NCVO: Sector to have its say on ways of improving governance

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Monday, 26, Nov 2007 12:00

The Governance Hub has commissioned nfpSynergy to evaluate the awareness, reach and influence of the Code of Good Governance for the Voluntary and Community Sector. The findings from the research will be published in spring 2008 and will include recommendations to improve the Code’s take up and reach, how it can reflect the sector’s diversity and what additional support is needed to further embed it in the future.

nfpSynergy is seeking feedback from trustees, chief executives and directors, staff and volunteers, development advisors and governance specialists from across the sector, whether they use the Code or not.

The Code of Good Governance is based on seven core principles and is a model of good practice for the sector ensuring that boards have the policies, systems and processes to ensure good governance. It was developed by the sector for the sector and launched in 2005, together with plans for its evaluation and development in 2007.

Although the Governance Hub is currently responsible for the Code’s development, promotion and evaluation the recommendations from the programme will be taken forward after spring 2008. The Code ‘steering group’, comprising the nine partner organisations of the Governance Hub, has confirmed their own organisations’ commitment to supporting the further embedding of the Code across the sector.

Gill Edelman, Chair of the Governance Hub, said:

‘Since the Code was launched to the sector two and a half years ago, we know that many organisations have used it and that it is having a positive impact. We are not anticipating major changes to the core seven principles of the Code, but the Governance Hub wants to ensure the learning and benefits of the last two years are captured and shared and opportunities to enhance Code usage are identified. Organisations can continue to have confidence in the integrity of the Code and to carry on using it. I would urge organisations that haven’t yet used it to do so.’

Joe Saxton from nfpSynergy said:

'The Code was a significant development for the community and voluntary sector when it was launched. We now want to find out what people's experience of using it has been over the last two years. How has the Code helped their governance? How could the Code be made to work harder or made more relevant and useful to more organisations?’

From 23rd November – 18th January, organisations will be able to take part in three ways:

respond to the on-line consultation questionnaire at www.nfpsynergy.net/codeofgoodgovernancesurvey

register to attend one of the 8 consultation events planned across the country by emailing your contact details to governance@nfpsynergy.net

complete a paper copy of the survey which is available by emailing governance@nfpsynergy.net or ringing Chiara Vitali on 020 7415 7162

For more information, please contact Pete Moorey, Media Manager at NCVO, at pete.moorey@ncvo-vol.org.uk or 020 7520 2468.