Getting on Board: Trustees Training Programme

(With Ann Young, Lead HR Consultant at Roots HR CIC.)

The right mix of skills and experience on the team will boost your group or organisation’s ability to meet its aims – this is especially true regarding senior roles within the organisation and the board, who make decisions on the organisation’s behalf. Having the right people in place will ensure your organisation is as strong as it can possibly be.

By the end of the session, attendees should have a better understanding of:

• the current recruitment climate
• how to avoid making the wrong decision when recruiting for a senior role
• the practical framework for recruiting a senior role with a focus on inclusive recruitment
• the role of the Trustee in the recruitment process for a senior role

Ann is an accomplished and fully qualified senior HR professional, experienced at operating in the not for profit sector where the business is driven by its social purpose. A strong HR generalist (with a solid reputation for adding value and delivering a high quality HR service with integrity and professionalism), Ann has a proactive approach, drive and energy with strong organisation and planning skills. She is experienced at building strong stakeholder relationships across all levels. 

(With Philippa Bonella, an independent consultant with Consultants for Good CIC.)

Having a plan, and knowing where your group or organisation is going, is key to its success – and often a requirement of funding opportunities!

This session will cover:

• what is a strategic plan is for 
• trustees’ role in strategic planning 
• an example strategic planning process  
• strategic questions for trustees to ask  
• planning in uncertain times 

Philippa works independently with third sector organisations at Scottish, UK and international levels, supporting them in strategic planning and improving their impact. She has 6 years’ experience as an independent charity consultant, building on 20 years within senior strategy, policy and communications roles in the voluntary and public sectors. She is a member of the Consultants for Good consultancy network. 

(With Emma Moody, Head of Charities at Womble Bond Dickinson.)

“Conflicts of interest are any situation in which a trustee’s personal interests or loyalties could, or could be seen to, prevent the trustee from making a decision only in the best interests of the charity.”

Conflicts of interest can damage a group or organisation’s reputation, and can even become a legal matter, resulting in fines. Groups (and their board members) have a duty to ensure these conflicts of interest are managed properly and transparently, resulting in fair and balanced decisions which are not influenced by private interests. OSCR recommends groups and organisations have an agreed conflict of interest policy setting out what to do, and what happens if a trustee does something wrong.

This session will look at how charities can ensure they are prudently managing conflicts of interest and loyalty, protecting the integrity of their decision making in the process. This is an area of increasing regulatory focus.

Emma will also spend some time talking about when conflicts can arise at a more human level, whether that be between board members, within the membership, or with other stakeholder groups. The session will look at how these often difficult situations can be navigated with sensitivity in order to seek resolution, such that the charity can then properly focus on delivering its mission to beneficiaries.

At Womble Bond Dickinson, Emma specialises in governance and constitutional issues for charities, and advises trustees and directors on their legal duties and responsibilities, ensuring compliance with the law and regulation. Her main areas of work include the establishment of new charities, incorporations and governance reviews, restructuring, mergers, collaborations and partnerships, trading, fundraising and tax.