Charity Governance Summit

Check your tech, network and visit the exhibition stands

Welcome

Keynote and Q&A

Helen Stephenson, CEO, Charity commission for England and Wales

Debate: Kids Company judgement: a game changer for trustees?

The Kids Company judgment had the potential to transform charity governance, but did it in reality? Many current governance practices were questioned as a consequence to the demise of the charity, but is the impact of the court case only limited to a small circle of governance professionals and legal experts? We debate the impact and outcome of the charity’s demise on the role of charity trustees and the whole sector. 

Fiona Young Priest, Charity Consultant

Sir Stephen Bubb, Director, Charity Futures and the Oxford Institute of Charity

Philip Kirkpatrick, Deputy managing partner, Charity & Social Enterprise Department, Bates Wells

Stretch break

Choice of streams

Utilising s172 to Meet Principle 7 of the Charity Governance Code (Openness and accountability)

The Company Act 2006 was emphasised in 2019 with the need for directors to report on section 172. Charitable companies should report on how their decisions are driven by the views of all its stakeholders. In this session we discuss best practice on how governance professionals can ensure the essential requirements are being met and how to implement s.172 without lengthening the board agenda.

Stephen Gilbert, Charity consultant

OR

The next generation Charities SORP

The Charities SORP is currently undertaking a lengthy engagement exercise to inform the next iteration, due in 2024. Join our experts who will look at the issues presented in updating the SORP, to develop a charity accounting and reporting framework which meets the needs of the sector and wider public while staying step with other financial accounting and audit developments. 

Laura Anderson, Senior Manager Higher Risk Cases & Quality Assurance, OSCR

Caron Bradshaw, CEO, Charity Finance Group (CFG) and member of the SORP committee 

Morning Break, network with peers or join a roundtable discussion

Roundtable: Regulatory update and Q&A with the Fundraising Regulator

Charities of all sizes that carry out fundraising activity should fully comply with the Code of Fundraising Practice which sets the standards expected of all charitable institutions and third-party fundraisers in the UK. In this roundtable, the Fundraising Regulator will introduce the system of voluntary regulation of fundraising in the UK. You will also have the chance to ask any questions you have about trustee responsibilities and good governance relating to fundraising.

Gavin Doyle, Policy and Standards officer, Fundraising Regulator

Choice of streams

Case study: Strategic governance challenges: reducing the board of trustees

Avenues Trust group’s five charities was governed by a disproportionate number of forty-five trustees, lengthening the process of decision making, and subsequently delaying its charitable activities. Our governance professional will depict the complex process of downsizing and replacing the board. She will report on the challenges and the outcomes of this decision, addressing boardroom dynamics, succession planning and diversity issues.

Lauren Osman, Transformation and Compliance Manager, Avenues Trust group

OR

Reputational damages: restoring stakeholders trust

Reputation is a core governance matter for all organisations. For charities, reputational damage could dramatically impact on funding and stakeholders’ trust. How can charities reduce this risk, manage the crisis, and put a recovery process into place?  We discuss the challenges met by one charity, consider the impacts of reputational damage, and, how this was dealt with at board level and throughout the organization.

Jo Coleman, Partner, Womble Bond Dickinson

Cosette Reczek, Chartered Governance Professional

Financial stress and the role of reserves

Recent events have exposed the issue of reserves, as whether charities have the ability or the need to accrue them. This represents a challenge for the long-term strategic planning and financial sustainability. We discuss the right level of spending and the risks associated and how governance professionals can support the board’s approach to manage the balance of addressing immediate needs and planning for the future in an unpredictable environment.

Pesh Framjee, Global Head of Social Purpose and Non Profits, Crowe U.K. LLP

Stretch break

The role of governance in influencing funders

Obtaining funding is, for many charities, a perpetual effort. Likewise, trustees can struggle to get to grips with their governance arrangements. We assess how charitable foundations could include the Charity Governance Code in their grant criteria. We discuss how foundations could prompt and support charities in this journey and the benefits delivered to both parties.

Gulnaz Raja, Founder & Director, Legal and Governance Hub and Board trustee director, Sports Leaders

Max Rutherford, Head of Policy, Association of Charitable Foundations

Alison Howe, Head of governance, risk and compliance, NSPCC

Closing remarks

Additional Workshops

Preparing your board agenda and effective minute taking

or

Navigating Board Dynamics