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Practical guide Structures What is a Code of Governance?

What is a Code of Governance?

A Code of Governance is a document which consolidates the key governance practices at an organisation, including:

Company Structure
Role descriptions for Trustees, Chair and other board portfolio holders
Respective responsibilities of Board and Executive
Terms of reference for any board committees
Schedule of Matters (items reserved for Board decision only)
Policies that require board approval

The main benefits of a Code of Governance are in inducting new Board members with a comprehensive governance document and in maintaining good governance practice in an organisation over a period of time.

A template Code of Governance for a fictional organisation is provided here.

Related resources

Website | The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland

Manage your Charity

This resource is aimed at supporting charities to ensure the proper procedures and policies are in place to manage the charity’s resources effectively and, where appropriate, to make changes to their charity. Published: by the Charity Commission of Northern Ireland, 2014.

Guidance | The Charity Commission

Charity governance, finance and resilience: 15 questions trustees should ask

The Charity Commission has designed these 15 questions to help charity trustees carry out a review of the charity's plans and decide what they need to focus on. Published: March 2017.

Guidance | The Charity Commission

The Essential Trustee – what you need to know

A Charity Commission publication setting out all you need to know formally about being a trustee. First published: March 2012, latest updates: May 2018.

Guidance | NCVO

Governance and Trustees

Practical support on governance by NCVO.

Website | ACEVO, the Association of Chairs, ICSA (the Governance Institute), NCVO, the Small Charities Coalition and WCVA

Charity Governance Code Toolkit

To be used in conjunction with The Charity Governance Code, this is a practical tool kit acting as a checklist against which Trustees can note their progress, actions and their points for continuing improvement.

Guidance | NCVO

Board basics

A collection of some of the most important sample documents, templates and tools for trustee boards from the NCVO.

Tool | Dr Oonagh Murphy (Arts & Business Northern Ireland)

Governance Health Check

This toolkit provides advice on how to develop and maintain a constructive and effective Board for your arts organisation. Published: by the Charity Commission of Northern Ireland, February 2019