The Charity Governance Code is a framework of principles and recommendations for good governance in charities. It is not compulsory, but it is widely regarded as the gold standard for charity governance in the UK. The Code covers a wide range of topics, including the role of trustees, board structure and meetings, financial management, and risk management.

Charity trustees have a number of legal duties and responsibilities, which are set out in the Charities Act 2011. These duties include:

• Duty to act in the best interests of the charity: Trustees must always act in the best interests of the charity, and not in their own interests or the interests of any other person or organization.
• Duty to act with reasonable care and skill: Trustees must act with the same degree of care and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in the same circumstances.
• Duty to manage the charity's resources responsibly: Trustees must manage the charity's resources responsibly, which includes ensuring that the charity's money is spent wisely and that its assets are protected.
• Duty to comply with the charity's governing document and the law: Trustees must comply with the charity's governing document (such as its constitution or trust deed) and with the law.
• Duty to report on the charity's activities: Trustees must report on the charity's activities to the Charity Commission and to the charity's members or supporters.

In addition to these legal duties, charity trustees also have a number of other responsibilities, such as:

• Setting the charity's vision and strategy: Trustees are responsible for setting the charity's vision and strategy, and for ensuring that the charity is working towards achieving its goals.
• Overseeing the charity's management: Trustees are responsible for overseeing the management of the charity, and for ensuring that the charity is well-run and efficient.
• Protecting the charity's assets: Trustees are responsible for protecting the charity's assets from fraud and other risks.
• Engaging with stakeholders: Trustees are responsible for engaging with the charity's stakeholders, such as its members, supporters, beneficiaries, and staff.

If you are interested in becoming a trustee, but you don't know where to start, there are a few things you can do:

• Contact your local charity support organisation. Many charity support organisations can help you to find trustee vacancies and to learn more about the role of a trustee.
• Search for trustee vacancies online. There are a number of websites that list trustee vacancies, such as the Charity Job Board and the TrusteeHub website.
• Network with other people who are involved in the charity sector. Talk to your friends, family, and colleagues to see if they know of any trustee vacancies.

Managing a charity's finances is an important responsibility, and it is important to do it in a way that is efficient, effective, and accountable. Here are some tips:

• Have a budget. A budget is a plan for how your charity will spend its money. It is important to have a budget in place so that you can track your spending and make sure that you are staying within your means.
• Keep accurate records. It is important to keep accurate records of all of your charity's income and expenditure. This will help you to track your spending and make sure that you are accountable for your charity's finances.
• Have a system of internal controls in place. Internal controls are procedures that are designed to protect your charity's assets and to prevent fraud. It is important to have a system of internal controls in place to minimize the risk of financial irregularities.
• Invest your charity's money wisely. If your charity has any surplus funds, you should invest them wisely to generate income for the charity. However, it is important to strike a balance between risk and return, and to make sure that you are not putting your charity's assets at undue risk.
• Get professional advice. If you are unsure about any aspect of managing your charity's finances, it is advisable to seek professional advice from an accountant or other financial advisor.

To manage risks in your charity, you should:

1. Identify the risks that your charity faces. This can be done by brainstorming with your trustees and staff, and by reviewing the Charity Commission's guidance on risk management.
2. Assess the likelihood and impact of each risk. This will help you to prioritise the risks and to decide which risks need to be managed most urgently.
3. Develop and implement risk management plans. These plans should set out how you will mitigate the risks that you have identified.
4. Monitor the risks and your risk management plans regularly. This will help you to ensure that your risk management plans are effective and that they are still relevant to the risks that your charity faces.

There are a number of ways to find out more about UK charity governance. Here are a few suggestions:

• Visit the Charity Commission website. The Charity Commission is the regulator of charities in England and Wales.Their website has a wealth of information about charity governance, including guidance, templates, and case studies.
• Read books and articles about charity governance. There are a number of books and articles available on the subject of charity governance. You can find these at your local library or bookstore, or online.
• Attend training courses on charity governance. There are a number of organisations that offer training courses on charity governance. These courses can cover a range of topics, such as trustee roles and responsibilities, financial management, and risk management.
• Talk to other charity trustees. Networking with other charity trustees can be a great way to learn more about charity governance. You can meet other trustees at charity events, through online forums, or through your local charity support organisation.