We've put together a list of external websites and resources that Chairs may find helpful. Members can find more resources in the members-only area including reading lists and specialist Chairs’ briefings - written specifically from the Chair’s perspective.

Governance resources

A sound understanding of governance is the foundation to good chairing and is the responsibility of every board member. Here are some key resources that Chairs and board members will want to be familiar with:

Charity Commission for England and Wales

The Charity Commission is the regulator of charities. It provides a wide range of useful free resources on different aspects of governance. See in particular The Essential Trustee, Charity Governance Code and Big Board talk. Chairs should visit the Charity Commission's website for the latest guidance. You can sign up to receive Charity Commission News, their quarterly newsletter which contains essential information for charity trustees. 

Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own regulators: the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator is at oscr.org.uk and the Charity Commission in Northern Ireland is at charitycommissionni.org.uk.

Charity Governance Code

The Charity Governance Code is written specifically by the voluntary sector for the voluntary sector. It was refreshed at the end of 2020, and is a practical tool to help charities and their trustees develop high standards of governance. It sets out seven principles for effective boards:

  1. Organisational purpose
  2. Leadership
  3. Integrity
  4. Decision making, risk and control
  5. Board effectiveness
  6. Equality, diversity and inclusion
  7. Openness and accountability

You’ll find the latest version of the Charity Governance Code at www.charitygovernancecode.org (note there are different versions for small and large charities).

Regulator of community interest companies

The regulator of community interest companies provides information and resources at gov.uk/government/organisations/office-of-the-regulator-of-community-interest-companies

The Chartered Governance Institute (previously ICSA)

Provides a range of general resources and some guidance relevant to the not-for-profit sector at www.cgi.org.uk

Non-profit sector

A number of organisations can help you understand the non-profit sector and your responsibilities as a Chair. They provide information and briefings and hold events that may be of interest to you. Here are the key ones:

NCVO: National Council for Voluntary Organisations

Provides a very wide range of information and resources on most matters affecting the voluntary and community sector. Look out for their microsites as well, for example, data.ncvo.org.uk and knowhownonprofit.org NCVO publishes the very useful and regularly updated Good Trustee Guide. Why not make sure every member of your board has a copy? It also runs an annual Trustee Conference. Find out more at ncvo.org.uk

ACEVO: Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations

ACEVO is an important source of information and support for your CEO. Leading the CEO and Chair to Effective Governance (revised 2012) explores the Chair-CEO relationship and includes a section about CEO appraisal, examples of CEO role descriptions, case studies and a useful role analysis exercise. It also has a section on The CEO and Chair in crisis – positive steps for recovery. ACEVO also publishes an annual pay survey. ACEVO’s CEO in Crisis service is for CEOs, designed to help when their relationship with the Chair has broken down and they need support in trying to repair the relationship or they believe their job is at risk and want to understand their rights and options. The service is available to full members of ACEVO who have been members for three months or more. ACEVO's annual conference is open to Chairs. See acevo.org.uk

DSC: Directory of Social Change

A leading provider of publications and training on voluntary sector issues at dsc.org.uk. DSC offer training and publications for trustees.

Social Enterprise UK

SEUK provides advice information and services to social enterprises and helps social enterprises to network at socialenterprise.org.uk

Co-operatives UK

Co-ops UK have a range of resources including the Corporate governance code for consumer co-operative societies at uk.coop

Sector magazines and newsletters

Civil Society is a useful online resource on news and developments in the sector. You might like to take out a subscription to their Governance magazine. The subscription includes additional copies that you can share with board members. If you have an online subscription you can access past copies, research and model documents which you may find useful. Third Sector is published online and in print and is a useful source of news and analysis of events in the non-profit sector.