2009 - make it a year of good governance

2008 saw some key developments in governance: in June the Code of Good Governance was launched by the Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie MLA, on behalf of the Developing Governance Group and in September the new Charities Act (NI) 2008 became legislation, not to mention the new provisions of the Companies Act.

These key developments have prompted many voluntary and community groups to see this as an opportune time to review and enhance their governance arrangements.

NICVA's Governance and Charity Advice Service has developed some practical workshops and seminars to help organisations improve and maintain good governance:

In February or May, you can register for our Managing and Assessing Risk training, which is an introduction to risk assessments and managing risk.

In April and October, NICVA's Members' Days will both be entitled "Governance in Practice" and will have a clear focus on the practical side of adhering to good governance for organisations.

In the Autumn, training will be delivered in conjunction with the Association of Charity Independent Examiners (ACIE) for those wishing to carry out Independent Examinations in line with the new provisions of the Charities Act.

Governance training is also available, on a consultancy basis, to committees in their own premises at a time convenient to them, the most popular session being the responsibilities of the board of a charitable company.

The Governance and Charity Advice Service has also been working in partnership with others to help improve governance on a regional basis:

• In March the Developing Governance Group will launch the redesigned diycommitteeguide. This online practical resource has been restructured to provide support for organisations working to implement the Code of Good Governance.
• In June, NICVA will co-host a conference "Charities Working Across Borders" with the Wheel from the South of Ireland, to examine the regulation, registration and reporting requirements for charities operating in the different jurisdictions of the UK and Ireland.

For more information, contact Denise McCann 9087 7777.