Governance and leadership - resources

View a comprehensive list of publications about governance for the UK voluntary and community sector.

• Download the Governance Hub resources brochure (PDF 1.5Mb)
• Other resources
• Research reports
• Trustee recruitment services

Find a publication by title:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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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. 

- Order The Good Trustee Guide
- Order 5 copies of The Good Trustee Guide for the price of 4

 

The A-Z of Good Governance - Governance Hub

The A-Z of Good Governance is a pack of 26 cards which include simple, illustrated explanations of some of the key terms used in governance and trusteeship. These cards provide a light hearted means for boards to explore key issues in good governance. - Order The A-Z of Good Governance or Download The A-Z of Good Governance (4 PDFs)

Better Communication = Better Governance

The public expects efficient and accountable communication, demanding a rapid, accurate response from staff, on-time service delivery and an accountable body to deal with problems and complaints. This guide looks at the board's role in effective communication, offering checklists, model documents and case studies to help your board improve in this crucial area.

- Order Better Communication = Better Governance

 

The Board Answer Book

The Board Answer Book offers case studies demonstrating some of the most common board dilemmas - from how to recruit trustees, to making sure your meetings are more effective.

Each case study is answered by three different governance practitioners, who provide handy hints and tips to deal with each situation.

- Order The Board Answer Book

 

The Board's Responsibility for Appraising the Chief Executive

This publication offers practical advice and tips from Dorothy Dalton, an experienced board member and chief executive. The publication includes an explanation of a range of different appraisal systems to suit all kinds of organisations.

- Order The Board's Responsibility for Appraising the Chief Executive

 

 

Developing Trustee Boards

This manual provides the resources and techniques to enable trainers to introduce principles of good governance and to explore issues of particular concern to the board. It includes a self-assessment tool for reviewing your trustee boards.

- Order Developing Trustee Boards

 

Directory of Approved Consultants 2010/11

If you are considering using a consultant but don't know where to start, the ninth edition of this popular directory lists over 200 consultants working with the voluntary sector.

- Order The Directory of Approved Consultants 2010/11

 

 

Effective Retreat Planner

This guide offers a step-by-step approach to retreat planning, from setting a framework for the day to the practical details of event planning.
Retreats provide an opportunity for trustee boards, staff and stakeholders to get to grips with the thorny issues that don't make it onto routine meeting agendas. Effective retreats give the freedom to think creatively about the bigger issues.

- Order The Effective Retreat Planner

 

For Love and Money

For Love and Money is the result of research commissioned by The Governance Hub, in partnership with the Social Enterprise Coalition, and conducted by third sector specialists from the Open University.

- Order For Love and Money
- Download For Love and Money (PDF, 1.74Kb)

 

Funding and Costing Workforce and Governance Development

This resource, produced by the UK Workforce Hub and Governance Hub, is designed to help you better understand the costing and funding implications of organisational development so that you are better able to plan, budget, cost and fundraise around these critical areas.

- Order Funding and Costing Workforce and Governance Development
- Download this publication (PDF, 444Kb)

 

The Good Governance Action Plan Workbook

Trustees, chairs and chief executives acknowledge that a dedicated, well-trained board is vital to the successful operation of any voluntary sector organisation. This workbook has been designed so that boards are empowered to take responsibility for their own development.

Order The Good Governance Action Plan Workbook

 

 

Good Governance: A Code for the Voluntary and Community sector (the Code)

Second edition - October 2010
The Code has been formulated to help and support board members in the important and rewarding work that they carry out. The principles set out good practice but these are closely linked with the responsibilities of charity trustees and other legal requirements that may be imposed on board members.

- Order a copy
- Download Good Governance (PDF, 391Kb)

 

Good Governance Code of Good Governance (pocket-sized version)

Second edition- October 2010.
This pocket guide is a summary version of Good Governance: A Code for the Voluntary and Community sector. It outlines the six high level principles of good governance and is intended to help and support board members in the important and rewarding work that they carry out. It is also useful for staff or advisers supporting governance in an organisation.

Download Good Governance: (Summary version) (PDF 312KB)

 

Good Governance: A Code for the Voluntary and Community sector (Print-friendly versions - Black and White)

- Download Good Governance; a Code for the Voluntary and Community sector (Print friendly)

- Download Good Governance - summary version (Print friendly)

 

 

 

Good Governance - A code for small voluntary and community organisations

Good Governance - A code for small voluntary and community organisations has been written specifically to meet the needs of smaller organisations without staff providing a framework for smaller organisations to govern in a way that is appropriate to their size. 

It is designed to be clearer and easier to use for those organisations with limited resources, while mirroring the principles of the main code the Good Governance: a Code for the Voluntary and Community sector.

- Download Good Governance (PFD 214 KB) or as a word document (298 KB).

For an explanations of the legalistic and technical words and phrases in the Code download the Jargon buster or glossary (PDF 105 KB) or as a word document (105 KB).

  

Good Management Guide for the Voluntary Sector

Managers in the voluntary sector face the challenge of balancing value-driven and business objectives. This guide addresses the specific needs of people working in a management role in the sector and is a useful induction for those new to management.

Order The Good Management Guide for the Voluntary Sector

 

 

Good Practice in Trustee Recruitment (Toolkit)

The Good Practice in Trustee Recruitment Toolkit sets out practical advice for seeking the best people to govern a community or voluntary organisation. You could introduce the 10-step process to trustees, or delegate recruitment tasks to staff members where appropriate.

- Order the Good Practice in Trustee Recruitment Toolkit 
- Download the Good Practice in Trustee Recruitment Toolkit (PDF, 289Kb)
- Download individual Trustee Recruitment Toolkit resources

 
Recruit a Trustee (pocket guide)

Recruit a Trustee is a companion publication to the Good Practice in Trustee Recruitment Toolkit, a more extensive guide also produced by the Governance Hub, which sets out practical advice for seeking the best people to govern a community or voluntary organisation.

- Order Recruit a Trustee
- Download Recruit a Trustee - Pocket Guide (PDF, 234Kb)

 

Trustee Recruitment on-line resources for Small Organisations

A resource been designed to help small voluntary and community organisations find, recruit, induct and keep trustees. We recognise that trustee recruitment can be challenging for small organisations that have limited resources. Go to Trustee Recruitment for Small Organistaions

 

Honorary Treasurer's Handbook

This handbook outlines the role of the treasurer and how this contrasts with the role of the finance director. Using practical examples and case studies, the publication demystifies the role of the treasurer and provides useful resources for the treasurer and for the board.

Order The Honorary Treasurer's Handbook

 

 

Is it Seaworthy? Assessing and Funding the Capacity of Voluntary and Community Organisations

Is it Seaworthy? helps those who are funding and supporting the voluntary and community sector check the organisational capacity of the bodies they work with. It draws on ideas in numerous research publications as well as a variety of assessment frameworks currently in use. It provides an overview of the issues, real life case studies and suggests Capacity Assessment Prompts', which can be used to help assess organisational capacity.

- Order Is it Seaworthy?
- Download Is It Seaworthy? (PDF, 508 Kb)

 

The Leadership Labyrinth

This report draws together an understanding of contemporary leadership within the third sector. The Leadership Labyrinth draws both on existing research undertaken by the Third Sector Leadership Centre and other organisations, and on a series of 26 interviews across a variety of leadership contexts which were carried out for this publication.
Order The Leadership Labyrinth

 

Learning to Fly

This leaflet provides an introduction to the role of governance in a small organisation and also details useful resources for improving how your board functions.

- Order Learning to Fly
- Download Learning to Fly (PDF, 119Kb)

 

 

Learning to Lead

Learning to Lead: Ten Ways to Develop Your Leadership Skills is a guide to the range of leadership development interventions that are available for sector leaders.

Order Learning to Lead

 

 

Living Values Training Pack

This training pack is designed to highlight the importance of identifying values, and working by them amid the pressures acting on the voluntary sector. The training pack complements the 'Living Values' pocket guide and includes a range of materials to use in interactive sessions.

- Order the Living Values Training Pack
- Download the Living Values pocket guide (PDF, 199Kb)

 

Looking After Leaders

According to new research, 95% of leaders in medium-sized charities operating in the health and social care field feel unable to access the development they need to advance their leadership skills.

- Order Looking After Leaders

 

 

Lost in Translation

Lost in Translation offers a comprehensive guide to establishing and maintaining a healthy working relationship between the two top organisational leaders.

- Order Lost in Translation

 

 

Reducing the Risks

The responsibility for a charity or voluntary and community sector organisation ultimately rests with its board of trustees. So it is essential that these board members have the awareness, knowledge and confidence to identify and manage the risks associated with their role.

Download Reducing the risks 2011 (PDF 273KB)

 

 

 

Reducing the risks trainers pack

These resources are designed for trainers and advisors who support trustees to assess and minimise the risks associated with trustee liabilities.
Presentations including case study video available soon
Download Reducing the risks - quick guide (PDF 94KB)
Reducing_the_risks_Training_notes - 11 pages (PDF 212KB)

 

Setting Chief Executive Remuneration

This guide helps trustee boards make these complex decisions, offering a systematic approach to setting CEO packages.

- Order Setting Chief Executive Remuneration

 

 

Free Sustainable Funding guide for Trustees download for all NCVO members

Sustainability is one of the biggest challenges faced by trustees and staff in voluntary and community sector organisations.  Written by Peter Dyer and Anne Moynihan this guide sets out clear and accessible guidance to support trustees in their roles and responsibilities for financial sustainability.

Sustainable Funding for Trustees is available exclusively for NCVO members. Visit our members section to download your free copy.  

 

Tending your Board

This guide recognises that many organisations struggle to find the time to review their board's performance, so the suggestions are grouped into monthly themes in order to help busy trustees make inroads into improving the work they do.

- Order Tending your Board
- Download Tending your Board (PDF, 1.2Mb)

 

Trust Youth

Trust Youth is a guide to what being a trustee means for children and young people.

It is aimed at children and young people, to let them know what trusteeship is all about, and explains key terms. It is also a useful guide for adults and organisations, suggesting the best way to recruit and support young trustees.

- Order Trust Youth 
- Download the Trust Youth guide (PDF, 414Kb)

Voluntary Sector Strategic Analysis 2008/09

This analysis examines the current trends that can positively or negatively shape the future of the voluntary and community sector, and the place of your organisation within it.

 Order Voluntary Sector Strategic Analysis 2008/09

 

 

The Winifred Tumim Essays

Launched at the Trustee's Conference, this collection essays celebrates the work of our former Chair, Lady Winifred Tumim. You can download a free copy of the publication here.

 

 

Other resources

• 21st Century Board
• Being Who You Say You Are - A Guide to Governance for Faith-based Organisations
• Better Governance: An Introduction to Measuring and Improving Board Effectiveness
• Governance and Organisational Structures
• Meeting the Standards - A guide to resources for use with the Trustee & Management Committee National Occupational Standards
• Mentoring for Chairs
• Setting up a Network for Chairs
• Starting on the Right Track - A guide to Recruiting and Inducting a New Chair
• What Management Committees Need to Know

Charity Tribunal

If you are not satisfied with the Charity Commission's decision you may be able to appeal or make an application for review to the Tribunal. The First–tier Tribunal (Charity) can:

• Hear appeals against the decisions of the Charity Commission (the Commission)
• Hear applications for review of decisions of the Charity Commission
• Consider references from the Attorney General or the Charity Commission on points of law

Further information about the Charity Tribunal can be found at http://www.charity.tribunals.gov.uk/

Leading Health and Safety

Trustees are responsible for ensuring adherence to a wide range of specific health and safety regulations. Trustees should therefore take steps to check their obligations and ensure compliance with requirements specific to their charity. A publication has been produced by the Institute of Directors.

• Download a copy of Leading health and safety at work.
• Further information can also be found on the Health and Safety Executive website.

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Research reports

• A Matter of Common Sense - Full Report
• A Matter of Common Sense - Summary
• Chairs of Voluntary and Community Organisations: Support and Learning Needs
• Changing Governance
• Funding for work force and governance development
• Governance Advisers Support Need Analysis
• Mapping Governance Learning and Support for Chairs in England 2005
• Measuring Governance Performance
• Support and Resource Needs of Trustees and Chairs in Voluntary and Community Organisations
• Unambiguous advice on the liabilities of trusteeship: qualitative research and analysis
• What makes Chairs of governing bodies effective?

Trustee recruitment services

Trustee Bank

NCVO's Trustee Bank offers a free service to advertise or view trustee vacancies.  It also provides information about becoming a trustee and on recruitment and induction practices. Find out more about Trustee Bank

Trustees Unlimited

Recruiting trustees so that you have a balanced yet dynamic board in a cost effective manner can be a challenging task. That is why NCVO, in partnership with Bates Wells & Braithwaite, and Russam GMS established Trustees Unlimited.

Trustees Unlimited was established to provide a solution to the problem many not for profit organisations face - trying to recruit high quality trustees in a rigorous and yet cost effective way.