:

1. Limited liability!  A boon to nervous trustees of unincorporated charities
2. Saving on admin and confusion.  CIOs have a much simpler corporate structure than charitable companies.  They have only one regulator (the Charity Commission) rather than two (Companies House …

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Making decisions is one of the most important parts of your role as a charity trustee.

There may not be one single correct answer to each significant or strategic decisions that you need to make, but how you and your fellow trustees ARRIVE at the decision is critical.

Make sure you reach a sound conclusion

Using a robust decision making process will help you ensure you act within both your powers, and the law.  

It will show you have acted …

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What are the ingredients of charity governance? For that matter, what is this 'governance' that we're always talking about? It's rather hard to find a good definition. And rather easy to slip into thinking that it's all about rather dull and dry policies and procedures and documents and ooh, zzzz, I've just dropped off myself.... What makes a charity great? To me, the ingredients of charity governance are some very real, alive, and human things. The things that make the …

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Recently someone asked me “Would you hold a charity accountable or file a complaint if you thought malpractice was involved, if you were a trustee?” My short answer was “yes!”  But read on for more... Doing the right thing Dealing with dishonesty is a tough call wherever it happens.  All the more so in the charity sector where honesty and integrity should be axiomatic. But once you have even a suspicion of dishonesty, especially if you are a trustee, unfortunately …

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Have things at your charity got to the point where you're keen to know how to remove a trustee? It doesn't need to be as daunting as you may be thinking. The no brainers Your charity's constitution or governing document should outline a process for removing a trustee who, for example:

• Doesn't show up to meetings
• Has been a trustee for longer than your governing document allows
• Has an undeclared or irresolvable conflict of interest
• Is legally disqualified from being …

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Well done all of you who have taken Good Trustee / Bad Trustee - the Quiz so far! I must say you're looking like rather a good bunch of trustees. And it's tantalising, because more than one of you has scored 123/125, but so far, no-one's hit a 'perfect' 125/125... Do you know this marvellous individual? Do send them a link to the quiz. It will be a thrill to know they are out there.

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