NCVO: Governance Hub stresses need for ongoing collaboration and investment in Governance development

The Governance Hub stressed the need for continued investment in the governance of charities, voluntary organisations and community groups at its final event, the Good Governance Circle, held on 17 March 2008, and hosted by Gill Edelman, Chair of the Governance Hub.

Hub partners attended to share the learning from the past three years, showcasing successful projects, and engaging in a range of key governance issues. The plenary debate, with Andrew Hind, Chief Executive of Charity Commission, and other sector leaders from Big Lottery Fund, Capacitybuilders and the Open University, reviewed the progress of governance over the last three years and debated the future development of the sector.

Over the last three years the Governance Hub has increased the visibility of charities and had a significant impact on the sector, resulting in many organisations understanding the need to pay attention to governance. The cost of governance is being recognised and governance is being seen as part of the overall quality of the organisation. The Hub will leave a legacy of:

• An increased awareness of trusteeship

• An intensified focus on governance

• Established standards for the governance and trusteeship - The Code of Good Governance and the National Occupational Standards for Trustees

• An evidence base derived from commissioned research that will inform future developments

• A range of generic and specialist resources that will continue to be accessible to individuals/organisations

• New information, resources & programmes of support embedded in a range of infrastructure and umbrella bodies

Gill Edelman, Chair of the Governance Hub said:

“We are proud of what the Hub has achieved in the last three years but we need to maintain the momentum. There’s still a lot more to be done and it will require ongoing collaboration and investment.”

The Governance Hub is calling for further work to build on these achievements including an on ongoing campaign on trustee recruitment with a centralised signposting to provide a more simplified route into trusteeship. The Hub encourages larger organisations to take a leadership role by signing up to the Code of Good Governance and offering support to smaller organisations, for example by empowering staff to become trustees. Investment in governance development also needs to be increased.

A range of generic and specialist resources will continue to be accessible after the Hub’s closure. The Hub is currently working with Capacitybuilders and NCVO, to ensure that people will have easy access to the Hub’s resources from April onwards and that people are signposted to other areas of support.


ENDS

For further information NCVO Media Officer, Joy Coker on 0207 529 2469 or email press.temp@ncvo-vol.org.uk

Notes to editors

1. The Governance Hub aims to improve the quality of governance within the voluntary and community sector across England by:

§ Increasing the supply of trustees and board members, with the range of profiles, skills and experience needed by VCOs.

§ Enhancing knowledge and skills of trustees, board members, senior managers and others involved in governance.

§ Enhancing the governance capacity of organisations to deliver their mission, engaging and involving their key stakeholders.

§ Promoting good governance in the voluntary and community sector

2. The Governance Hub is a partnership of nine organisations that provide support to the voluntary and community sector: Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (acevo), Black Training and Enterprise Group (BTEG), British Association of Settlements and Social Action Centres (bassac), Charity Trustee Networks (CTN), East Cornwall Council for Voluntary Services (ECCVS), National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NACVA), National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), Social Enterprise Coalition (SEC) and Volunteering England. The accountable body for the Governance Hub is NCVO (charity number 225922).

3. There are six national hubs of expertise: Finance, Governance, ICT, Performance, Workforce and Volunteering. The hubs are part of ChangeUp, the Capacity Building* and Infrastructure Framework for the Voluntary and Community sector, published by the Active Community Unit in June 2004. ChangeUp's aim is that by 2014 the needs of frontline voluntary and community organisations will be met by support which is available nationwide, structured for maximum efficiency, offering excellent provision, accessible to all, truly reflecting and promoting diversity, and sustainably funded. ChangeUp describes the basic architecture of support which frontline organisations need. For more information please go to www.capacitybuilders.org.uk or call 0121 237 5100