Governance
Alison Randle • 16 May 2020
An organisation’s governing document is the instruction manual, and the scaffolding within which the organisation operates, together with its committees, working groups policy documents, procedures and the unwritten rules that govern the behavioural norms of members. Combine these with the individual vision and imaginization that each member has for the organisation and even a small organisation is complex cultural entity requiring careful navigation. Understanding the organisation’s governance and operating in a transparent manner is critically important for legal compliance and to ensure member engagement. Simplicity is key. I have extensive governance experience, both technically at organisation administration level and dynamically in terms of engaging and communicating with people.
Organisations benefit from the wealth of experience that their Officers (Directors/Trustees/committee members) bring, often from other sectors. With time limited posts, there is usually a fresh influx of people each year. However, the culture for a voluntary organisation is very different to that of organisations in the private or public sectors, especially in relation to attitudes to risk and funding for survival. There is often a significant lag phase whilst Officers navigate the organisation’s culture and find their feet and their voice in meetings and if there are operational staff, there is a balance to be struck. Work with voluntary organisations often involves training for Officers to swiftly build their understanding and confidence to get them actively participating at an early stage. I offer training sessions and courses on all aspects of managing voluntary, community and charitable organisations.
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