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Board basics

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

  • Governance

Sample documents and templates

These are some of the most important documents that an organisation needs if it wants to have a healthy, well-run trustee board. NCVO's governance experts have written or signposted to model versions of each one.

  • Governance

Annual report and accounts

Information on annual reports and accounts for charities, and sample documents.

Board meeting agenda

A template agenda for a board meeting.

Code of conduct

A sample code of conduct for trustees.

Declaration of interests

Sample declaration of interests form for trustees

Expenses claim form

Sample trustee expenses claim form

Organisational management calendar

A sample management calendar for users to adapt for their own organisations

Risk register

A template risk register is a framework for identifying, assessing and recording the risks that your organisation faces

Role descriptions for trustees

Sample role descriptions for a range of trustee roles

Time to flex: Embracing flexible working

  • Employing and managing staff
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion

The Road Ahead 2022

  • Coronavirus
  • Responding to crises
  • Government and politics

UK Civil Society Almanac 2021

  • Government and politics
  • Involving volunteers

Levelling up: The role of charities and volunteering

  • Government and politics
  • Involving volunteers

Charities Bill: Lords Second Reading

  • Government and politics

Where power lies: How lived experience is engaged in voluntary sector governance and decision-making

  • Equity, diversity and inclusion
  • Governance

Rebalancing the Relationship: Final report

  • Employing and managing staff
  • Collaboration

Rebalancing the relationship: emerging findings and draft recommendations

  • Employing and managing staff
  • Collaboration

The Road Ahead 2021

  • Funding and income
  • Coronavirus
  • Responding to crises

Time Well Spent: Diversity and volunteering

  • Equity, diversity and inclusion
  • Involving volunteers

Controls on human resource costs

Guidance for using NCVO's financial procedures manual templates - human resources

  • Governance

Controls on physical assets

Guidance for using NCVO's financial procedures manual templates - controls on physical assets

  • Governance

Templates

Downloadable financial procedures manual templates for charities and voluntary organisations.

Trustees' Week webinar series

New to trusteeship or looking to hone your skills? Sign in to access our Trustees' Week webinar series

What is volunteering?

Find out what volunteering is and how to get started

  • Involving volunteers

Why involve volunteers?

How volunteers can benefit your organisation and play an important role in your work

  • Involving volunteers

Writing a volunteering strategy

A volunteer strategy helps secure the support to help your volunteering do more

  • Involving volunteers

Equity, diversity and inclusion in volunteering

Understand how equity, diversity and inclusion affects volunteers and those they support

  • Involving volunteers

Writing volunteer role descriptions

How to write volunteer role descriptions that show your volunteers' roles and responsibilities

  • Involving volunteers

Paying volunteer expenses

It’s good practice to pay back volunteers for expenses they incur while volunteering

  • Involving volunteers

Managing people in the charity sector (2 days)

This course will equip managers in the voluntary sector with the skills and techniques they need to effectively manage paid members of staff

NCVO/Zurich Summit: Navigating risk and resilience in a divided society

Join sector leaders for an in‑person summit exploring how extremism, polarisation and social division are shaping charity risk and resilience. Hear emerging insights, take part in discussions, and contribute to NCVO’s upcoming Spring Briefing.

Better impact reporting (0.5 day)

This practical session will build your awareness of different types of reporting and support you to tell a compelling story through your reporting

Safeguarding essentials in charities (1 day)

All voluntary organisations have a duty to keep the people they work with safe from harm. This course introduces the basics of safeguarding within a charity context in England and highlights effective safeguarding practice.

Successful funding applications (0.5 day)

Learn practical tips to ensure you are successful in your funding bid applications.

Theory of change for strategic planning and evaluation (1 day)

Learn how to create your own theory of change and narrative. This course will challenge you to think critically about what you're doing and why.

Supporting good governance (4 x 0.5 days)

This course will help you implement structures and processes to support trustees, and ensure systems are aligned with your organisation’s purpose and objectives

Advanced data protection (2 x 0.5 days)

This advanced course is specifically for data protection leads or officers in charitable organisations.

Designated safeguarding leads in charities (1 day)

This one-day training course provides an overview of the roles and responsibilities of safeguarding leads in charities in England.

Safeguarding essentials for trustees (0.5 day)

This introductory course explains the key trustee responsibilities for safeguarding, following guidance from the Charity Commission.