New Charity Commission guidance on trustees conflicts of interest

The new guidance Conflicts of interest: a guide for charity trustees (CC29) aims to improve trustees’ understanding of this complex area and give guidance on what is expected of charities of all sizes.

The guidance covers direct conflicts between trustees’ personal interests and those of their charity, conflicts arising because they are connected to a particular person or matter, and conflicts because they stand to profit from a particular decision or because of ‘insider’ knowledge they hold.

The guidance focuses on preventing conflicts from arising, including considering potential conflicts before trustees are appointed, and for trustees to identify and declare conflicts. The key principles to follow are set out as ‘identify, prevent and record’.

Recommendation

• Charities should review their conflicts policies, their new trustee induction processes and their procedures at trustees’ meetings for flushing out and declaring conflicts.
• Download Conflicts of interest: a guide for charity trustees from the Charity Commission website.