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The essential quarterly newsletter for voluntary and community groups in
Devon promoting and providing technical and practical support
Managing Your Organisation
DeVA Partners are
Regular Features: DeVA Update, Voluntary Sector News, Funding Extra,
Voluntary Voice Update, Organisational Matters and Volunteering Extra
Issue 10, May 2016
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We're building vibrant, healthy communities.
News and Update 2
87 % Of groups in Devon,
we have contact with, are
Registered Charities (estimated)
This is the latest report in the series we produce and looks at the voluntary and community sector across Devon. Evidence for the information contained in the report is based on that which DeVA collects through our on-going work with voluntary groups, not for profit organisations, community groups and social enterprises throughout the county, supplemented by The Charity Commission and other sources. DeVA has information on 4,185 not for profit groups based in or providing services in Devon. The Charity Commission has 3,813 Devon charities registered.
The changes shown in this report reflect DeVA’s continuing commitment to understanding the not for profit sector in Devon. The higher numbers of organisations compared to the 2014 report is partly because of DeVA’s increased knowledge of the sector and more accurate intelligence as well as our work supporting new groups to develop. The majority of the patterns in the report are unchanged but compared to the 2014 report we show a 10% increase in VCS groups in Devon. Teignbridge remains the district with the most voluntary and community groups with 718 based in the area and 856 providing services. Other headlines from the report include:
Third Sector Overview 2016
The most common beneficiaries are Children and Young People with 2128 Registered
Charities working with, or for, Children and Young People in different ways such as Pre-
schools, Scouts/Guides, Parent and Teacher Associations.
There are an estimated 59,192
formal volunteers in Devon which
donate 118,384 hours a week and
£74 million annual contribution.
The majority of Registered Charities (83%)
in Devon are ‘Micro’ or ‘Small’ with an
income of below £100,000.
Only 5% have an income above £500,000.
4.9% of the employed
working population in
Devon work in the
Voluntary Sector.
The most common service provided by Registered Charities within Devon
is Education and Training. There are 1814 Charities in Devon that provide
Education and Training Services.
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Don’t forget you can find us on Twitter and Facebook to keep up to date with all the latest news.
Follow us on Twitter @Devon_VA Like us on Facebook Devon Voluntary Action
At this year’s conference, we will be having
conversations that matter where everyone’s voice is
important!
Put the date in your diary - you can’t afford to miss out
on this opportunity!
DeVA’s Annual Conference 2016
Wednesday 12 October
at Coaver Club, Exeter
Do you have a project that needs temporary specialist skills? Do you need an accountant, architect, builder, HR specialist, legal
adviser or more?
DeVA have teamed up with the Devon and
Cornwall Rotary Clubs Vocational Services
Committee to match their member
professional skills with local community
projects that need support.
The Devon and Cornwall Rotary Clubs Vocational Services Committee supports 88 Rotary Clubs in
Devon and Cornwall. The skills on offer are wide and varied – construction, legal, architects, HR,
project planning, financial and many more and are offered for particular time-limited projects
rather than for ongoing Trustee Positions.
If you have a project that needs professional skills please let us know so that we can provide details to the Vocational Committee who will then advertise to members in your area. We need as much detail as possible to ensure that there is clarity for the Rotarians.
Email us at [email protected] with your project details.
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S 4 The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
The QAVS was announced in 2002 as part of the celebrations for The Queen's Golden Jubilee. It is made annually to recognise and reward outstanding achievement by groups of volunteers. Many different types of organisations have won the award, including groups working to improve the local environment, running community centres, managing play schemes and supporting families. Groups can be nominated at any time by, for example, beneficiaries of their work, members of the public, representatives of public bodies, or other voluntary groups. Nominations are assessed by a regional
committee before being passed to a national committee for final selection and recommendation to The Queen. Winners are announced in June each year. To nominate an organisation to receive the award in 2017, you must do so by September 2016. Winning groups receive a certificate signed by The Queen and a commemorative piece of crystal for display at the group's main place of operation. The Awards are presented on behalf of The Queen by the Lord-Lieutenant. They also get to use the QAVS mark on promotional materials.
So, if you know one or even more voluntary groups which you think deserve recognition, please consider making or encouraging a nomination: www.gov.uk/queens-award-for-voluntary-service or by calling 020 7271 6206 or, for local help and guidance, please call the Devon Lieutenancy Office on 01392 383042.
St Luke’s Hospice, Plymouth – 2015 winner "With more than 1500 volunteers, it wouldn't be possible to individually recognise each and every one of them. However, being awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, is a huge honour that reflects the significant contribution made by them all that allows St Luke's to deliver exceptional care to people suffering from life limiting illnesses and their families…..”
Acorn and Squirrels Riding for the Disabled Group - 2015 winner “It is such an honour to receive this award and we are all thrilled to bits. We are a small Group based in Exeter offering riding to 35 peo-ple with varying disabilities each week, and, without the help and dedication of all our vol-unteer helpers, this would not happen. To be recognised by the Queen through this award will, I hope, encourage more people to come forward and volunteer…..“
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5 Spring Budget 2016: Headlines for the Sector
Chancellor George Osborne’s latest Budget was announced on 16 March 2016. Here are some of
the main points that will affect the voluntary sector:
Read the budget in full at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/budget-2016-documents
Business rate relief: the sector has been
left waiting for definitive news on whether
the 80 per cent mandatory business rate
relief they receive will be changed as it
was not mentioned in the Budget. It is,
however, believed the rate will be left
alone.
£45 million of banking fines to go to
military charities: this amount will be
distributed over the next four years and
includes £3.5m for Samaritans to support
armed services personnel and veterans.
£12 million from so-called tampon tax:
Tax receipts on feminine hygiene products
will be passed onto ‘women’s charities’
including £1m going to both Breast Cancer
Care and Girlguiding UK.
£5 million extra for social impact bond:
this will take the total value up to £10m
aimed at reducing rough sleeping.
Gift Aid impact: the amount people earn
before paying income tax will increase to
£11,500 in April 2017. This means more
people will pay no tax and therefore will
be unable to claim Gift Aid on their
charitable donations. The income tax
threshold has risen to £11,000 this April.
Support for Arts: a new corporation tax
relief from April 2017 for temporary and
touring exhibitions at museums and
galleries as well as making more
organisations exempt from VAT.
£60 million for community-led housing:
available through community land trusts,
this fund is for housing developments in
rural and coastal communities which are
set up by local people to develop and
manage homes making them affordable
for people living in these communities.
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S 4 Charities Bill receives Royal Assent
On 17 March 2016 The Charities (Protective and Social Investment) Bill received royal assent. This means more powers to the Charity Commission and aims to empower charities by opening up social investment opportunities. The Charity Commission now has powers to issue statutory written warnings to charities and automatically disqualify people from serving as a trustees or senior managers who have convictions for money laundering, terrorism or sexual offences. It also extends the commission’s reserve powers to bolster the new Fundraising Regulator and allows charities the right to make social investments. http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2015-16/charitiesprotectionandsocialinvestment.html
Nick O’Donohoe, Chair of the new Dormant Assets Commission, announced on 10 March 2016 eight new commissioners will help unlock as much as £1 billion in funding for good causes. The commissioners, who have backgrounds in banking, investment management, insurance and professional services, will be tasked with unlocking huge sums of money for the charity sector by helping to identify new pools of unclaimed assets, which can include stocks, shares, pensions and bonds, and put the assets towards charitable causes.
Commissioners are Richard Collier-Keywood, PwC Global Vice-Chairman, Kirsty Cooper, Group General Counsel and Company Secretary, Aviva plc, Gurpreet Dehal, former Chief Operating Officer Global Prime Services, Credit Suisse, Rachel Hanger, Partner, KPMG, Jackie Hunt, Non-Executive Director, CityUK and Member of the Financial Conduct Authority Practitioner Panel, Mark Makepeace, Group Director of Information Services, London Stock Exchange Group and Chief Executive of FTSE Group, Susan Sternglass Noble, Senior advisor to the Investor Forum, Martin Turner, Group Business Risk Director, Lloyds Banking Group.
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/dormant-assets-commission
Charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) consultation
The long awaited Cabinet Office consultation on the process and timetable for charitable companies and community interest communities to convert to charitable incorporated organisations opened on 1 April 2016. Consultation closes 10 June 2016. A good place to start for details and comment: www.sandy-a.co.uk/legalstatus.htm#company-to-cio Or go straight to the consultation: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/converting-to-a-charitable-incorporated-organisation
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E 5 Voluntary Voice
Voluntary Voice aims to develop the voice of the voluntary and community
sector (VCS) in decision making on local and countywide issues through
mandated representatives from the sector influencing strategic
partnerships. There are currently eight strategic partnerships with
mandated sector representatives and a range of Voluntary Voice
Stakeholders available on an ad hoc basis to represent the sector.
For more information which partnerships are attended, who the mandated representatives are and
full reports of the meetings, please visit www.devonva.org/voice_and_influence .
Latest reports available from the mandated sector representatives:
Devon Strategic Partnership (DSP) Board Meeting: January 2016
Voluntary Voice Lead Representative for the DSP, Diana Crump from Living Options attended. There
will be a Spring DSP Conference (date to be confirmed) which will build on the success of the one on
‘collaboration’. Diana shared good practice examples of voluntary sector collaborative working and
possible support the sector could offer care leavers under the agenda item ’Care Leavers and
Apprenticeships’. To ensure the voluntary sector has a strong voice, Diana will be organizing the
Spring Conference. If you would like further information on the either conference please email
Health and Wellbeing Stakeholder Conference: February 2016
This was a ad-hoc meeting attended by Karen Nolan from West Devon CVS as a Voluntary Voice
Stakeholder Representative. At the conference she highlighted the role the sector can play in helping
support the objectives of the health and Wellbeing Strategy and that the information and intelligence
held by the sector can inform the development plans. She also stated the importance the sector can
play in the prevention agenda and the impact of this agenda on the longer term costs.
Communicating and consulting with the sector before making decisions was also put forward and
that the priority for the coming year should be ‘social connectedness’ and everything associated with
it (such as mental health).
Devon Safeguarding Children’s Board (DSCB) Meeting: February 2016
This meeting was attended by Voluntary Voice Lead Representative, Mark Goodman from VOYC. The
main points of the meeting included introducing the new Chair of the DSCB, Mark Gerry who set out
proposals for a revised way of working. They include a proposal for a new structure for the DSCB with
potential changes to the member of the Board and Executive. Mark sought assurances as to how the
voice of the voluntary sector would be heard going forward with the proposed new framework.
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6 Looking for Volunteers?
If you’re looking for volunteers make sure you put your opportunities on Volunteer Connect - its FREE!
Our website Volunteer Connect is a user-friendly system dedicated to volunteering in Devon, is there to help and support you, to promote and make accessible your volunteering opportunities and to find you good volunteers.
Here is the best bit:
Once you have registered your own access to your organisation's profile and to the details of your roles, you are in control. You can amend, delete or add details whenever you wish, ensuring that your record is always accurate and up-to-date. You will receive an automatic notification whenever a volunteer is interested in your role(s), with that person's name. Then you need to go to your Volunteer Connect profile to view the profile and message them.
If you have not already registered your own access, you will find that the process is very easy and straight-forward; just follow the prompts on the website, choosing (and remembering!) your own password to protect your profile.
If you have any problems with registering, email [email protected].
Some tips on getting the most out of it:
1. Ensure that your contact details are correct
2. Enter your organisation's main purpose or mission statement
3. Tick your relevant client group
4. Tick the geographical area(s) in which you provide services
5. Tick all the appropriate interests that your organisation covers
Why not have a look at: www.devonva.org/
volunteer_connect_devon.
Great chance to show your
volunteers how much you
appreciate them!
Let us know about your
celebrations:
Partners
will be
joining in
Volunteers’ Week
across the county.
Contact them to find
out more.
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7 Devon Supported Volunteering
Is you organisation making the most of potential volunteers?
Devon Voluntary Action has been offering people who may need extra support the chance to volunteer through Devon Supported Volunteering. Over the last six months Devon Supported Volunteering has been providing this much-called-for support to allow more people to engage in volunteering and the great benefits that volunteering can bring individuals and the organisations they are involved with. We have seen increased confidence and self-esteem in participants from being in a positive social environment with a sense of purpose and skill development. The project is aimed at individuals with barriers that would make volunteering without additional support too challenging such as physical disability, mental health issues, learning difficulties, social isolation or damaging life experiences (including, for example, ex-offenders). The project allows our Volunteer Co-ordinators to explore with the volunteers what their specific needs and interests are and to work with local community groups or organisations to create opportunities appropriate to that individual. The project is running across Devon so if you are interested in having a Supported Volunteer within your organisation then get in contact at [email protected].
Even if you are not in a position to be part of the project there are many ways in which you can consider making your volunteer opportunities more inclusive: Use inclusive images and simple and clear
language in your promotional and recruitment materials.
Think about how you can help potential
volunteers to prepare better such as hosting open days, organising pre-volunteering training, assigning a mentor to new volunteers who may need more time to build up their confidence.
Some volunteers may need a bit more
attention and time so it is important to give a thorough introduction and set clear expectations for both sides.
Develop a recruitment process that is
friendly and not overly formal. Minimise form-filling and be mindful of the language you use—so ask new volunteers for a chat rather than an interview.
Have clear policies and guidelines around
recruitment, showing transparency of the process and ensuring that everyone will feel they are treated equally.
Share your experience of inclusiveness in
volunteering with other organisations in order to help them to become more open to diversity at our Volunteer Coordinator Forums.
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8 National Living Wage In April the Government’s new National Living
Wage became law. If you’re an employer,
you’ll need to make sure you’re paying your
staff correctly from 1st April 2016, as the
National Living Wage will be enforced as
strongly as the current National Minimum
Wage.
Make sure you have made the appropriate
payroll changes and informed staff.
The Government is committed to increasing
this every year.
https://www.livingwage.gov.uk/
£1m worth of legal resources
available free to charities
In partnership with NCVO and Social Enterprise
UK, law firm Bates Wells and Braithwaite has
extended the support available to small
charities and social enterprises through its
online tool, Get Legal.
Up to 15,000 individuals and organisations will
be able to access £1m of free legal resources
through vouchers to download bespoke legal
documents.
This is in addition to the wide range of free
resources already available on Get Legal
website including documents as well as blogs
written by the law firms experts.
The new paid-for items are new legal document
templates which can be tailored and
customised to a charity’s specific needs through
a guided step-by-step process. They have been
designed to help charity’s access more
straightforward legal documents at a much
lower cost.
http://getlegal.bwbllp.com/
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Free 'Strength Checker' Tool from Big Lottery Launched
A new online ‘strength checker’ tool has been launched by the Big Lottery which has been developed
with the Cabinet Office. The tool aims to help voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE)
organisations boost performance and sustainability.
The VCSE Strength Checker can be used for FREE by organisations
across the UK wishing to develop and improve their resilience and is
available now.
It will produce a personalised report highlighting an organisation’s key
strengths and areas to help them become more effective, including
sustainability, marketing, strategy and planning, track record, quality
and impact.
W: http://vcsestrengthchecker.org.uk/
Small Business Enterprise and Employment Act 2015
Under the Government’s new transparency regime, from 6 April 2016 British companies (including charitable companies, and those charities with a trading subsidiary company) will need to start keeping a register of people with significant control (PSC Register).
Charities and social enterprises structured as companies will be affected. Most will not have PSCs and will simply need to make a note to that effect in the PSC register. But in some circumstances a detailed entry in the PSC register will be required, including:
Corporate foundations. The corporate supporter may be the foundation’s sole member, or have a right to control the identity of the board members. Stakeholder control. Sometimes a third party has rights to control a company’s decisions, or to appoint or remove a majority of the board. Small number of members. If a company has less than four members, they will all be PSCs. This will affect charitable companies which are structured so that the members and trustees are the same people, if there are less than four trustees.
Group structures, including trading subsidiaries. A parent charity may have control of its trading subsidiary, or a subsidiary charity. Joint ventures. Where charities or social enterprises collaborate through a bespoke company, they may be PSCs, depending on the circumstances. The company’s PSC register will be accessible to any member of the public provided they have a proper purpose. For more information see the Government Guidelines at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-the-people-with-significant-control-requirements-for-companies-and-limited-liability-partnerships
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10 Fundraising Regulator—Latest News The new industry Fundraising Regulator, chaired by Lord Grade, is still on course to be operational by
this Summer.
January saw the Chief Executives of both Acevo and NCVO urging MPs not to force
the new fundraising regulator onto the Charity Commission, which is a government
body, following a report published by Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs
Committee (PACAC).
They argue that it is not appropriate for the new fundraising regulator to report to the Charity
Commission as it will undermine the principle of self regulation. Sir Stuart Etherington, NCVO Chief
Executive who was one of the authors of the report which lead to the new regulator being formed
has suggested it should report to Parliament instead. This is something that has been ruled out by
PACAC.
In February, seven Board members were appointed with plans to add two more with
fundraising expertise to ensure balance between regulatory experience, fundraising
expertise and wider knowledge of the voluntary sector. The Board members have
been appointed for a term of two years and are expected to serve for at least one day
per month and receive a fee of £300 per day. Current Board members are:
George Kidd, Chair of the Direct Marketing Commission and formerly Chief Executive of
PhonepayPlus.
Suzanne McCarthy, Chair of Depaul UK and the Institute of Fundraising’s Standards Committee,
and until recently the UK’s Immigration Services Commissioner.
Margaret Moore, formerly Head of Competition and Regulatory Practice at Travers Smith LLP and
now a trustee of Sue Ryder and Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby.
Sacha Deshmukh, Chief Executive of Smart Energy GB and Chair of War Child, previously Vice
Chair of Citizens Advice England and Wales.
Michael Smyth, Chairman Community Links, Visiting Professor Queen Mary University of London,
former Head Government Practice at Clifford Chance LLP.
John Stoker, formerly Chief Charity Commissioner and Director General of the National Lottery.
Jenny Williams, formerly Chief Executive of the Gambling Commission.
Speaking at a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Charities and
Volunteering on 9 March, Lord Grade reported that only one of the top 50 fundraising
charities has rejected the Fundraising Regulator’s request for start-up funding.
He also told MPs that the Board had held its first meeting and inline with the
Etherington Review recommendations, that both a Standards Committee and Adjudication
Committee had been set up.
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11 Does your community know you are there?
A survey carried out by TSB Bank has found that over a third of British people are unaware of local
charities in their area with no knowledge of the work they do.
The survey of 1,000 people showed that although half feel that local charities play an important role in
communities, only one in 10 are able to name two or more local charities. It also revealed that 20 per
cent of people said they only became aware of local charities when friends or family needed their
services.
The research was part of TSB’s Local Charity Partnership drive, where TSB braches advertised locally
for customers to nominate charities and social enterprises to benefit from regular fundraising
activities. A spokesman for TSB said the research shows “just how difficult it can be for small charities
to get the support they need”.
http://www.tsb.co.uk/news-releases/your-local-charity-is-struggling-to-get-its-voice-heard/
So the question is how do you get your voice heard out in the community to connect to potential
donors and supporters?
A recent blog by Vertitus Group Partners, Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels, argues that ‘in fundraising,
it’s about the problem, not the process’.
People support charities to solve problems, so we
need to ensure we are telling them about the
problems and not just the process or services
being provided. It is all too easy to forget to talk
about the actual problems when we are working
with them everyday and assume people know
about them.
Read the blog at http://veritusgroup.com/in-
fundraising-its-about-the-problem-not-the-
process/
So is it time you told your communities about the
problems you are supporting locally? Go on,
shout about yourself!
Public Sector Procurement? Is it for you? DeVA and Devon County Council have jointly compiled a toolkit which is designed to give voluntary and community organisations and social enterprises a brief overview of the basics of commissioning and procurement to assist in understanding and preparing to bid for contracts with public bodies. For your copy of the toolkit visit www.devonva.org/procurement and don’t forget we are here to
support you if you need it, email us at [email protected].
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12 Welcome to the Managing Your Organisation Special Edition.
In this section we are looking at the role that Trustees play in the voluntary
sector and how they are essential to organisations. We are talking about
the persons who have general control and management of the
administration of a charity or voluntary group.
Even if your organisation is not a registered charity with trustees, this
section will highlight some best practice for running a not-for-private-
profit organisation.
If your organisation does not have trustees it is still vitally important for it to be managed
effectively. Where the term ‘trustee’ or ‘board’ has been used try to think about who has the same
or similar responsibility in your organisation.
Having a range of experiences, perspectives and
knowledge managing your organisation is
essential to good governance of a voluntary
group. Governance requires good relationships
between those who are there to ensure it
achieves its aims and those who have day to day
responsibility to allow them to work well
together.
Good governance should be invisible, working
quietly away in the background - ensuring an
organisation is well run by making sure values,
systems and processes are in place.
Everyone needs to be clear about the objectives
of the organisation and aware of their
responsibilities to act only in the group's best
interests. It is important to be able to
demonstrate transparency and be accountable
to beneficiaries, members and donors.
Being a part of the management of a
voluntary group is about making
decisions that will impact on the
organisation, and should everyone
involved should work as a team.
The Charity Commission’s guide ‘The Essential
Trustee - What you Need to Know’ sets out in
detail the roles and responsibilities of a trustee
and should be read by all trustees and shares
best practice for groups who are not registered
charities. https://www.gov.uk/government/
publications/the-essential-trustee-what-you-
need-to-know-cc3
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Reproduced with permission of the Charity Commission.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/485574/Jigsaw_square.pdf —
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16 5 Top Tips For Attracting Young Trustees
Alex Swallow is the founder of Young Charity
Trustees and an expert in board diversity and
governance. He shares his tops tips for
attracting young trustees to your board.
Name: Alex Swallow Organisation: Founder of Young Charity Trustees
1- Have confidence in your charity
You should have confidence that the work of your charity will be
interesting to young people. I’m sure you do amazing, vital work;
why wouldn’t a young person who wants to give something back be
interested in that? Many charities tell me that they just don’t think
young people will be interested in their work. It isn’t true.
Not only that, but if you show young people the passion you have for your cause they are more
likely to want to be part of it.
2- Have confidence in young people
Firstly, have confidence that there are many
young people out there who would like to be
trustees but have doubts whether they would be
welcomed (or they worry that their inexperience
means they would somehow ‘harm’ the charity).
Secondly, have confidence that there is a much
larger group of young people- by far the majority
- who have no idea that they can be trustees.
Thirdly, have confidence that young people who join your board will make a positive contribution
(as long as you have checked that they are interested in your cause, are joining for the right reasons
etc).
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There is much more information at http://alexswallow.com/social-good/young-charity-trustees/.
Alex also works to increase influence for individuals and organisations at
http://theinfluenceexpert.com/
You can also advertise your trustee opportunities for free on Volunteer Connect at
www.devonva.org/volunteer_connect.
5- Offer a package of support for new trustees
Again, this is important for all trustees, not just young ones. I
know many charities are pressed for time and that supporting
trustees might not be high on the list of priorities. However, it
is crucially important, especially if you can tell potential new
board members that it is available.
The package might include simple things like a basic induction, initial and ongoing training- or a buddy
system where inexperienced trustees are paired up with people who have been on the board for a
while, for some guidance and support.
3- Think about how welcoming your board is
This is one of the points that is relevant not just for young people but for any potential trustee joining
your board.
Do your current board members enjoy coming to
meetings? Are meetings at a convenient time and
location? Do board members feel that they have the
opportunity to make a positive contribution? Are there
opportunities for trustees to socialize a bit outside
meetings to build up rapport/trust?
Young people don’t need special treatment- but all
trustees deserve good treatment.
4- Recruit as widely as possible
One of the biggest problems as far as board diversity is
concerned is that many boards recruit among people they
already know, meaning that you get self-replicating boards.
It is absolutely vital that you widen the net.
The resources on the Trustees’ Week website will be helpful
for this, see http://trusteesweek.blogspot.co.uk/.
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14 Charity Commission - Updated Guidance for
Trustees
The Charity Commission has updated key
finance guidance to show clearly that
trustees are ultimately responsible for their
charities’ finances, and respond to the need
to make sure its guidance reflects the most
current challenges facing thousands of
charities.
They have updated three sets of guidance:
Managing a charity’s finances: planning, managing difficulties and insolvency (CC12)
There is a new recommendation that trustees review the charity’s financial position and its
performance against budgets and future projections at least once a month, but the extent of the
review will vary according to the size and stability of the charity.
Charity reserves: building resilience (CC19) Any target set by trustees for the level of reserves to be held, or decision that there is no need for reserves, should reflect the particular circumstances of the individual charity. However trustees should not simply monitor their level of reserves annually, but keep them under review throughout the year. Charity governance, finance and resilience: 15 questions trustees should ask This 15-question checklist is suitable for all charities, although some questions might not be relevant to your charity’s size and how it operates. As trustees, you can use it whenever you review the way your charity operates, especially in changing or uncertain economic climates. This may be informal discussions or items on the agenda at trustee meetings, AGMs, away-days or planning meetings. There are also two podcasts available linked to the checklist with Nick Mott from the Charity Commission and Jane Tully from Charity Finance Group discussing the questions a trustee board should ask themselves about their strategic plan and their financial health and how effective they are as a board and whether they are making the most of their resources. See https://www.gov.uk/government/news/trustees-must-engage-with-finance-guidance-says-charity-regulator
The Commission has also published a new version of guidance on charities and trading subsidiaries.
Trustees, trading and tax (CC35) The main change is the insertion of a new section 4.5: “Can trustees expect their charity’s wholly-owned trading subsidiary to always Gift Aid all the profits shown in the profit and loss account to its parent charity?” The answer given is “No - If the accounting profit is higher than the value calculated for distributable profits, only the lower figure can be paid across under Gift Aid.” The guidance also sets out when Charity Commission permission is needed if a charity plans to write off a loan to a trading subsidiary.
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Once you have your role description it’s time to
promote it - hopefully as widely as possible to
gain a diverse mix of applications. Don’t limit it to
your existing network of connections even if this
might be a quicker option. Don’t forget to include
your advert on Volunteer Connect for free at
http://www.devonva.org/
volunteer_connect_devon
The next step is to review applications. This
should involve all trustees and it is worth taking
the time to have an informal phone call with
potential candidates before dismissing or
shortlisting them to discuss their viability. For the
interview stage draw up questions which are
relevant to your organisation and the role. Use
open questions so potential trustees can show
their personalities as well.
After appointing a new trustee don’t forget the
importance of an induction for them including
information on the organisation and support in
being an effective trustee. After three to six
months it might be worth giving them an
opportunity to share their initial impressions of
the organisation and other trustees with the Chair
in a private setting. It is also a chance to iron out
any issues on both sides.
Good luck and remember we are here to help.
Finding new board members can be a daunting
and difficult task for existing trustees of an
organisation. Recruiting people who are
passionate about the cause, have the right set of
skills and experience and will complement
existing trustees is never easy. Having a
structured approach to recruiting trustees can be
an effective way to maintain good governance of
your organisation.
There are a few simple steps that can make the
process smoother. Firstly you need to ensure all
existing trustees are engaged with the
recruitment process and that you know what you
are looking for in terms of skills and experience. It
can be helpful to carry out a skills audit on
existing trustees to help identify gaps and to
ensure you are using them in the most effective
way.
Secondly create an interesting trustee description
based on the skills and experience you are looking
for and not the standard duties of being a trustee.
Include things such as the challenges faced by the
organisation and its future plans so people can
get a feel for what the role will really be like and
the impact they can make. If you need help
drawing up a description, our Volunteer Support
Staff can help you, contact us via email at
Recruiting Trustees - Getting it Right
www. devonva.org Follow us @Devon_VA
East Devon Council for Voluntary Service
Younghayes Centre, 169 Younghayes Road, Cranbrook EX5 7DR
Telephone: 01404 549 045
Chief Officer: Charlotte Hanson
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.edvsa.org.uk
South Hams CVS
The Cottage, Follaton House, Plymouth Road, Totnes TQ9 5NE
Telephone: 01803 862266
Chief Officer: Jill Davies
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.souhhamscvs.org.uk
Involve—Voluntary Action in Mid Devon
Sunningmead Community Centre, Lazenby Road,
Tiverton EX16 4AL
Telephone: 01884 255734
Chief Officer: Karen Nolan
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.involve-middevon.org.uk
Teignbridge Community and Voluntary Service
36-38 Market Street, Newton Abbot TQ12 2RX
Telephone: 01626 326120
Chief Officer: Sue Wroe
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.teigncvs.org.uk
North Devon Voluntary Services
Suite 206, Queen’s House, Queen Street, Barnstaple, EX32 8HJ
Chief Officer: Hilary Burr
Telephone: 01271 866300
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ndvs.org.uk
West Devon Community and Voluntary Services
13 East Street, Okehampton EX20 1AS
Telephone: 01837 53392
Chief Officer: Karen Nolan
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.westdevoncvs.org.uk
[email protected] Like us Devon Voluntary Action
0845 6099901
01803 849234
DeVA’s Company Number 8711291 and Charity Number 1158671
