Developing Governance Group

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

The Developing Governance Group (DGG) has produced the Code of Good Governance for Northern Ireland, the Governance Health Check and redeveloped the diycommitteeguide website with resources mapped to the Code. 

Current members of the Developing Governance Group

NICVA, Volunteer Now, Arts & Business NI, Rural Community Network, Early Years, Supporting Communities NI, NI Sports Forum, Sport NI, Age NI, Community Arts Partnership and Youth Work Alliance.  

NICVA’s governance and charity advice manager provides secretariat to the group jointly with Volunteer Now. As part of our secretariat role, we organise meetings, take minutes, organise seminars and promote the Code and its accompanying resources.

What is the 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.  It was first launched in 2008 by the Developing Governance Group (DGG), following consultation with the voluntary and community sector, and has been widely accepted as the set of standards for governance in the sector.  A revised edition was launched in January 2016 and the third edition and current edition was launched in November 2021.  

The Developing Governance Group also devised the governance health check and remapped the practical resources on the diycommitteeguide website in line with the principles of the Code.   Both resources have been devised to provide practical information and a self-assessment framework for voluntary boards to assess their own governance practices.

Updates

DIY committee guide, revamped and launched

The revamped DIY committee guide website was launched at a special seminar on 20 September by the Developing Governance Group.

Trustees Week 2022

Trustees' Week takes place in the second week of November this year.  It is a time to recognise and value the work that thousands of trustees contribute to charities large and small. 

Good governance and charity regulation update seminars

The Developing Governance Group in association with the Charity Commission would like to invite you to free seminars focusing on governance and an update on charity regulation. 

DIY committee guide, revamped and launched

The revamped DIY committee guide website was launched at a special seminar on 20 September by the Developing Governance Group.

Governance Health Check launched

The revised Governance Health Check has been launched by the Developing Governance Group at a special online seminar.  If you missed the seminar on 9 June, you can watch the recording below and download the Health Check attached. 

Code of Good Governance launched in Trustees' Week

The revised Code of Good Governance for the voluntary and community sector in NI was officially launched at a special seminar as part of Trustees’ Week.  If you missed this event, you can watch it now at the link below.

The Code of Good Governance in a virtual world webinar recording

If you missed the Developing Governance Group's webinar for Trustees' Week on the Code of Good Governance in a virtual world, you can watch it now below.  

Code of good governance consultation

The Code of Good Governance is a voluntary set of standards on good governance practice for the boards of voluntary and community organisations.

Good Governance and Charity reporting

Almost 6,000 charities are now registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland and as such, must adhere to the reporting requirements for all registered charities. 

Good Governance and Charity reporting seminars

The Developing Governance Group in association with the Charity Commission and local support networks are hosting a roadshow of seminars focusing on the new accounting and reporting regulations and the revised code of good governance. 

DIY Committee Guide rebooted

The revised Code of Good Governance was launched earlier this year by the Developing Governance Group and as promised, the DIY committee guide website has now been launched after a complete revamp.

denise.copeland@nicva.org's picture

Denise Copeland

Governance and Charity Advice Manager

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