Good Governance Masterclass Series: FULL programme

Good Governance Masterclass Series 2016

Led by Kris Von Wald and Shirley Otto

FULL programme: discount if you book for all 4 events – Members £190, Non Members £215 (Cost per single workshop: £60 ACOSVO Member, £70 Non-Member)

The past decade of ups and downs in the economy, changes in political landscape and the waxing and waning of Government priorities have highlighted the important role of the third sector in local communities across Scotland. The importance of good governance for third sector organisations to successfully fulfil that role cannot be underestimated. Board members who are new to the role and those who are seasoned continue to express their desire for on-going support to understand and carry out their governance responsibilities and to develop their capacity to make decisions and provide leadership in challenging times.

The outputs and benefits of the seminars will be:

• Identification of available resources and good practice guides with discussion about how they apply in various Trustee roles
• Discussion stimulated by participant experience in light of recent research
• Encouraging greater awareness and debate about governance and its significance for the voluntary and community sectors in Scotland

Although the seminars are on a complementary theme, they can be taken as stand-alone events.

To book these masterclasses separately, please click on the title links below.

To book for the full series and receive a discount, book on this page.

Masterclasses:

Governance 1: Governance as Leadership: Framing the Work of the Board

8th March 16.00 - 20.00, Edinburgh

Effective leadership is a function of the people, the structures, and the culture of the organisation. Trustees play an important role in organisations as they fulfil their governance responsibilities, and it is useful to explore and understand the individual role of Trustees AND the collective role of the Board as leaders.

This workshop will help you understand how to think about different modes of Board work as essential leadership competencies. You will be introduced to the theory underneath the practice and be given practical activities and suggestions to employ in your role and with your Board. You will be provided a guide for developing a leadership culture within your governance structures for more effective performance.

Governance 2: Governance Roles and Relationships: Expectations and Practice

12th April 16.00 - 20.00, Edinburgh

This workshop will explore historic and current ideas about the authority and functions of charity Trustees and Board members and how these fit with the expectations of senior and frontline staff and volunteers. The session will explore in some detail both roles (e.g. of Honorary Officers and the Company Secretary) and key relationships such as that of the Chair with the Board, Chair and Chief Officer and the Board with senior managers. There is to be a mix of exploring assumptions about roles and good governance ‘tools’ and practical approaches.

Governance 3: Trustee and Board Development: Recruitment, Selection, Induction and Training

13th September 16:00 - 20:00, Edinburgh

Finding people who are interested, available and able to serve in a governance function is not always straightforward. Many organisations will find Board development is at the bottom of the ‘to do’ list as front line work, strategic decisions and fundraising take priority at the top. Some organisations have people lining up to be involved while others struggle to fill vacancies. Organisations may benefit from outside the sector involvement but do not have the capacity to recruit or support people from outside their stakeholder group. How do organisations support effective Trustee contribution? How do governing bodies ensure their own development and effective performance – and, importantly, whose responsibility is Board development?

This workshop will help you understand what contributes to Board development and how to include it in an ongoing work plan. You will be introduced to ideas about Board development and be given practical activities and suggestions to employ with your Board. You will be encouraged and supported to implement governance development for your organisation.

Governance 4: Virtuous vs Vicious Dynamics: Exploring what Helps and What Hinders Good Governance

8th November 16:00 - 20:00, Edinburgh

Boards of trustees, as with any group in an organisation, are open to the influence of personalities, peer group pressure and are shaped by the context in which they operate. Relations between a Board of part time volunteers and their staff, possibly full time professionals in management and /or in the service provision or policy and campaign, has been described by social researchers as fraught with paradox and dilemmas. To what extent should, or can, a Board control what is done in the organisation? How much is trust the best policy given Boards are so dependent on their staff for information and advice? These and other features of board life will be explored including the research into organisational failure and turnaround. There will be time as well to look at good and best practice approaches to getting and keeping governance robust.

These workshops are aimed at third sector Chief Officers, Chairs and Trustees. Please invite your organisation’s Trustees.

To book these masterclasses separately, please click on the title links above.

To book for the full series and receive a discount, book on this page.