Sent: 07 July 2006 11:21
To: Smith Roy
Subject: Governance Hub
268076 METROPOLITAN SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED
For any charity today, creating an effective board or management committee is a crucial priority. It may also be a significant challenge. Trustees and management committee members play a vital role in safeguarding and supporting the organisations they govern, and have the opportunity to ensure that charities are effective, maximising their impact. It is a role that needs and deserves much support. The Charity Commission has a long history of supporting trustees, and is very pleased to have the opportunity to work in partnership with the Governance Hub, a national partnership of voluntary sector organisations set up to champion good governance, by introducing you to information about the services, resources and support for trustees and boards being developed by the Hub. We hope these services will benefit charities of every size and in every area of activity. The Charity Commission has also endorsed two of the central tools the Hub is using; the Code of Governance for the Voluntary and Community Sector, and the National Occupational Standards for Trustees and Management Committee Members. These significant standard setting documents are not regulatory requirements, but we hope that all trustees will become aware of them and make appropriate use of them. The Hub is now launching its Make Every Move Count campaign to raise awareness of the support it is offering. It is also encouraging voluntary and community organisations to register trustee vacancies on www.do-it.org.uk in time for a larger public trustee recruitment campaign to be run in conjunction with the Charity Commission, beginning in October 2006. Registration is free, and we hope the campaign will result in the recruitment of many new trustees. The campaign will be promoted via national, regional and local advertising and events. For more information on the Make Every Move Count campaign, the Code of Governance and the Trustee Standards, and to register with the Hub for regular updates, please go to www.governancehub.org.uk, email governance.hub@ncvo-vol.org.uk or telephone the helpdesk 0800 652 4886. Gill Edeleman
Chair of the Governance Hub
Geraldine Peacock
Chairman of the Charity Commission