New Chair, new challenges
It’s been an honour for me to take up chairing the Charity Governance Code Steering Group, drawing on the sterling efforts and wisdom of all its members, not to mention two brilliant predecessors. I have tough acts to follow.
I’ve been motivated to take up this role by the fantastic work that charities do and wanting to ensure that I can support them in being as effective as they can be and in giving the public trust and confidence in their responsible stewardship. Negative media can create this disproportionate focus on problems — and it’s not that challenges should be ignored, but we must remember that charities have this unique role in contributing to a fairer society through their focus on inequality, poverty and advancement of aspects of our lives. The impact of Covid, and now a war and cost-of-living crisis, underlines the importance of this mission.
Protective about codes, integrity and standards
I have found myself in this current climate feeling protective about codes, integrity and the upholding of standards. Perhaps many among us begin to realise how much we care that observing standards matters and that being open and transparent about when we can’t quite meet the standards also matters; this is very much the spirit within which the current Charity Governance Code is positioned. Operating within an accepted frame of what good looks like helps to build trust among all stakeholders.
Future priorities
Coming into the role, and beginning discussions with the Steering Group, I see some key priorities for the next phase of how we think about the Code.
A wide range of voices
First of all, there is the focus on how we work as a Steering Group. We are enthusiastic about ensuring we have access to a wide range of voices. We welcome convening diverse advisors with whom we meet from time to time to help combat any group think on our part. We want to be alive to the voices in and outside the room.
The code framework
Secondly, the Code is still young in some respects. Organisations continue to experiment with how best to use and embed it in their governance rhythms and work, and we think the conceptual framework of pillars is a good one, even if content/themes change over time.
Presentation of content and the website
Thirdly, we are keen that the Code is used by a wide range of charities, large and small, and we recognise that to encourage broader take up of the Code, we may need to think about how the presentation of content can be simplified.
This will involve looking again at how we can make better use of the website to make it more interactive, better connected to sources of support and reflective of how we know users are interacting with the content. This will require investment but we hope that with the support of funders this will be possible.
This priority might also include looking at: separating recommended practice from what the Code explicitly expects of charities, what is realistic to expect of smaller charities with a dearth of resources; and whether larger charities should have to adopt a code of governance.
New governance challenges
There are also new challenges that we need to reflect on and whether the Code is addressing them sufficiently, whether specific legal requirements of governance or wider changes within the operating environment — digital and cyber, the environment and nature, social movements and power dynamics, employee wellbeing and welfare. We know, however, that we need to strike the right balance between any additive elements and ‘pruning’ what we already have. Of course these matters of style and content will be something that the Steering Group will be keen to have views on through a strong consultation process.
The role of the steering group
Lastly, the Steering Group will also need to locate its role in how the code is accessed and put into practice, and how further support is found — what is the Group’s responsibility and what is for others to do? To offer charities the right kind of signposting, and clarity of governance journey, as well as engage in effective advocacy and promotion, we may need to look to increase the resources available to us — or look to what others can create and distribute — if we are to deliver a step-change in adoption with the next phase of the Code’s evolution.
I am just at the start of my journey, but together with my colleagues on the Steering Group we are excited to work with you on what lies ahead.
