Being a member of the World Board is a voluntary role, undertaken because you are committed to furthering the purposes of WAGGGS and have the skills, experience and personal qualities needed for the strategic management of this complex, global organisation.
WAGGGS is a registered charity and is regulated by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. The Charity Commission provides guidance on the legal duties and responsibilities of charity trustees, summarising these into six main areas:
Ensure your charity is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit
It’s about knowing:
- what your charity can and can’t do within its purposes
- how your charity is fulfilling its purposes and benefiting the public
- what difference your charity is really making
Comply with your charity’s governing document and the law
It’s about being:
- familiar with your governing document
- up to date with filing accounts, returns and any changes to your charity’s registration details
- aware of other laws that apply to your charity
It’s not about being:
- an expert - but you do need to take reasonable steps to find out
Act in your charity’s best interests
It’s about:
- making balanced, informed decisions
- recognising & dealing with conflicts of interest
- being prepared to question and challenge
- accepting majority decisions
It’s not about:
- preserving the charity for its own sake
- serving personal interests
Ensure your charity is accountable
It’s about:
- meeting legal accounting and reporting requirements being able to show that your charity complies with the law and is effective
- being accountable to members and others with an interest in the charity
- ensuring that staff and volunteers are accountable to the board
- welcoming accountability as an opportunity not a burden
Manage your charity’s resources responsibly
It’s about:
- managing risks, protecting assets (reputation) and people
- getting the resources your charity needs
- having and following appropriate controls and procedures
- dealing with land and buildings
- responsibility for, and to, staff and volunteers
Act with reasonable care and skill
It’s about:
- using your skills and experience
- deciding when you need advice
- preparing for meetings
- getting the information you need (financial, management)
- being prepared in case something does go wrong
Source: Charity Commission, "The Essential Trustee: 6 main duties "