Your charity

A few practical questions

14 questions — answer honestly, "I don't know" is a perfectly good answer.

1. When did the trustees last check that the charity's activities still match its charitable objects?

The objects are the purposes in your governing document.

Within the last year, and it was minuted We talk about it, but it isn't minuted Not for a few years Never, or I don't know

2. If a funder asked today for a list of your current trustees with appointment dates, how would you produce it? It's maintained — I could send it in minutes I'd assemble it from records within a day I'd need to ask around to be sure it's right I don't know

3. What happens when a new trustee joins? A structured induction: documents, duties briefing and a record it happened An informal chat and some documents They pick it up as they go We haven't appointed anyone recently

4. Think of your last trustee meeting. Where are its minutes now? Written up and approved (or queued for approval at the next meeting) Drafted but not yet approved Someone has notes somewhere There aren't any / we didn't take minutes

5. When trustees agree that something will be done, how is it tracked? In one system everyone can see In documents or spreadsheets someone maintains Mostly in emails and people's notes Who's doing what isn't recorded consistently I don't know

6. When trustees make an important decision, where are the decision, the reasons and the owner recorded? In a decision log or register we can search In the approved minutes Usually in notes or email It isn't recorded consistently I don't know

7. When did every trustee last declare their interests (or confirm they have none)? Within the last year — we keep a register of interests When they were appointed, but not since Only if something comes up in a meeting We don't do declarations

8. How do trustees see the charity's financial position between year-ends? Regular management accounts or a live view at most meetings A treasurer's verbal update Mainly at year-end I don't know

9. Who can authorise a payment from the charity's bank account? Two people are always required, per a written policy One person, but within written limits One person, no written limits I don't know

10. How confident are you that the next annual return and accounts will be filed on time? Confident — deadlines are tracked with reminders and an owner Someone reliable deals with it It usually ends in a scramble I don't know when they're due

11. Does the charity have a written risk register that trustees review? Yes — and the board reviews it on a schedule Yes, but it rarely gets looked at Risks are discussed but not written down No

12. Does the charity have an adopted safeguarding policy with a named lead?

The Charity Commission expects every charity to consider safeguarding, whatever its work.

Yes, reviewed within the last couple of years Yes, but it's old or nobody owns it No I don't know

13. If someone asked for your key policies (conflicts, finance, safeguarding, data), could you say when each was last reviewed? Yes — policies have owners and review dates The policies exist but reviews aren't scheduled Some policies exist, some are missing We have few or none of these

14. How would you show a funder the difference the charity made last year? We track outcomes/measures and report them We'd gather stories and examples We'd point at the accounts That would be hard to do

Results are computed by fixed, versioned rules — see how the Check works.