Training Course

Essential Charity Governance

Overview

For charities, good governance helps attract resources and use them effectively, ensures compliance with relevant regulations and supports a culture in which the whole organisation is working towards the charity’s vision. Poor governance can result in serious financial or reputational damage, and crucially can damage trust from the communities and stakeholders they serve.

This one-day course gives an intensive insight into the principles of charity governance, including the charity governance structure, the regulatory landscape, effective board operations and behaviour and key responsibilities for trustees. The programme blends detailed technical information with practical guidance on compliance and best practice.

For any related enquiries please contact us at training@cgi.org.uk, or call us at +44 (0)20 7580 4741

Participant Profile

  • Are you involved in the governance of a charity and need to understand the key regulations?
  • Do you want to know why good governance is crucial for charitable organizations?
  • Are you looking to learn how the Charity Governance Code can support good governance in your charity?
  • Do you need to enhance your knowledge of effective governance practices in a not-for-profit organization?

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will:

  1. A practical understanding of key governance frameworks and regulations
  2. The ability to apply these to your charity or organisation
  3. A detailed knowledge of the Charity Governance code
  4. Down-to-earth advice on compliance and best practice (including charity board effectiveness, appointments, risk management and accountability)
  5. Tools to assess your current practices and suggest improvements.

You will also receive:

  • A delegate pack containing comprehensive course notes and presentation slides
  • A certificate to show you have attended the course
  • 6 hours credit towards your Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
  • 6 months complimentary professional subscription of The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland. This includes a subscription to G+C Magazine as well as access to briefings, discounts and our knowledge base.
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Testimonials

"The course struck the right balance between making it understandable for those wihtout a company secretarial background and challenging enough for those that have it, identifying the key differences for charities as compared with the corporate world. I learnt a great deal - thank you!"

"Really enjoyed it. Pleased I attended with a colleague as it will help in making improvements. It was a comprehensive day with some review of existing knowledge and some new information. Fast-paced and pragmatic view of governance."

"The course was informative and interesting. The breakout rooms were really useful, being able to connect with other people was invaluable."

"Hugely interesting and informative. Really appreciated breakout rooms to speak to other attendees too."

Useful CGI Resources:

Competency framework

This course aligns to CGI’s competency framework: Entry/Emerging
Use the competency framework to identify your strengths and areas for improvement in governance.

Programme

Please expand the dropdown to see the course programme timetable and highlights
  • What is corporate governance?
  • Why does governance matter?
  • The history of corporate governance
  • Governance principles and approaches
  • Governance: Codes
  • Recent developments in charity governance
  • Proportionate governance
  • Behavioural governance

Governance structures

  • Boards
  • Governance structures
  • Principles of delegation
  • Committees

Governance processes

  • Appointment of board members
  • Board performance review
  • Induction; training; and skills
  • Control and risk management

Meetings

  • Information and decision making
  • Making meetings effective

Board Behaviour

  • Board room behaviour
  • Resolving conflict

Integrity

  • Conflicts of interest
  • Probity

Accountability

  • The role of members
  • Reporting and communications with stakeholders
  • Transparency

The Charity Governance Code (the Code) was created ‘by the sector, for the sector’ to highlight good practice and lead on governance thinking.

Course Leader

Claire Robson Web

Claire Robson

Claire Robson recently joined the Chartered Insurance Institute as their Governance Director providing corporate governance expertise and leadership across the CII Group made up of the Institute, a not-for-profit membership body, and its subsidiary organisations based both in the UK and Internationally. Prior to that, Claire spent 8 years working for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity as their Company Secretary and Data Protection Officer, leading a small team dedicated to providing advice in the areas of Governance, Legal, Secretariat, Data Protection and Corporate Services. And, the previous eleven years in the Health Sector specialising in Information Governance. Originally starting her career as a Chartered Secretary, qualifying with the CGI in 2003, and completing the Charity Law and Governance Certificate in 2017, Claire first started specialising in Data Protection around 2000, implementing the then Data Protection Act 1998 and completed a specialist Master’s Degree in Information Rights Law and Practice in 2008 with additional qualifications in Computer Forensics and Information Security. In May 2019, Claire joined the Chartered Secretaries Charitable Trust as a Trustee, becoming Deputy Chair in January 2022. Claire is now working closely with the CGI as an Independent Adviser, acting as one of the Examiners for the Institute in the subject of Charity Law and Governance and providing training in areas related to Charity Governance.
Available Dates
11 March 2025
Virtual
Training - Virtual
09:30 to 16:30
From £605 + VAT
18 June 2025
Virtual
Training - Virtual
09:30 to 16:30
From £605 + VAT
8 September 2025
Virtual
Training - Virtual
09:30 to 16:30
From £605 + VAT
11 November 2025
Virtual
Training - Virtual
09:30 to 16:30
From £605 + VAT