The Code of Governance for the Voluntary and Community Sector

August 2009

Good Governance: a Code for the Voluntary and Community Sector was published in 2005 and successfully promoted by the National Governance Hub. It is intended to be a practical and easy-to-use guide to help charities develop good practice. The Commission supports it, and encourages all charities - from large to small - to use it. Last year’s report by nfpSynergy highlighted that 42% of organisations surveyed had used the Code, and another 29% were aware of it.

The Code was originally developed by a steering group representing NCVO, ACEVO, Charity Trustee Networks and ICSA, with support and advice from the Commission. This steering group has been working hard to carry forward the development of the Code in the light of the nfpSynergy report starting with a review of the Code’s high level principles. The aim is to make the principles easier to understand and applicable to all organisations in the sector, without changing the essence of the Code.

The steering group is now consulting on draft “refashioned principles”, and invites views and comments on the consultation questions from organisations and individuals. See a copy of the refashioned principles on our website.

You can download copies of the original Code from the ncvo website or the Charity Trustee Networks website.

Please go to Surveymonkey for details of the consultation and to add your views and comments on the consultation questions.

The consultation will run until 24 November 2009.