“It’s Christmas time, there’s no need to be afraid …” The re-release of Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas? 40 years on has provoked mixed feelings in the charity sector and media. Firstly, there’s disquiet about whether its messaging is still appropriate. Secondly, many across the sector disagree with the line about there being no need to be afraid.
These are hard times for charities of all sizes, as they contemplate spiralling financial pressures, ever-evolving regulatory requirements and escalating calls for their support. Against this backdrop, it’s easy to understand why many trustees and staff are not feeling much festive joy. Nor is it hard to imagine that their Christmas lists may largely consist of ‘More funding, please’.
Sadly, most charities are unlikely to find that this year’s Christmas tree is, in fact, a magic money tree, so what other gifts might bring glad timings for Scotland’s charity trustees and the causes they support?
The short and easy answer is the tools to perform their role and help their chosen charity to thrive. With an external context that’s so challenging, it’s more desirable than ever for charities’ internal processes and culture to run like clockwork. In practice, this means the following:
- Comfort and joy: High on the list for most trustees is a sound, clear legal underpinning for their charity and their own role, giving them confidence that they are complying with their legal duties and responsibilities. This will include an up-to-date constitution and other governance documents that reflect how they operate; workable policies on anything from whistleblowing to data protection; robust financial controls; and employment contracts that comply with current and forthcoming legislation.
A governance health check can provide advice and confidence on all these aspects, helping trustees sleep in heavenly peace – or at least soundly in their beds. - A guiding star: In the absence of a star in the East showing them how to perform their duties and responsibilities, all trustees need training and support, whether they’ve been with a charity 5 minutes or 5 years. New trustees need high-quality induction materials and processes to equip them rapidly to perform their role; and trustees of longer standing should be kept updated not just on changes to charity law and regulation, but on emerging issues such as data protection, cybersecurity or safeguarding that could impact the charity’s sustainability.
Trustee training can be tailored to the needs of each charity, covering not just these legal and sustainability issues, but also best practice on governance processes such as collective decision-making and handling conflicts of interest. - All the trimmings: However well qualified your trustees, they are only as effective as the information they are provided with – right down to the detail of well drafted board packs. In a tough climate where strong oversight and difficult decisions are required, it’s essential to equip them with high-quality, easily-digested financial reports, executive summaries for longer technical reports, risk registers and impact assessments. Good minute-taking is also important, in case board discussions and decisions later need to be explained or justified.
- Santa’s not-so-little helpers: Another welcome gift may be additional trustees to share the load and offer new perspectives or ideas. A skills audit can gauge where additional expertise or experience is needed, and it’s also useful to consider the reverse proposition of whether too much is being asked of the chair or another key trustee. A co-chair could well be the perfect gift for the person who has (to do) everything!
When it comes to helping trustees to feel supported and appreciated, board behaviours are also worth considering. For example, are there individuals whose approach to meetings or colleagues is undermining collective harmony? Or is one individual too dominant in decision-making processes? Governance health checks and trustee training can help to address this, bringing peace on the board as well as on earth. - All I want for Christmas is you - or rather, a corporate partner: The benefits of partnering with businesses or other organisations can go far beyond financial support; for example, they can help to raise awareness of your organisation and its purpose; provide access to community spaces (as ScotRail is doing for SCVO members); encourage their staff to volunteer (including as trustees to boost board skills): or offer services or equipment.
In October 2024, Lindsays partnered with the mental health charity SAMH for “Make a Will Month”, offering individuals the chance to create or update their Will with us in exchange for a donation to SAMH. We were pleased they asked us to partner with them on this project, which was a first for them and a first for us too!
It may be too late to deck your own trustees’ halls with a new corporate partnership this Christmas, but with 2025 just around the corner, it’s certainly a good contender for a New Year’s resolution.
Published 16 December 2024
