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Tools and guidance

Tools and good-practice guidance to help you review, run and improve your board, compiled by NCVO's governance experts

  • Governance

Charity governance code

This guide explores how to implement a good appraisal process that supports and motivates your CEO to do even better.

Charity governance code guide for micro charities

A guide to applying the principles of the Charity Governance Code, specially adapted for the smallest organisations.

Governance wheel

The governance wheel is a simple tool that helps boards of voluntary organisations quickly get a sense of how well they’re functioning and fulfilling their roles.

Strategic planning

Information and tools on strategic planning.

Trustee recruitment pack for small organisations

Six steps to follow when recruiting trustees and nine editable documents to aid your recruitment

Trustee skills audit

A skills audit is a useful way of identifying what trustees bring, and the gaps in skills and knowledge on your board. It can be useful when you’re looking to recruit new trustees.

Individual trustee self reflection

Self reflection is an important part of your professional development and will help you to do your role effectively.

Individual trustee performance reviews

Guidance on conducting individual trustee performance reviews

  • Governance

Financial procedures manual

Templates and guidance for creating a financial procedures manual that will provide a framework for managing your organisation's finances.

  • Governance

BAME network reflections on our equity, diversity and inclusion work

  • Inside NCVO
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion

Changing our culture at NCVO

NCVO's chief executive Sarah Vibert reflects on the outcomes of independent investigations into complaints submitted to NCVO's board of trustees

  • Inside NCVO
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion

NCVO's equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) work over the last year

NCVO's chief executive Sarah Vibert shares learnings from our EDI report and sets out the actions we're taking to create an inclusive culture that allows everyone to thrive at work

  • Equity, diversity and inclusion
  • Inside NCVO

Equity, diversity and inclusion at NCVO: What we need to do next

Karl Wilding, chief executive at NCVO, reflects on his own personal learning journey on equity diversity and inclusion (EDI), as well as how NCVO is taking the first steps towards being a more inclusive organisation

  • Equity, diversity and inclusion
  • Inside NCVO

NCVO further strengthens board with two new trustees

NCVO has recruited two charity leaders to its board of trustees, further strengthening and diversifying the skills and experiences of its governing body

  • Inside NCVO

Hardwiring equity, diversity and inclusion into our governance at NCVO

Interim chair of trustees, Anne Heal, reflects on NCVO’s work on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI)

  • Inside NCVO
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion

Equity, diversity and inclusion: Our journey so far – part 1

NCVO's equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) working group reflect on the current state of the voluntary sector

  • Inside NCVO
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion

Equity, diversity and inclusion: Our journey so far – part 2

NCVO’s EDI working group share an update on the steps we're taking to improve our organisational culture

  • Inside NCVO
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion

Why apprenticeships are important for the voluntary sector

To mark National Apprenticeship Week 2023, Noama Chaudhry shares insights from her apprenticeship at NCVO and offers advice for the wider sector

  • Inside NCVO
  • Employing and managing staff

Some staff reflections on our equity, diversity and inclusion journey so far

  • Inside NCVO
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion

Redundancy

A sample redundancy policy, designed for small charities and voluntary organisations

Retirement

A sample retirement policy, designed for small charities and voluntary organisations

Shared parental leave

A sample shared parental leave policy, designed for small charities and voluntary organisations

Sickness absence

A guide to help you develop a sickness absence policy and procedure for your organisation

Stress

A sample stress policy, designed for small charities and voluntary organisations

Whistleblowing

A sample whistleblowing policy and procedure, designed for small charities and voluntary organisations

Carer's leave

Recruiting and inducting staff

Guidance on the steps you should take when recruiting and inducting paid members of staff

  • Employing and managing staff

Designing the role

Guidance on designing a new role within your organisation

  • Employing and managing staff

Advertising the role

Guidance to help you decide how and where to advertise a role

  • Employing and managing staff

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

Recruiting volunteers (0.5 day)

This course will develop your skills and help you use a marketing approach to recruit volunteers

Advanced project management (1 day)

Are you confident in your general project management skills but looking to strengthen your expertise? This course moves beyond the basics of project management to better understand techniques, activities and principles within a charity context.

Leading change and transformation (2 days)

This practical two-day course for aspiring and existing charity leaders will teach you how to adapt to an ever-changing environment. Learn how to successfully deliver meaningful change to improve your team or organisation

Advanced data protection (2 x 0.5 days)

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

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

Good practice in volunteer management (1 day)

This course provides an introduction to the key principles of good volunteer management and how to apply them in your organisation

Governance Forum

Our Governance Forum is a space for charity governance professionals and those who support good governance to come together, learn and network

Boost your personal influence and impact (0.5 day)

Learn practical tools and techniques to increase your capability, confidence and impact when seeking to influence others – both within and outside your organisation

Charity finance strategy (1 day)

This course will give you an overview of how to build a simple finance strategy. We’ll introduce tools to help you build the financial resilience of your charity