Skip to main content
  • Search
  • About
  • The Code
  • Downloads
  • Resources
  • Articles
  • Training

Developing Governance Group (DGG)

The Developing Governance Group is a collaborative partnership in Northern Ireland of infrastructure support organisations which have a keen interest in working to improve governance practice in the voluntary and community sector.

Current Members of the DGG are Volunteer Now, NICVA, Youthnet, Arts & Business NI, Rural Community Network, Early Years, Supporting Communities NI, NI Sports Forum, Sport NI, Age NI.

Read more
DGG Members
Age NI logo
Age NI
ageuk.org.uk/
northern-ireland
Arts & Business NI logo
Arts & Business NI
artsandbusinessni.org.uk
Early Years logo
Early Years
early-years.org
NICVA logo
NICVA
nicva.org
NI Sports Forum logo
NI Sports Forum
nisf.net
Rural Community Network logo
Rural Community Network
ruralcommunitynetwork.org
Sport NI logo
Sport NI
sportni.net
Supporting Communities NI logo
Supporting Communities NI
supportingcommunitiesni.org
Volunteer Now logo
Volunteer Now
volunteernow.co.uk
Youth Net NI logo
Youth Net NI
youthnetni.org.uk
The Code of Good Governance
home

Search form

Main navigation

  • About
    • Developing Governance Group
  • The Code
    • Introducing the code
    • Principle 1 - Role and Responsibilities
    • Principle 2 – Working Together
    • Principle 3 – Delivery of Organisational Purpose
    • Principle 4 - Exercising Control
    • Principle 5 - Being Open and Accountable
  • Downloads
  • Resources
  • Articles
  • Training

The Revised Code of Good Governance

The Revised Code of Good Governance

The Code of Good Governance sets out the principles and key elements of good governance for the boards of voluntary and community organisations.

  • Principle 1 - Roles and responsibilities
  • Principle 2 - Working Together
  • Principle 3 - Delivery of Organisational Purpose
  • Principle 4 - Exercising Control
  • Principle 5 - Being Open and Accountable
Download More info

Free

Download as a
PDF (342KB)

Roles and Responsibilities

Roles and Responsibilities

The members of the board are equally responsible in law for board actions and decisions. They are collectively responsible and accountable for ensuring that the organisation is performing well, is solvent and complies with all its obligations in terms of:

  • Vision, values and reputation of the organisation
  • Governing Documents
  • Legal Duties
  • Stewardship of Assets
  • Operating Environment
  • Structure of the Organisation
  • Overseeing the work of the organisation
Download More info
Roles and Responsibilities DIY cover

Working Together

Working Together

The board will have a range of appropriate policies and procedures, knowledge, attitudes and behaviours to enable both individuals and the board to work effectively. The board will plan for its own development and renewal by:

  • Finding and recruiting new board members
  • Induction for new board members
  • Training and development for the board
  • Reviewing the performance of the board
Download More info
Working Together DIY cover

Delivery of Organisational Purpose

Delivery of Organisational Purpose

The board has ultimate responsibility for directing the activity of the organisation and delivering its stated purposes. It will do this by:

  • Organisational Purposes
  • Public Benefit
  • Strategy
  • Operational plans and budgets
  • Monitoring progress
  • Financial management
  • Evaluating results
  • Positive working relationships
Download More info
Delivery of Organisational Purpose DIY cover

Exercising Control

Exercising Control

As the accountable body, the board will maintain and regularly review the organisation’s system of internal controls, performance, and policies and procedures, to ensure that:

  • Legal and regulatory requirements
  • Financial and management controls
  • Risk Management
  • Delegation
  • Staff Management
  • Volunteer Management
Download More info
Exercising Control DIY cover

Being Open and Accountable

Being Open and Accountable

The board will be open, responsive and accountable, acting at all times with integrity, in the interest of the organisation and its beneficiaries. The board will:

  • Ethical standards
  • Conflicts of interest
  • Independence
  • Communication
  • Complaints
  • Accountability
  • Equality and good relations
Download More info
Being Open and Accountable DIY cover
Articles

Developing Governance Group Articles

To date, the Developing Governance Group (DGG) has produced the Code of Good Governance, governance health check and redeveloped the diycommitteeguide website with resources mapped to the Code.

Letter from Northern Ireland's Chief Charity Commissioner

In response to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis the Chief Commissioner of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, Nicole Lappin, has written a letter to all charity trustees. The letter outlines the Commission’s gratitude to the sector, especially those that are ensuring charity assets are looked after and adapting their services in the current crisis. The letter also highlights the Commission’s COVID-19 guidance that has been produced to help charities during this period.

Charity Commission Issues Updated COVID-19 Guidance

The Charity Commission's guidance now includes important advice on charity finance, safeguarding, charitable purposes, fundraising, data protection, annual reporting, charity meetings and charity registration.

Fundraising Regulator and Information Commissioner's Officer Release Covid-19 Guidance

The Fundraising Regulator (FR) and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) have both released COVID-19 guidance for charities.

Resources

The Code of Good Governance

  • The Code of GovernancePopular resources
  • Roles and ResponsibilitiesPrinciple 1
  • Working TogetherPrinciple 2
  • Delivery of Organisational PurposePrinciple 3
  • Exercising ControlPrinciple 4
  • Being Open and accountablePrinciple 5

Roles and Responsibilities

The members of the board are equally responsible in law for board actions and decisions. They are collectively responsible and accountable for ensuring that the organisation is performing well, is solvent and complies with all its obligations.

Main Code of Governance pages
  • Vision, Values and Reputation of the Organisation
  • Governing Documents
  • Legal Duties
  • Stewardship of Assets
  • Operating Environment
  • Structure of the Organisation
  • Overseeing the Work of the Organisation
  • Governance Health Check

Working Together

The board will have a range of appropriate policies and procedures, knowledge, attitudes and behaviours to enable both individuals and the board to work effectively.

Main Code of Governance pages
  • Finding and recruiting new board members
  • Induction for new board members
  • Training and development for the board
  • Reviewing the performance of the board

Delivery of Organisational Purpose

The board has ultimate responsibility for directing the activity of the organisation and delivering its stated purposes.

Main Code of Governance pages
  • Organisational Purposes
  • Public Benefit
  • Strategy
  • Operational plans and budgets
  • Monitoring progress
  • Positive working relationships

Exercising Control

As the accountable body, the board will maintain and regularly review the organisation’s system of internal controls, performance, and policies and procedures.

Main Code of Governance pages
  • Legal and regulatory requirements
  • Financial and management controls
  • Risk Management
  • Delegation
  • Staff Management
  • Volunteer Management

Being Open and Accountable

The board will be open, responsive and accountable, acting at all times with integrity, in the interest of the organisation and its beneficiaries.

Main Code of Governance pages
  • Ethical standards
  • Conflicts of interest
  • Communication
  • Complaints
  • Independence
  • Stakeholder Involvement
  • Accountability
  • Equality and good relations
Downloads

Promoted Downloads

New Code of Governance
In January 2016 a revised Code was launched as well as an up-to-date accessible online resource.
Governance Health Check
Devised by the DGG as a practical resource to work towards adhering to Good Governance.
Example Risk Management Templates
These templates can be downloaded and adapted for use within your own organisation.
Example committee member role descriptions
Use these exercises to help you to review or define your organisation's mission statement.
Example Strategic Plans
Every organisation develops its own way of documenting their strategic plan.
Chairperson Role Description
An example of what you may wish to include in your description of the role and responsibilities of your chairperson.
SWOT Analysis Questionnaire
Example SWOT Analysis Questionnaire.
Worksheet Developing Organisational Values
 

Feedback

We would be delighted to receive your feedback on this website, if you can't find what you need or you feel that there is a resource we have not included please do not hesitate to contact us.

Feedback Form

In Partnership

Halifax Foundation NI
About

Produced by Volunteer Now

In partnership with the Developing Governance Group.

Kindly supported by the Halifax Foundation NI for Northern Ireland and Big Lottery.

Developed by NICVA.

Contact
  • Email
    [email protected]
  • Web
    www.volunteernow.co.uk
  • Address
    The Skainos Centre, 239 Newtownards Road, Belfast, Co. Antrim BT4 1AF

Contact Form

Popular Topics
Chairperson Secretary Meetings Minutes Chairing Risk Management Role Description Accountability View All

Creative Commons LicenseDIY Committee Guide by Volunteer Now is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike 2.0.