Policies and procedures

Policies and procedures set out how a charity should be run. One of the most important ways that a board can oversee the delegation of its work is via written policies and procedures.

Specific policies and procedures vary from charity to charity, but all charities will have a need for policies in some areas. The most common areas include:

• policies essential to running a charity – including human resources volunteer policies, policies covering finance, risk and assets, health and safety, equal opportunities and protective policies such as those covering children and vulnerable adults. Other policies include complaints, data protection, information and communications technology, fundraising, campaigning and political activities and other specialist operational policies (for example for charities working abroad).
• policies governing the trustee board - including role descriptions for trustees, conflicts of interest policy and register of interests and terms of reference for sub-committees. Other policies include trustee expenses, a code of conduct, board appraisal, skills audit and other specific policies such as dealing with the media.

Some policies are a legal requirement – for example, charities employing five or more staff must have a written health and safety policy.