Heather O’Driscoll, Managing Director of North East based Accountants and Business Advisers, Waltons Clark Whitehill, is advising trustees of North East charities to remind themselves of their legal responsibilities, following questions raised in the wake of events at Kids Company and other charities.
Heather, who specialises in the charity sector, is encouraging trustees of charities to step back and review their governance, risk and financial systems to ensure they are meeting their legal responsibilities.
Waltons Clark Whitehill is distributing a free guide for trustees produced by Crowe Clark Whitehill, a fellow member of HCWA. “Five Insights for Trustees from 2015”, draws on examples from Kids Company and other cases. It covers such areas as the trustees’ relationships with the Chief Executive, the role of the chair, risk management and financial controls, and how long trustees’ tenures should be.
Heather O’Driscoll said “In the wake of events at Kids Company and other charities, our clients have expressed an interest in knowing that they are doing the right thing. The guide can help to point them in the right direction.
“Charities add hundreds of millions of pounds to the North East’s economy each year, and among them are some of our most respected institutions, which makes their proper governance and ongoing success a major concern.”
Five Insights for Trustees from 2015 can be downloaded by visiting bit.do/wcw-trustees.