Posted on 26 October 2020 by Tracey Bird

Next Monday marks the start of Trustees’ Week an annual celebration of all the great work that an estimated 180,000 trustees do across Scotland. It’s a chance to showcase trustees and look at what good governance means, and this year it’s all online. From 2-6 November there will be a series of free events with something for everyone, take a look at this packed programme and make sure you don’t miss out.

On Monday 2 November we’re opening the week with a look at The Future of Governance with Edel Harris, Chief Executive Officer of Mencap, who will share her perspective of the sector and experiences as both a trustee and director. The event will be chaired by Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive of SCVO and Chair of Scotland’s Third Sector Governance Forum who will be taking part in a debate of her own with the title of ‘Face facts, it’s the Chief Officer who has leadership, power and control, not the Trustees’ Now there’s a contentious issue!

The event at the end of the week continues this theme and looks at Lessons for the Future of Governance with OSCR and the Robertson Trust reflecting on the role the regulator and the funder play in encouraging good governance. In between there will be online discussions, information sessions, webinars and workshops, covering all manner of topics, including trustees as employers, alliances and mergers, and diversity and inclusion. Reflecting the importance of digital and strategic leadership in these times, a special Digital Trustees session will look at what makes an effective digital trustee and how to recruit them, and why digital strategy is vital now more than ever.

Trustees Week 2020 also marks two years since the Scottish Governance Code for the Third Sector was launched. SCVO have produced a Good Governance Checkup which can be used with the Code to help trustees regularly review their governance. It’s designed to help trustees identify areas for improvement and monitor and record their board’s journey to good governance. If you’re struggling to access governance support and resources, there’s an event on Thursday 5 November you need to attend. Governance Support: What do you need and where can you get it? will look at a new report mapping governance training and support across Scotland and showcase the new SCOPE E-learning platform With modules on Governance, Finance, Fundraising, Communications and Risk Management, it’s a great induction tool for new trustees and can also be used to refresh and reassess the way you do things.

So, don’t delay, book your place today. And join us to celebrate Trustees’ Week 2020.