On 7th November, the Charities Regulator launched their governance code for charities in Ireland.

At the launch, acting Head of Regulation Tom Malone was very clear that any organisation that is already complaint with, or on the journey towards, the existing Governance Code for Community, Voluntary and Charitable Organisations should be well able to make the transition to the new code easily. He positioned the existing code as an aspirational best practice standard and the regulator’s code as a minimum standard. The Charities Regulator will provide training and support for charities in 2019, regarding the Regulator’s code.  Charities will be expected to comply with the Charities Governance Code from 2020.
 
The working group of infrastructure organisations that has developed and supports the existing governance code has been awaiting the launch of the new code. Many of our members have been working closely with the Charity Regulator in its development. We will be meeting over the coming weeks to determine where the existing code should sit in light of the Charity Regulator’s launch of their code. We will communicate our thinking to all stakeholders in the next month or so. 

How to Use the Code

Below is a step-by-step description of the journey you must take in order to achieve full compliance with the Governance Code.

Please click on the headings below to learn more...
Step 1 - read the code
Read the Code here to satisfy yourself that it will help lead your organisation on a journey to successful compliance.

The Code is in three main parts:
  1. The five principles underpinning the standard and their sub-principles.
  2. The definitions of the different organisational types (see step 2 below).
  3. The list of recommended practices for each of the principles and sub-principles for a particular organisational type).​
step 2 - identify your organisation type
​​Identify your Organisational Type from the three categories outlined further down this page and assess what parts of the Code are applicable to your particular organisation.
step 3 - inform us of your journey
Please download Form 1 here and complete / return it in order to let us know that you are now embarking ‘on the journey’ towards adoption of, and compliance with, the Code. 

We will then add this information to the publicly available list of “On the Journey” organisations on this website - view the current list here.

Being ‘On the Journey’ means that your organisation has made a formal commitment to undertake a process to comply with the Code. It does not mean that it has complied with the Code..
step 4 - fill in the appropriate checklist

​Fill in the appropriate checklist for your Organisational Type by:

  1. Identifying the recommended practices you think you need to introduce to comply with each principle (you can do this on the Organisations Type page, once you are done reading these Getting Started steps).

  2. Ranking the recommended practices and introduce them in a time-frame that is reasonable for your organisation. (We are aware that introduction of the identified practices and thus, compliance with the Code may take several months or sometimes even longer, depending on the level of change required in the organisation.), and

  3. Work to achieve these practices. (We know that introducing the identified practices and achieving compliance with the Code may take several months or perhaps longer. This will depend on the level of change required in your organisation.)

If your board believes that the organisation complies with the Governance Code, and has made a decision about this that is minuted at a board meeting, then go to Step 5. 
Step 5 - Complete the forms
Complete Form 2 (Public Statement of Compliance) in Appendix 1 of the Governance Code composite document. If relevant, please also complete Form 3 (Explanations Form) in Appendix 1.

Email Form 2 (and Form 3 if relevant), to the Governance Code on info@governancecode.ie.

When the Code Working Group tells that your organisation has been entered on our website’s ‘Compliance List’, move to Step 6.

​At this point, your organisation is considered compliant for three years from the date of the board meeting at which you declared yourself compliant. This is the date that you put on your ‘Public Statement of Compliance.’ 
STEP 6 - public statement of compliance
When your organisation’s details have been included on the Code’s ‘Compliance List’, display the Public Statement of Compliance (together with the Explanations Form, if relevant) publicly, for example on your office wall, in your newsletter or annual report, and/or on your website.

State in your public materials:
“We confirm that our organisation complies with The Governance Code for the Community, Voluntary and Charitable Sector in Ireland”.

You may now use the Governance Code logo, which you can request from the Governance Code at info@governancecode.ie.
Step 7 - ongoing self assessment
Each year you should self-assess your practices against those recommended in this Code, to ensure that you are still compliant.  This review should be done by, or approved by, the Board.
 
Every third year, you need to let us know that your Board has reviewed your practices and still considers that your organisation is compliant with the Code. You do this by completing Form 2 (Public Statement of Compliance), and, if relevant, Form 3 (Explanations) in Appendix 1, and emailing it to the Governance Code on info@governancecode.ie.
 
The new date to which you are now considered compliant, will be uploaded to the ‘Compliance List’ on this website..