Charity Governance Advice
Charity Governance Advice
Strong governance underpins effective decision-making, regulatory compliance and the long-term success of a charity. For trustees, however, governance can sometimes feel like a balancing act. Increasing regulation, public scrutiny and the day-to-day demands of running a charity can make it difficult to know whether your arrangements are working as they should or what action needs to be taken when an issue arises.
At Ellis-Fermor & Negus, we provide practical governance advice to charities and trustees across England and Wales. We help trustees understand their responsibilities, make informed decisions and deal with governance issues in a way that is proportionate to the charity and its circumstances.
Our advice can cover a wide range of governance matters, from trustee roles and responsibilities and conflicts of interest to Board decision-making, governing documents, policies and procedures. We can also advise when a charity is facing a particular governance challenge or when trustees need an experienced legal perspective before making an important decision.
We understand that good governance is not about creating unnecessary bureaucracy. It is about putting sensible structures and processes in place that help trustees run the charity effectively, protect its interests and demonstrate that decisions are being made properly.
Whether you are establishing a new charity, reviewing existing arrangements or dealing with a specific governance concern, we can provide straightforward advice tailored to your organisation.
Our aim is simple: to give trustees the confidence to make good decisions, manage risk and govern their charity effectively, without adding unnecessary complexity to the way it operates.
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‘Ben provided me with excellent advice and dealt with my matter swiftly and efficiently.’
Ben Bourne
Director and Solicitor
Who Can Help?
Ben Bourne – Director and Solicitor
Ben Bourne is an experienced solicitor who advises many hundreds of charities on governance, compliance, and regulatory matters. He is a member of the Charity Law Association and has extensive experience supporting trustee boards through governance reviews, structural changes, and regulatory challenges.
Clients value Ben’s measured, approachable style and his ability to provide reassurance while addressing risk head-on.
Why choose Ellis-Fermor & Negus?
Experienced Charity Clerk support for trustees and Boards
Expertise across local, regional, and national charities
Clear, practical governance and compliance advice
Proportionate, cost-effective service models
A consistent, reliable point of contact
Reviews, what our clients are saying…
Charity Governance – Frequently Asked Questions
Charity governance is not static. As charities grow, change, or face new challenges, governance arrangements that once worked well can become unclear or outdated.
You may be:
- Unsure whether your current governance structure remains appropriate
- Concerned about trustee responsibilities or personal liability
- Managing organisational change, growth, or collaboration
- Seeking reassurance around decision-making and compliance
- Responding to funder, auditor, or Charity Commission expectations
If your governance arrangements feel uncertain, burdensome, or overly complex, we can help you review and strengthen them.
We provide clear, sensible governance advice tailored to the size, structure, and purpose of your charity. We advise both local community charities and larger regional or national organisations.
Our governance support regularly includes advice on:
- Trustee duties, responsibilities, and potential liabilities
- Incorporating charitable trusts and unincorporated associations to limit personal risk
- Good governance practice, policies, and decision-making frameworks
- Appointment, retirement, and removal of trustees
- Employing trustees and managing conflicts of interest
- Trustee-led and member-led structures – benefits and risks
- Joint working and collaboration between charities and voluntary organisations
- Charity mergers, restructures, and hive-offs
- Dissolution and orderly closure of charitable activities
Our advice is always focused on what works in practice, not just what looks good on paper.
Good governance is about clarity, accountability, and proportionate controls. We help charities by:
Reviewing Your Current Governance
Assessing governing documents, structures, and decision-making processes.
Identifying Risks and Gaps
Highlighting areas of potential trustee liability, regulatory risk, or operational inefficiency.
Recommending Practical Improvements
Providing proportionate solutions aligned with Charity Commission guidance and your charity’s reality.
Supporting Implementation
Helping trustees adopt new structures, policies, or procedures with confidence.
Effective governance supports:
- Regulatory compliance
- Confident, informed trustee decision-making
- Clear accountability and transparency
- Organisational resilience and sustainability
- Public, beneficiary, and funder trust
Poor governance, by contrast, can lead to:
- Charity Commission scrutiny
- Reputational damage
- Funding difficulties
- Operational disruption
- Unnecessary personal risk for trustees
Strong governance is a safeguard—not a burden.
Our recent work includes:
- Incorporating trusts and unincorporated charities into CIOs and charitable companies
- Drafting governance policies, including conflicts of interest, data protection, and financial controls
- Advising on trading subsidiaries and group structures
- Seeking Charity Commission consent to amend charitable objects
- Filing administrative and constitutional changes with the Charity Commission
This experience allows us to offer real-world, pragmatic advice rather than theoretical solutions.
Speak to Us About Charity Governance
If your charity or trustee board would benefit from clear, practical governance advice, we would be happy to help.
• Phone: 0115 922 1591
• Email: ben.bourne@ellis-fermor.co.uk