Governance

We can help support your group to develop or strengthen your governance. We recognise that many local environmental and friends groups, are loosely organised and aren't keen on bureaucratic arrangements.  Our level of support can be varied upon your groups specific needs. Our experience, and academic research has shown, that poor constitutions are a root cause of many governance problems (Kumar and Nunan 2002). We have a variety of template constitutions that we can provide, and/or, tailor in partnership with you, to suit your group. Constitutions needn't be complicated and painful to develop, but they do ensure your group is protected, as well as the committee, and the group's members/beneficiaries.  We can help you in whatever situation and we suggest contacting us for a discussion in the first instance.

Good practice

There are many useful guides on the internet, e.g. :

• Good Governance: A Code for the Voluntary and Community Sector : Charities Commission governance
• Governance and Leadership including the book the Good Trustee Guide : NCVO governance
• Governance section of VolResource's website : VolResource governance
• An excellent if old report - A Lighter Touch - from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation : JRF governance
• See also SWLEN's Google bookshelf : SWLEN Google bookshelf

Quality marks

The Green Pennant Award is a national award that recognises high-quality green spaces in England and Wales that are managed by voluntary and community groups. The Award has an impressive and established background – it is part of the Green Flag Award scheme, the national quality standard for parks and green spaces. The Green Pennant Award is run by the Civic Trust, with CABE Space (a division of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) being the main funding partner.