Guidance Notes

A specimen role description detailing the responsibilities and functions of a charity secretary working for a charity operating in Northern Ireland.

Cover sheets allow senior managers and other staff to present information to the board in a consistent manner and to highlight key issues to be discussed.

This guidance note offers an example of a specimen letter to be sent to a new trustee of an unincorporated charity. As such, it is an outline for charities to amend to suit their needs. Charities are urged to ensure that all relevant factors relating to their organisation are included in such letters.

This guidance note offers an example of an appointment letter to be sent to a new director/trustee of a charitable company.

This guidance note offers the charity secretary or governance professional of a charitable company limited by guarantee an outline of the information that should be considered when dealing with the change of trustee and director.

This guidance note offers to a charitable company limited by guarantee an outline of the information that should be considered when dealing with the change of charity secretary.

Within many boardrooms, especially those responsible for charities where trustees are unpaid, it can be challenging to be assured that the entity is being run properly and meeting its strategic goals. In fulfilling their legal duties, trustees must seek information from the senior management team to assure themselves that the charity is being run in a sustainable, professional and intended manner in furthering its charitable objects.

This guidance was originally drafted amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, when the impact of global lockdowns was most acutely felt.

This guidance aims to equip governance professionals and boards to make virtual meetings as effective as possible, whilst being cognisant of any practical and legal issues which may arise.